How old is the first crush you remember?
I was going to tell you third grade. But I think it might have been four years old (I have a strong denial reflex). It’s a little crazy how young this stuff starts.
My oldest returned from his first day of first grade with a “getting to know you” worksheet in his backpack. What do you like to do with your friends? it asked sweetly.
His answer, in wonderfully legible pencil: Chase girls.
This is obviously my husband’s genetics at work, based on his vast experience with girls running after him as a kindergartner. He gave a fond, reminiscent laugh.
“You know you’re good when you get them to chase you,” my husband counseled sagely.
Is that crush innocent? we wonder. Am I setting my kids up to be womanizers? Playboys? Players?
As a mother of four (with more than a couple of ornery ones), there’s what I would consider a “yes” and a “no” side to worrying about crushes. We can neither scorn nor exalt boy/girl relationships. Kids, as usual, are taking their cues from how we speak about boy-girl interactions.
But there is a “This gets tricky” side of things, too.
Wondering if kid-crushes are innocent? I’m looking at both sides in an article for FamilyLife.com. Hop on over and check it out.
