I knew "he" existed, but I didn't know he "existed" in that way. Standing in the checkout line I noticed a little scuffle between two boys (likely brothers tired of shopping with mom) going on. As I looked around to find my own kids and to make sure they were behaving themselves, I noticed Brita watching the two boys intently and then shyly, half-raising her hand in a finger wave (the kind where the fingers all wiggle daintily), all the while sporting a vixen-ess type smile. And then it all clicked in my head, because I'm no dummy. I'm not the kind of naive mom who is out of touch with today's youth and especially with my own children. No sir. I knew immediately what was going on. Brita was waving at her cute little friend who has been a classmate since Kindergarten! Yay! How fun is that to run into a good friend on a non-school day?! And so of course, I holler out, "Brita, isn't that Cody?" with a big smile on my face. Oops. Did she really turn toward me with such briskness, seeming shocked that I had noticed their little interaction with each other? Was "his" face really turning red? And was his brother really teasing him about "the girl"? Who was the girl they were teasing about anyway?
Surely it wasn't this girl who...
likes to write her name in the sand on the beach.Surely it wasn't this girl who...
likes to do karate kicks in her closet-turned office.Surely it wasn't this girl who...
still plays with stuffed animals and considers them to be her friends!Surely it wasn't this girl who...
still can't eat a marshmallow without getting it all over her face.And surely it wasn't this girl who...
can't even do her own hair yet.I prayed for mercy to be upon me when his mother gave me one of those "shut up" looks and quietly said, "He's embarrassed." Then the ton of bricks descended. I AM a naive mother who is out of touch with my own kid. I didn't know how to handle this blow, but I wish I would have been more graceful about it. I bumbled around and made lots of awkward comments followed by forced giggles, I didn't know where to look, and I didn't exit the store quickly enough. I hope Brita didn't notice. But apparently, she's the one who notices things and I'm the one who's been blinded to reality by trying to live in the sweet bubble of a life I've created.
I didn't think an "interest" of this sort could develop at such a young age. At least I hadn't prepared myself for it. But as we drove home from Hobby Lobby with the girls excitedly pulling their crafts out of the bag in the back seat, in my own silence I remembered myself as a girl about Brita's same age. And I remembered some sort of "scuffling" incident taking place between a couple boys while I watched on with a little smirk of my own.
So now I say to myself "I hope you've enjoyed your life. The bubble no longer exists and your little girl won't be so little for long." Then I can't help but add... "But whatever you do, don't let her grow up yet."
I didn't think an "interest" of this sort could develop at such a young age. At least I hadn't prepared myself for it. But as we drove home from Hobby Lobby with the girls excitedly pulling their crafts out of the bag in the back seat, in my own silence I remembered myself as a girl about Brita's same age. And I remembered some sort of "scuffling" incident taking place between a couple boys while I watched on with a little smirk of my own.
So now I say to myself "I hope you've enjoyed your life. The bubble no longer exists and your little girl won't be so little for long." Then I can't help but add... "But whatever you do, don't let her grow up yet."
12 comments:
That is precious! Don't tell her I said that. Julianne came home one day and announced that a boy in her class (and in our ward, we love this family) asked her to be his girlfriend. I asked what she said. Her reply was, "Whatever."
He has since moved away but they still email each other and confirm that they are still "B and G". My bubble is burst, too, but secretly I think it is hilarious and I hope someday they hook up at BYU and get married!
That is hilarious! Seriously, it's happening before our eyes. I remember Brig kissed a girl on her cheek one time....I about lost it!! But after much interrigation, I concluded it was innocent (he was 5 yrs old), and much of it was the little girl ASKING for the kiss.
Good luck....and keep those eyes and ears open from now on!
I think that is very very sad. I'm in a panic about my kids growing up. Already I look at Sam and think, he's almost 5... how did that happen?! But I don't know what I would have done in your situation. You handled it better than I would have.
I LOVE the picture with her doing her own hair!
Who is this little chap? Would we know him from our days in TX? That's hysterical (not haha hysterical, just like WHOA! hysterical) that these little girls are already getting interested in boys (Caroline, too, you know). Amazing how strong that innate pull is from such an early age. Way to go, nature, thanks a lot for ruining it for us moms way too early.
I know guys--this kind of stuff is funny, sweet and sad all at the same time.
Karen - I don't think you'd know him. I can't think of his last name, but he's a boy who has been in all of her classes at KP.
Rachelle, that is so cute! I love your explanation of the situation! You make it feel like we're right there with you! I witnessed Carson do something similar a few weeks back and was beside myself as to how to respond! They sure grow up too fast.
Give Jared a gun for Christmas. He needs to learn how to use it......quickly if I do say so!
XOJODY
What a beautiful post, Rachelle. Poignant and bittersweet. I daily feel that they're growing so fast that it overwhelms me. DAILY.
Oh and Kate totally gets food all over her face, too. :P
Talk about nieve...I just found a heart shaped note on Landon's dresser. On the back it's from "your secret admirer!" WHAT?!?!?!?!?! He never showed me and when I brought it up, he made it like it was not a big deal. "Oh yeah, it's just Olivia." WHAT!?!?!?!? Sigh. Here is all begins, my friend.
Stacy - nice to know our family isn't the only messy group around. When Brita gets food on her face, she doesn't always leave it there, sometimes she uses her shirt as a napkin. I don't know why a shirt is preferable to the REAL napkin sitting next to her plate, but it just is!
Becky - I love that Landon's secret admirer isn't so secret. Does Olivia know the cat's out of the bag? Stuff like that always makes me wonder what my kids aren't telling me.
Oh and ice cream! Ai ai ai.
I love it! It is true, they are growing up much too fast.
The only weird thing is I don't think I am getting any older:-)
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