As many of you have remarked over the last year of getting to know my family, D is an incredibly sweet little boy. He’s also long had an interest in girls. Not a crazy, sex-driven interest or anything (thank GAWD! he’s only 6!!! 6 1/2!!!). But he’s a romantic, if you will. He talks all the time about wanting to “dance with [so-and-so] when she’s a princess at [their] wedding.” It’s awesome and sweet and naive and, yes, a bit creepy at times. I mean, seriously, what 6 year old is committed to MARRIAGE?!?!?! Like for reals?!?!?!
Anyhow, D is learning to read and write which means what he used to just say at home is turning into words. On paper. That he gives to these girls. Who bring them home to their parents. Who may or may not appreciate such a thing.
Below is an email I sent to one of those parents today. I’d be really interested in how you’d answer. I don’t want to discourage him from being a gentleman who cares about girls’ feelings and shows them respect and admiration and, yes, chivalry. (He’s been taught to hold the door open for girls. So sue me.) But then again I grew up before having a pre-pubecent teen snap your bra strap was considered sexual harassment.
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Dear [Dad] and [Mom],
As I’m sure you know, D absolutely adores K. He wrote a book for her (as well as one for another classmate) and really wants to give it to her, but before I let him I wanted to give you a heads up so that it didn’t make you uncomfortable. Let me start off by saying that D is an extremely sensitive kid (not in the crying when people are mean to him kind of way but in the genuinely caring about other people’s feelings kind of way). I’m aware that without knowing him, there’s risk of him coming on a little strong for a kindergartener so I wanted to make sure you were ok with him giving it to her.
The book says (and I’m fixing his numerous spelling mistakes here):
All of us like you.
Do you like rainbows?
You make my heart proud.
Some people are mean to you.
Some people are nice to you.
We love you K.
My apologies if this seems silly to ask. D is our oldest (and we only have boys) so we’re still working through what’s acceptable and what would be seen as strange by other parents. Please let me know if you’d rather him not give it to her and I’ll make sure it disappears. Thanks.
Emmie
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So what do you think? Am I being too PC? If K was your daughter, what would you say? I know it’s just puppy love but what if the other parent’s are heebed out by it? Halp!!!!
OMG he is sooo sweet! I would’nt mind at all but then I’m the mommy to an almost three year old who doesnt know how to read yet.. but that is very sweet. I hope that the parents don’t freak out and see it as adorable
That’s precious. I’m sure the other parents will appreciate that you thought about this, and my hunch is that they’ll be fine with D giving it to her. You’re raising quite the young man. (:
awww what a sweet boy. I know personally I wouldn’t care if a boy gave hannah something like that. Then again, hannah was kissing boys at age 4 so what do i know.
ok, haley had a friend who was just like this in pre-K and it continued in K. I would just let him give it to her. I think it’s thoughtful of you to give the parent a heads up and it’s a good idea especially if you don’t know the parents. he is so sweet.
I think it’s great that you wrote that email and if I were K’s parent I’d be happy for D to give her his book. What a sweet little boy you have.
As a mom of a kindergarten girl I think this is completely appropriate and as the mom I would be very appreciative for the heads up. At the age where little girls think that they are going to marry their daddies or brothers, it would be nice to let her have an admirer not in her family. What a sweetheart you have there. Would love to know how this turns out.
As I’ve said to you before, I just love your little guys! As a mom to a daughter, who was in kindergarten just 2 years ago, I’d appreciate the heads up. My daughter is very social and has received little notes and I’m sure has given them to the boys as well. My response to you would be a thank you for letting me know… and give the consent for the gift. I think it’s precious. And at this age, it’s good for my daughter to get a sense of the type of boys she would want as friends. I’d much more appreciate D than the boy who knocked her down more than once in an effort to get attention.
I think it is absolutely adorable and i would love if chloe one day got something like that.
i think the email heads up can’t hurt, tho!
xoxo
I never would have thought to send the email. I think D is very sweet. He could send a love letter, poem, notebook to Nat any day.