I haven't been too great at getting the daily blogging done, as I promised I would do. Besides the usual business, I've been especially busy cooking over the last few days; 'tis the season for pumpkin bread and freezer meals to take to friends! I am hoping to get back on track a little bit, hopefully by posting a few "mini-posts" (well, "mini" for me, at any rate!!). Hopefully, a few quick and easy posts will get me in the blogging mindset again. Plus, it may help curb my loquaciousness in future posts; I know I can run on a bit.
Today, my thoughts have been focused on my beloved middle child, Celeste, who is maturing more rapidly than I'd expected. Yesterday afternoon, she and I drove alone to her dance class, and I asked her how her day at school had gone. She rattled off a bunch of different activities she'd done; then casually (or not?) mentioned at the end of her list, "And now I am in love with James."
My attention, wherever it had been wandering to, snapped back immediately to Celeste. "Well," I asked dubiously, "how do you know you're in love with James?"
"Well," she responded, "We sat next to each other at the story rug. Then later on, I helped him figure out which math problem we were working on on our math worksheet. And then later he sent me a picture with lots of little hearts. And so I sent him back a picture with one BIG heart. And that's how we knew we were in love."
Oh, if only it were that simple! True love is often such a messy thing, and it is kind of hilarious to see how little kids interpret romantic love. The next morning, Celeste was up early; and she was busily sketching pictures of herself standing next to James, with hearts hovering around them in the air. She told me she was making wedding plans already. Eek!
I happened to volunteer in Celeste's kindergarten classroom that day, so I got to watch the two of them in action. As can be expected, Celeste and James played together just like hyper five-year-olds are wont to do, with one or two quick breaks to smile "meaningfully" at each other. Things inevitably got more complicated, though, when Celeste's BFF Alissa leaned over to me and vehemently hissed, "Celeste is marrying a BULLY!"
Turns out Celeste's BFF (Best Friend Forever, in case you're wondering) is less than thrilled with James; he is a tease and a bit too hyperactive for her liking. In fact, Alissa declared that she and Celeste could no longer be friends, due to Celeste's continuing "relationship" with James. Frantic letters were exchanged. Celeste sent Alissa a letter insisting that they were still friends, James notwithstanding. James himself took a more devious approach to the whole situation...he started sending Alissa notes with Celeste's name crossed out, and Alissa's name surrounded by stars! What a two-timer!
Of course, I am not angry at James, Alissa, or Celeste for any of this...it's all quite hilarious, actually! I have no doubt Celeste's "engagement" will be broken off soon, and that she and James will have further romantic conquests throughout the school year. I also believe Celeste and Alissa will be BFFs again in no time. I just find it amazing (maybe even a little scary) that my almost-six-year-old is acting like she's in junior high already!
How did I end up with such a daughter? I was such a tomboy that I never even thought of boys in a romantic way until well into junior high. I do remember kissing a boy in first grade, but it was on a dare, and I did so out of spite. Nothing romantic there! And yet somehow I managed to have a girl who goes on all day about BFFs, and beautiful clothes and puppies and babies and unicorns and rainbows and loving boys and getting married. Where did this strange exotic creature come from? This must be an inextricable part of a girls' DNA; why then do some girls get the "romance" bug so much earlier (and stronger) than others?
I suppose the "drama queen" gene is closely related to the "romance" gene as well. Not only was I amazed at the girls' romantic pursuits, I was amazed at their cattiness about the whole situation. I am NOT READY for the constant emotional manipulation and mind games that are part of a teenage girl's arsenal! How do girls so young learn to be passive-aggressive...or sarcastic...or emotionally distant? AAGH! Looks like I've got my work cut out for me in teaching Celeste empathy and manners.
I will post more about Celeste's romantic exploits as I get news of them.
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