They're all over it.
When they get mad, they're mad and you know it.
When they're upset, they cry and you know it.
But when they love, they LOVE and you know it.
I want to be back in kindergarten.
When a boy likes a girl, he tells her straight up. And the teacher too. And anybody else who cares to hear all about it. And it's all very matter-of-fact.
No big deal.
No ego.
No games.
No b.s.
Case in point
Ben: Ms. A, Ms. A!
Me: What is it honey?
Ben: I love Suzie!
Me: Really?
I turn to Suzie (a.k.a. "Princess") who's standing right beside him looking pleased as punch.
Me: Did you know about this?
Suzie: Uh huh.
Me: And you're... okay with it?
Suzie: Yep!
Another little boy - we'll call him Duncan - runs up to Suzie and Ben, standing beside them both with a big smile on his face.
Duncan: I'm going to MARRY Suzie!
Me: Really?
Duncan: Yep!
I turn to Suzie...
Me: So, which one is your boyfriend? Which one do you want?
Suzie (throwing both hands up in the air and jumping): BOTH!
Me (turning to the boys): And that's cool with you guys?
They both nod emphatically.
Me: So you mean to tell me, you both love Suzie, (to Ben) you're going to be her boyfriend, but (to Duncan) you're going to marry her?
They both nod over and over again with these big-ass unapologetic smiles on their faces. Meanwhile Suzie, looks just like the cat that swallowed the canary.
Me (smiling at all three and nodding): Awesome.
There really is enough love to go around.
A couple of hours later...
I'm reading the story of "The Little Mermaid" to the class. Suzie is of course, flanked by both Ben and Duncan who have no issue sharing her attention.
Based on a heartfelt anguish felt earlier by one of the boys (because he couldn't sit beside Suzie during snack time), these would-be rivals actually seem to 'get' each other.
Love is painful. That's a fact. Especially when one doesn't have an opportunity to dote upon the object of one's affection (or share cookies) if that`s the case.
But this was a problem soon solved by the other boy who, unable to bear the pain of his competitor, brought over a chair so his little friend could sit beside her.
The tears stopped immediately for poor Duncan who was after all, Suzie's junior. She was in kindergarten, he was in nursery. (The allure of an older gal was already making its way into his psyche - one can only imagine the drama that might ensue during the teen years a few years hence).
But the fact remained, that for now each boy seemed to understand how the other couldn't possibly live without her so why bother fighting over it? This would only lead to more anguish and tears.
Besides, there is so much love to go around!
That's when I realized that jealousies only emerge when a 'limited' view of life surfaces. For now, the world is their oyster.
And so is Suzie.
I'm guessing as early as grade one, their attitudes will begin to change very quickly and a 'grown-up' view of the world will begin to surface.
But right now, all Ben knows is that he loves Suzie more than anyone in the whole world. And so does Duncan. And he has no ego about it, no qualms, no embarassments, no reservations, and he doesn't care who knows it.
Love has no ego. He doesn't even care if she likes him back. All he knows is that he loves her and is bursting with it to the point where it has to come out! He has to share it!
As for me... I just wanted to hear it one more time...
So when I got to the part in the story when the little mermaid sees the prince and 'falls hopelessly in love with him', I paused, held the book to my heart, looked down at Ben and said:
"You know what that's like, dontcha Ben?"
He looked at me with those big brown eyes, pursed his lips together and nodded slowly to show that he meant everything he'd said that day and more.
And in that moment, I was reminded that True Love, does indeed exist.
We just forget how easy it is to express it.
Thanks Ben...
