Heartbreaker

Geez, we were hoping to not have to deal with this for another 12 years or so.

It all started a little more than a month ago. Tess is very open to telling me everything that is going on at school and I daily ask her all the details of her day and who she played with. Well one day in mid conversation, she very nonchalantly says that a little boy in her class, Riley, told her that she was his girlfriend.

I stopped in my tracks and started inquiring, "What did he say?"

"He said I was his girlfriend," she repeated while focused on something else out the window.

"Well what did you say when he said that?"

She, completely oblivious to what "girlfriend" meant, just wrinkled up her nose and said, "I just laughed because I didn't know what to say! He's just so silly!"

Thrilled with her "I could care less attitude" as well as her innocence, we talked about how EVERYONE is friends and it is so nice that Riley thinks you are a great friend. Done deal (or so I thought...)

During the next few weeks, she would randomly tell me that Riley said something about her being his girlfriend and of course I will "grill" her about all the details. I had observed her many times with her classmates and she literally treats everyone the same--boys and girls. She is kind and friendly and talkative to everyone, and I know that other kids tend to swarm around her.

Time goes by and another day she informed me that Liam (another boy in her class) wanted to walk arm and arm down the hallway with her. Hmmm, Riley and now Liam?

Another few weeks go by and one day she tells me that Riley is saying he wants to "marry her NOW!" and apparently asks her to dance at school. Gee whiz, he's moving fast. I wonder why he says NOW but I'm about to find out.

A few weeks ago, I was waiting in the car line to pick up Tess from school. I'm about five cars back and her teacher pokes her head out the door and see me. She comes out and starts walking toward my car. Now all year I have NEVER seen a teacher walk out into the parking lot and head to one of the parent's cars. As she nears, I'm sitting there puzzled. Is Tess ok? I know this can't be about a behavior problem because the teacher has already informed that she truly wishes she had a class full of Tess'.

I roll down the window and she throws me for a loop, "Well I feel sorry for you. It's going to be really tough for you!"

She must tell from my furrowed brow and complete deer-in-the-headlights expression that I have no idea what she is referring to. She continues to explain that the boys in the class have been fighting over Tess. I tell her that Tess had told me about Riley and what he has said to her.

The teacher just smiles and shakes her head, "No, it is all the boys in her class, I have to physically separate them because they fight over her!"

Oh, boy. I'm thinking in my head that this is why Riley was so insistent on "marrying her NOW" he had to stake his claim before the other boys did! The teacher interrupts my train of thought and thankfully confirms that Tess is innocent to it all--she doesn't even notice that the boys are fighting over her.

Today at Tess' last day of preschool, Liam's mom came over and wanted a picture of Tess and Liam together. She said Tess is all Liam talks about. She's quite the topic at their house.

Now, I'm proud of my extremely brilliant girl--she really is incredibly bright beyond her age but this is one time that I am thankful that she is a little slow on picking up what is going on around her. Lets hope that innocent and obliviousness last for another 14 years or more.