A Boyfriend?

Ava and her friend Jack Passman have been attending day care together since they were 15 months old.  Out of everyone in her school, she has known Jack the longest.  We've attended his birthday party and have also seen his parents on a daily basis and at the day care's holiday concerts.

Jack is shown in the bottom row, to the far right, directly in front of Ava.  He is ADORABLE!

Fast forward to this month, when Ava mentions "me and Jack kissed at school today."  She was smiling and bashful when she said it.  Whaaa?  Come again?  I tried not to overreact, because I didn't want to make any assumptions at this age.  :)  I know it's entirely sweet and innocent...


Me:  Where did he kiss you?
Ava:  On my cheek, right here.
Me:  Oh.  Were there any teachers in the room when that happened?
Ava:  Yes, Mrs. Alicia was in the room, but we hid because we didn't want her to see us.
Me:  Okay...Whose idea was it first to do that?
Ava:  We both decided. 
Me:  But someone had to have the idea first?
Ava:  No, we both decided.
Me:  Ava, okay, but we probably shouldn't do that again. 
Ava:  Okay, Mom.


I tried to take it all in before I went telling her the wrong thing.  A little advice from Mom always helps, too.  At this age, it's sweet and cute.  I didn't want to make her feel ashamed, but did want her to realize that we shouldn't go around kissing every boy in the world .  I remember one of Philip and April Brackney's little girls running around the lobby at Rochester C of C, lips in a kiss-pout, trying to kiss a little boy.  It was cute, but she was one determined  aggressive little girl! 


The next morning, while getting ready for school:


Me:  "Ava, so about the kissing thing yesterday..." 
Ava:  Mom, I know, I know.
Me:  I just wanted to let you know that Mommy and Daddy kiss because we're married and older.  It's not a gross thing, but you should definitely wait until you're older, okay?
Ava:  I know, I'm not going to do that anymore. :-)


*phew!* 


Within a few days, she mentioned to me that Jack wanted to marry her.  I listened, didn't judge.  I definitely didn't want to make her feel "icky" about it.  I want her to always be able to come to me and talk to me, which she seems very comfortable with doing now.  Bedtime is the choice time for Ava to ask me the list of questions she might not want to ask in front of everyone.  It's so cute.  :)


The day after Jack told Ava he wanted to marry her, he told her they should probably go on a date.  I can only guess that someone told Jack "you can't just get married...you have to go on a date with someone first!"  Ha.  He is also one of the sweetest, cutest, blue-eyed blonde haired boys you'll ever meet. 


They have been in "summer camp" lately, with some kids that are older.  There is one eight year-old girl that may be playing match-maker with Ava and Jack, too.  So I would say they've had a little help.


Peace, love and five year-old smooches,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam