My kid is better at relationships than you are
Right off the bat, I’m going to file this to the list of stories that are going to be met with epic amounts of eye-rolling in ten years when L is old enough to be properly embarrassed by me. But I’m going to share it anyway, because it’s an amazing example of how kids can manage affairs of the heart so much better than adults.
L proves time and time again how amazingly mature she can be. Case in point — at the ripe old age of four she comes home from preschool to tell us that she has a boyfriend, R. When pressed (what, you wouldn’t?) she informs us that being her boyfriend meant that they were in love, in that condescending way that only a four year old can. You know, the kind of condescension that makes you furious until you’re overcome with the absurdity of the situation.
After trying desperately to not laugh and spending the next few hours trying to (unsuccessfully) embarrass her about her boooyfriend we settled in to the fact that these two really did have a special bond that could be effectively expressed as boyfriend/girlfriend. God help us in ten years.
The relationship continued through the summer and even into the beginning of the school year. Nearly every day they did something together, either at school or at the local playground. He watched out for her and she watched out for him. They pushed each other on the swing. They held hands. There were many hugs and the occasional kiss on the cheek. It was love, beautiful in its simplicity.
Then, one day at dinner, L casually lets us know that R is no longer her boyfriend — that they’re just friends now. “We’re just plain friends that don’t love each other anymore.”
That was it. No drama. No broken hearts. No tears. The two of them had simply sat together and decided they’d rather be just friends. And you know what, they are. In this world of ghosting and adults modelling absolutely terrible behavior around dating and relationships (conscious uncoupling? seriously?) it’s amazing to see these two kids make adults look like such children.
