Puppy Love......

Do you remember your first crush? Think back. Remember the butterflies you got every time you saw him/her? The way your face turned bright red at the sound of his/her voice? Do you remember that horrible sick feeling you got the day everyone found out? Oh the highs and lows of puppy love.

My dear boy has a "crush". I have known this for a long time. They have been in class together since he was in K and she was in 1st (multi age classrooms for those who forgot). He wanted to talk yesterday but didn't know how to approach the subject. It went something like this:

***note Names have been changed to protect the other kids***

Trev: Mom, I heard something today that I wasn't supposed to hear

Me: What was that buddy? (thinking it had to do with school stuff)

Trev: Jane likes Lucas.

Me: Yeah, I hope you didn't tease her cause it wouldn't be nice (knowing this is a big thing right now)

Trev: No. I didn't. Want to know something else?

Me: What?

Trev: Never mind.

Me: Trevor do you like someone?

Trev: {very embarrassed} Do you promise not to tell anyone? (ok, so I am writing this on my blog for ME to remember ;) )

Me: I promise

Trev: I like Nikki

Me: I figured as much. Don't be embarrassed it's ok. She's your best friend.

Trev: {looking very worried} maybe.

Me: Why?

Trev: can we not talk about this anymore? My heart is beeping really fast right now.

Me: {I stopped doing dishes and knelt in front of him} are you ok?

Trev: {tears brimming}Someone told her.

Me: Who did you tell that you liked her:

Trev: Maddy and Elise

Me: Well honey, it was bound to get out. That kind of thing happens when you tell people things like this at your age. Kids think it's funny to tell other people and I know it can really hurt sometimes but I promise you the pain and the teasing won't last forever.

Trev: (starting to cry) can I have a hug

Me: of course you can

Trev: {he puts his head on my shoulder and starts to cry}

Me: baby what's wrong?

Trev: She doesn't like me back {lots of sobs}

Me: {my heart breaking for him} you know what....you're both very, very young and I bet when she is older she might think differently. You have to remember that even if she doesn't like you that way you are one of her very best friends. You have her as a friend and you couldn't ask for much more than that. She still wants to be your friend right?

Trev: {sniffling} yeah.

Me: Well buddy, you are way ahead of the game. You couldn't ask for a better friend than that. What you need to do is be really brave. Really, really brave and when you go to school tomorrow you need to tell her that you know what the other kids told her and that you just want to be her friend. Don't let the other kids keep saying things. Tell her yourself. It's going to take every ounce of courage you can muster to do this but you will feel so much better when it's out in the open and when you have nothing to hide no one can tease you.

Trev: {smiling and giggling}Mommy I love you

Me: I love you too buddy.

Puppy love is so hard. He's so sensitive and it just breaks my heart. He was in really good spirits when I picked him up tonight. She sat with him at lunch and recess and they did Harry Potter trivia together. She asked him if he wanted to have a play date and they can play Harry Potter trivia. I asked him if he talked to her and he said "everything is ok now mom". I am not sure if that was a yes but he was happy and that's all that mattered.

Watching them grow is so painful sometimes.

So here's to firt loves, first heartaches and best friends. Take a trip down memory lane. Remember that first love and what it taught you. Then go to your spouse and hug them and be greatful that it worked out the way that it did. Thank God for those "unanswered prayers" of your younger years.

Cheers!

Michelle