My 5yo was brushing her teeth last night when she dropped a bomb on me.
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“Guess what mom, I have a boyfriend.” – DD (darling daughter)
“Oh really. Is this a friend that’s a boy?” – Me
“Nope, he asked me if we could be boyfriend/girlfriend.” – DD
“So, you said ‘yes’ and why did you say yes?” – Me
“Because I really want to be a girlfriend.” – DD
“Do you? Well, have you done any boyfriend/girlfriend things?” – Me
“We hold hands.” – DD
“Okay, just finish brushing your teeth.” – Me
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{ At this point I am hyperventilating, but making sure my DD doesn’t know, and I walk “calmly” out of the bathroom and make a desperate dash to the front room to let her daddy know. }
{{And to tell him he needs to deal with it, because I can’t. }}
We have been very careful not to play up the whole boyfriend thing and don’t ask her if she thinks so and so is cute or anything. Everyone is just a friend. Let’s delay this whole process as much as we can!! Needless to say, Daddy told her that she can have friends that are boys and even a bestfriend, but no boyfriends and definately NO KISSING or holding hands.
I finally asked her if it was Douglas. She nodded her head. Now, this little Douglas kid has already kissed my little darling, innocent, easily influenced, child several times on the cheek. Now I find out that they are “boyfriend/girlfriend.” I don’t think I like this Douglas kid…whoever he is.
….and so it begins…
Am I crazy, or is Kindergarten a little to young to be starting romantic relationships?
My 5 year old came home one day telling me that a boy kissed her. I was NOT happy about that! I think you are right, our girls are way too young for romance!
I guess i wouldn’t make too much of it. Children mimic what they see grownups do, and i assume your kids see you and Dart being affectionate with each other and that this makes you both happy.
Surely you remember having crushes (perhaps for your classmates, and sometimes for your teachers) when you were young.
Surely you also realize that she’s not seriously getting into any commitments, and not going to engage in physically inappropriate behavior.
I personally would do nothing in direct response to this. I have received shockingly candid questions about all kinds of things i would not expect at my daughters’ young ages, and each time i answer with complete honesty and candor. After all, if they ask they want to know the answer. Each time (after i stop hyperventilating) i also praise God that my children trust me enough to seek my advice. Remember, many kids do not…they simply go behind their parents’ backs.
Knowing you as i do, you’re pretty conscientious and involved in your kids’ lives. I’m sure you know them pretty well. I’m sure they’re supervised at all times. I don’t think you need to worry that your daughter is going to end up a situation where something “irreversible” could happen, and i think if she gets uncomfortable with anything she’ll talk to you, and that’s the point at which learning happens. As much as we hate to think about it as parents, good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment. Only at the point where danger appears real to our children do they really listen to our advice.
Also, don’t blame a poor five-year-old boy…he’s also just aping the grownups in his life. If it’s really got you nervous, you might want to talk to his parents.
Kalliope had about 5 boyfriends in kindergarten and even a couple in preschool. What’s funny is that now she doesn’t want one (except for Kevin Jonas). I think when she was younger she was just copying what she saw in us and TV, but now that she knows what a hassle men can be (and I say that with love), she’s singing a different tune!
hehehehe……..sorry I couldn’t help but laugh
I had a similar conversation with Luchen not to long ago…
He said he had a girlfriend and he was her boyfriend. I asked him what that ment. He responded by saying…”well mom, I like her and she likes me” he said it like he was saying “duh, mom”
haha I haven’t had this with Briar yet……but I know it is coming
trust me….I can wait
My daughter had a “boyfriend” in preschool and now in 2nd grade writes “I love Kolton” on her notebooks… I can’t do anything about it, I have tried to talk to her but they are simply too young to “get it”… I just am going to keep an eye on her and go with the flow… sheesh
Sorry, I know how you feel!
OH MY GOODNESS… SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF ME WHY DONT YOU!!! ERICA IS 2 1/2 AND DREW IS 5 MONTHS…. NOW I MAY HOME SCHOOL THEM!!!!