I have four children and my youngest just had her 5th birthday party and invited her friend Daphne, a girl that has claimed my son, Max, as her boyfriend. At the party the two were inseparable, they held hands and cuddled and she continually kissed him to the point I asked, “Um, do you guys get to do this at school, or do they separate you two?” “They separate us,” he replied. Right. I have four children and only one, at age 6, who has had two “loves of his life”. Back at his old school it was Paige, an older girl who, while he was entering JK, was an SK that tolerated his affection. Now, going into grade 1, he has his own JK who I’ve been hearing about as “Daphne is always trying to kiss me” and “Daphne wants me to be her boyfriend” until one day he said he will marry Daphne. “She won you over, huh?”   I asked, which got me a resounding, “Yep!”

I have been waiting for the day that I would have to comfort the first broken heart or tolerate the first crush, but my other three kids have had no interest to date. The first I heard of any of this was Max, quiet and melancholy, telling me quietly after I asked why he seemed so sad, that he felt….he felt…like kissing a girl. I said, “Oh sweetie, that is normal” and he brightened and the weight of the world was lifted from his shoulders.  Now, I’m watching the first of my birdies look for love outside of the nest and it is wonderful, and scary, and funny, and cute all at once, particularly when the advice he gets from his 4 year old sister, in dealing with being in love with two different girls is: “Don’t tell Paige about Daphne.” Okay, now it’s a soap opera.

About the Author

Stephanie Herrera is a comedian, writer, producer, teacher, singer, actor, mother of 4, and shallow philosopher. She runs the Durham Improv & Acting Studio in Oshawa, Canada, is a professor at Durham and Fleming Colleges, and is an award winning performer.  www.durhamimprov.com / www.stephanieherrera.com / info@durhamimprov.com / (647) 899-3342  Durham Improv Group and Business pages can be found on Facebook and follow @durhamimprov & @antimommy