I'm driving home from Fiona's school when she asks me this in a soft voice:
Fiona: "Mom? Did you ever like a boy when you were my age?"
Me: (thinking, "I loved boys in the womb. By seven, I was already over this dating thing and ready to settle down.")
"Yeah, I think so."
Fiona: "Were you ever afraid that he didn't like you back?"
Me: (thinking, "There was little to no fear in my approach. Capture, sieze, and conquer. Much easier.")
"Sure. Is there a boy that you like?"
Fiona: (silence)
I adjust the rearview mirror, and see the reddest face smiling back at me. I have my answer.
Me: "It's okay. You don't have to be embarrassed. Is it someone I know?"
Fiona: (nods with her face buried in her hands)
Me: "Fiona, do I have to guess every boy in our lives or are you going to tell me?"
Fiona: "I'll give you a guess."
Me: "A 'hint'?"
Fiona: "Mmm hmmm.
1. He's really smart.
2. He has curly hair.
3. His skin looks like your coffee."
Neve: "Oh, yeah. So he's from France?"
Fiona: "Neve, shhh. That's not what France people look like. He looks like he's from Mexico except he's not. Maybe his grandma is from Mexico... (trailing off)."
(snapped back) "... and when he taught me how easy it is to count in one hundreds (100 + 100 = 200, 200 + 300 = 500, etc.), I remembered it. I'll always remember that." (So romantic.)
For the sake of their adorable little privacy, I won't say his name. But it's a nice name. And he is smart. Like, he skipped a grade smart. And he's shy, like her. And his skin does look like my coffee. And even though I get a little queasy at the thought of my seven year old having these feelings already, I love that she chose him.
Most importantly, I love that she told me.
Neve: (snickering) "Fiona likes a boy."
Me: "Oh, leave her alone. It's just a little seven year old crush."
Fiona: (writing his name in the foggy car window) "No, mom. It's not a little crush. It's a huge crush."
And there you have it.
7 comments:
what a sweet conversation! growing up so fast!
that was me, victoria
um, i've got a huge crush on this post.
I'm so glad this is semi-anonymous! It's in the grandma genes, as I was a bit "boy crazy" from the age of 5!And they were big crushes, but these boys rarely knew. As Fiona has figured out, never tell your sister these secrets. His skin sounds beautiful and I like him already! Oh, young love....but he probably is oblivious. Whoever he is, he's a lucky boy!
ML
My heart is all mushy now. How do they grow up so fast?!!!
So grown up! And what an awesome dialog to have with your daughters! I was so lucky to have you to talk about boys with...so sweet that your girls have you too!
i luhve you guys.
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