William’s in love. Well, as in love as any 4 year old can be. He’s not waiting by the phone for it to ring (do boys eventually ever do this?). He’s not afraid to ask this girl out and have her say “no.” He’s not dressing for her in the morning. Or carrying around her photo. Or even writing her love letters.
But he’s in love. He’s in love with a little girl in his pre-school class. So as not to embarrass him too much, I won’t use her real name… I’ll refer to her as Allison (my middle name). Allison is cute and adorable and outgoing and friendly and nice. Truth be told, any mother’s dream for her son. She has brothers, so she can race and run with the boys, just as well as play house and dress-up with the little girls. And she makes William laugh and smile. Isn’t that really what’s most important? I can see why he’s so smitten.
It’s adorable to witness his first true crush. I know as William (and all my sons) gets older and older, crushes become a little more difficult. There’s true emotions on the line. But for now… at this time in his life, it’s the innocence that warms my heart. The innocent love of a 4 year old, for another 4 year old.
Being the mother of 4 boys… most people say to me, “Ohh… you know that bond between a mother and her son.” And it’s true. There’s a bond there. A love that can’t even be explained through words. William and I are best buds… him being the oldest, he will sit and talk with me on the couch about anything and everything and well, “Allison.”
I realized how true this “first crush” was (first-hand) on Saturday.
We were heading to a birthday party for my nephew. When I came downstairs showered, hair blown straight, make-up on and dressed-up… (total GASP moment for me!) the boys all looked up at me and smiled. But it was William who said something, “Oh, Mommy… you look beautiful.”
My heart melted. And he went on…
“You are the most beautiful girl in the whole world…” his voice began to trail off and he looked down.
I asked him, “William, what’s wrong, honey?”
He looked up at me, and very serious-like he said to me, “Mommy. Please don’t tell ‘Allison’ I just told you that you are the most beautiful girl in the whole world. It might hurt her feelings.”
Ahh… the little man trying to protect and not hurt both his loves.
All I could do was smile and hug him. First love… first love… oh, that first love.
I called my mother this morning to ask her who was my “first love”… she said it was Peter Addman. As she said those 2 words, I was suddenly back in kindergarten. He was in 2nd grade, and I was assigned to sit across from him at lunch. He was perfect and kind and oh-so-cute. I don’t know whatever happened to Peter Addman. He moved away at some point. But it was that innocent love. The love that doesn’t hurt, it’s not complicated… it just makes you feel good and happy and floating-on-air. The only other time you feel that way is when you meet your soul mate, that other piece of yourself… your true other half. For me, it was my Matthew.
But for now, I’m enjoying watching William be in love with his “Allison.” And hey… you never know what life has in store. William will probably know “Allison” all through elementary school, middle school and high school… let’s just hope there aren’t any “brothers” in our family who actually date her first! 😉
so cute. my 4 year old has a a super crush on a little boy not in her class but in her school. she sings about him…..when will i know your middle name…..it is hysterical. of course it puts the fear of god in me as i think of the heartbreak she will encounter later as an older girl.
My first love was a boy named Tom….in preschool he used to steal my hat every day.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane….
Ohh! How cute!
My first crush was a boy named Eric. He was so funny. He sat across from my in homeroom. Wow. I don’t know whatever happened to him. Perhaps I should Facebook him!
Thanks for this. It made me smile.
That’s adorable!
Kyle Langly. I don’t even know if I’m spelling it right. He was my first crush. I always wanted to invite him over to play but never had the nerve. Funny now thinking back. I agree, thanks for this post. It was nice thinking back to Kyle. Now back to my Mom duties!
So cute!
My 8 year old still misses her first love in Coloardo, she had the same “boyfriend” for two years in her school.
My 6 year old daughter had a first one last year in Kindergarten but in her words “he was just my first boyfriend, it was nothing serious, I’m gonna meet many nice boys” – I know, I’m in trouble with that girl!!
I had a huge crush on a boy named Jonathon in kindergarten. He shared the toys with me. Plus he was cute.
OMG…how sweet is that!
My oldest who is 15 now had his first love at Kindergarten. They went to school together for 5yrs before we moved. He was so sad to leave her. Today, they still talk and chat on their myspace page. Who knows where they’ll be in 10 more years:)
My first crush was a boy named Paul. From the first day of Kindergarten to the day he moved away in the 6th grade. Fast forward 13 years and he finds me on facebook. I reverted right back to that floating on air feeling! I worked up the courage to send a wall post, which led to him asking a mutual friend for my phone number to call and surprise me on my birthday, which led to getting on a plane to go see him, and now we’ve maintained a long distance relationship for a year and a half 🙂
So you never know. Even if he and ‘Alison’ get separated somewhere along the way, they could always find their way back to eachother in the most unexpected of ways!
my first crush was Corey Haim (the actor), i LOVED him… and i really thought that one day we’d be together 🙂
My first crush was Peter Vinacco. I was so enamored with him from 1st grade till 8th grade, when we “went out” for a VERY short time. When I was in 5th grade, I had my younger brother go and give him a Ziggy Xmas card that said, “Merry KissMas” inside, and I signed it, “Your Secret Admirer”. I also put $5 in the card, and had some pencils made up with his name on them. I NEVER told him it was from me. I wonder if he ever figured it out. I doubt it. He’s married now, AFAIK. I also used to call the radio station and dedicate songs to him, lol. Thanks for the memories, made me smile today!
My first crush was my next door neighbor. I was in 1st grade and Jerry was in 2nd grade. We held hands and told everyone that we were going to get married some day. I remember thinking he was the smartest boy ever because he could spell the word “green.” It didn’t even matter to me that Green was his last name… of course he could spell it! Isn’t first love and naivete wonderful?
I could just hug William for his perfect sensitivity and loving nature… I love him so much!
I think my first “love” was Ben in 4th grade. Remember he used to write notes to me on index cards? I think Mom saved all of those love notes…
Aww, it’s so sweet that he didn’t want to hurt her feelings by what he said to you!
I don’t remember my first crush, but it was a boy in my first grade class. Once after recess, he carried me up the hill in his arms. What a stud, right? My crush ended when I noticed his penchant for nose picking, though.
Awwwwwwwww!!! That is soooooooooooo cute! I remember my first crush. I was in kindergarten and I had a massive crush on this boy in my class named Charles. Too funny! I pursued Charles (Ha! Even at the tender age of 5, I was boy crazy!) and Charles liked me back. We held hands once and then that was all. I think even back then, it was all about ‘the chase’ that interested me! LOL!
How sweet! Way to go, momma, you are raising one considerate young man! 🙂
as the shy, over-achieving, teacher-pleasing good girl, I fell in love with the bad boy in Mrs. Latanzio’s 3rd grade class. He was dangerous or at least he seemed to be that way because he was always getting in trouble with her and being sent to the principal’s office. His name was Tony. I can’t remember his last name but I do remember how he used to buy me penny candy at the grocery store down the street from school and I could never forget that first kiss…the most delightful peck on the cheek any 8 year old girl could receive.
Awww Audrey! That’ so cute!
Start worrying in 10 years =)
Aww how sweet.
Einey has her first love. It’s a little boy, M (he’s the other ninja in my facebook pictures). She’s loved him since she was 3 (she’ll be seven in a month). They are best buds through and through. She’s convinced she’s going to marry him (and he tells her the same).
I don’t remember my first love, but I’m sure it was probably J, my next door neighbor. We were best friends always, until he moved away.
Moe has a little two year old who follows her around.