Young Romance (Middle Schoolers)

[va32h]

My 10 yo daughter apparently has a little boyfriend.

Last year, they were in the same class, and on Valentine's Day, he gave her a stuffed animal and a card that said she was the prettiest and nicest girl in the school.

From that time on, they were known throughout the 4th grade as "going together" - which seemed to consist of completely and deliberately avoiding each other as much as possible!

He was invited to her birthday party, but he could not come, as he had a baseball game at the same time, but he did give her a present (the Disney trivia game). I have spoken to him at lunch and at school a few times, and he seems very nice.

Well, this year (5th grade) they are not in the same class, but they do walk home in the same general direction (I pick the kids up about a block away from the school, he lives on that block). He also called the house yesterday to talk to her. (which was adorable, you could practically hear him blushing through the phone).

This afternoon, she came squealing up to the van, saying that he had kissed her on the cheek! She was quite giddy with excitment.

Would that bother you, as a parent? It all seems very sweet and innocent to me. I certainly remember liking boys when I was 10, and while I never had a "boyfriend" at that age, some of my friends did. My first instinct is that it does not bother me, but maybe it should?

I don't want to make dd feel bad, she is so over-the-moon that the boy she likes, likes her back. But I definitely want to make sure that a kiss on the cheek is as far as this goes - and really the kiss on the cheek should be a rare event itself.

Your thoughts?

 

[Disney Doll]

I probably wouldn't get too crazy about it. Sounds cute to me.

 

[NMAmy]

Nah, it wouldn't bother me. DD's first boyfriend was in preschool. He was a nice little boy and his mom owned the Taco Bell franchise in town. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with their boyfriend/girlfriend status or not.

I remember her "going with" boys in middle school. Mostly consisted of them saying they were going together and then never speaking again until the breakup.

It's now that she's 15 that it bothers me.

A friend just told me a cute story about her 4 yo dd. She told her, "Mommy, I'm going to fall in love with Joshua and then he can come over and watch Cinderella with me and we'll get married on Sunday." Apparently, only girls can come to the wedding and I'm invited.

 

[Minnesota!]

I think it's ultra adorable!

 

[SC Minnie]

I wouldn't worry too much or at least not let her know you are worrying. It is good that she feels comfortable telling you that he kissed her on the cheek.

I would rather keep the lines open and DD tell me what is going on than things happen and she doesn't feel like she can tell me because I would be upset.

 

[mickeymousemom]

Very cute. I think that's all it amounts to. Cute. If she's comfortable now telling you this stuff, then she'll be more apt to be comfy with it as she gets older. Did I mention how CUTE it is?

 

[va32h]

Well I am glad you all agree with me, because I think it is really cute, too!

I just know some extended family members who would not think so - and really they are types that worry too much, anyway.

 

[Disney Ella]

It would seem to me that anything beyond a kiss on the cheek would gross them out at this point, but I know things have changed since I was that age. It sounds like your daughter is still pretty innocent though. I also think it's cute and not anything to worry about.

 

[Katie]

it could be worse...my DS (10) at the time, had a GF that he had during 4th and 5th grade. She came over and played. We do not have a basement, so most of the entertainment is in his room. Well, we have a yellow lab, and Ty hates the dog in his room, so he closes the door all the time. I could NOT let him and his GF in his room with the door closed right, so I bought a baby gate to keep the dog out and the door open! Genius right!!!

Okay, days later, I walk in ..and they are in the walk-in closet with the door closed....WHAT....they said I never said they couldn't go in the closet with the door closed! Asked what they were doing in there...KISSING..duh! OMG!

Okay...new rule, no closet, no under the bed, no in the bed, no near the bed....

Later, that year, on the way back from ice skating..look back in the back of the Surbruban where they are sitting..and they are kissing...I yell..

I CAN SEE YOU!!!

....this son is my 3rd..and will be death of me yet!

 

[minnieandme]

I thinks it's cute and innocent. However, I don't think I would feel that way about my sons.

 

[4cruisin]

it could be worse...my DS (10) at the time, had a GF that he had during 4th and 5th grade. She came over and played. We do not have a basement, so most of the entertainment is in his room. Well, we have a yellow lab, and Ty hates the dog in his room, so he closes the door all the time. I could NOT let him and his GF in his room with the door closed right, so I bought a baby gate to keep the dog out and the door open! Genius right!!!

Okay, days later, I walk in ..and they are in the walk-in closet with the door closed....WHAT....they said I never said they couldn't go in the closet with the door closed! Asked what they were doing in there...KISSING..duh! OMG!

Okay...new rule, no closet, no under the bed, no in the bed, no near the bed....

Later, that year, on the way back from ice skating..look back in the back of the Surbruban where they are sitting..and they are kissing...I yell..

I CAN SEE YOU!!!

....this son is my 3rd..and will be death of me yet!

 

[va32h]

I thinks it's cute and innocent. However, I don't think I would feel that way about my sons.

Can you elaborate on that?

 

[pozey]

I agree with most everyone else.....very cute.

I have a son that is 10 and in 5th grade as well. He doesn't really like anyone that is in his class.......however, he has a huge crush on a 12 year-old girl that is on his swim team.

 

[wendy46001]

I think its cute, and sounds innocent enough...just make sure they know the rules of your house and she is clear on how to act...I wouldnt make a big deal out of it....but you never know....my parents met at 12 and are still happily married....