A – Z Blogging Challenge, Raising Boys: The Penis Chronicles presents the Letter G for Girlfriend

I slide my feet out of my boots, the worn carpet feels familiar under my feet. I float down the hall on light feet eager to see my little boy’s big smile and sparkling blue eyes set above his chubby rosy cheeks. I enter the room at the far end of the hall and my feet note the change from carpet to linoleum. The noise is a soft rumble of tiny voices, laughter, and fast fun filled movements.

It doesn’t take my eyes long to locate my boy in the sea of toddlers, and I wait in one spot while he makes his way toward me. A cute little girl is shadowing his path across the room. He hurries over to my side and his tiny warm hands grasp mine with earnestness, and he gives a slight tug on my arm as he turns to the little girl who is now standing at his side. Her blue eyes are locked on me, and I note that they are not as deep a blue as my boys’ but they are no less startling in their sparkle and innocence. She has short straight blond hair that frames her plump pinkish cheeks as it bobs inward just below her jaw line. She stands a little shorter than my boy and her body still has the adorable toddler chunkiness. She smiles at me cheerfully enthusiastic.

I’m not expecting what comes next, not at 3 years old. However, I hear the words come out of my boy’s tiny little mouth. “This is my mom,” he says with a flourish of the hand that is laying comfortably in mine. My mind flashes with an immediate thought, I’ve been introduced!

She never breaks her smile as she says hello to me, and he never lets go of my hand and I am not sure if that is to provide support for me or himself. It’s entirely too sweet, these pint sized people acting so grown-up. I flash forward a few years and wonder if my boy will still have that sincerity with his introductions of high school girlfriends, or just friends in general, as well as that air of proudness that he is introducing me as his mother.

Before I can respond with more than a brief “hello sweetie” they have turned to embrace each other in the firm embracing hug. It is a long hug full of smiles and whispered words about missing each other and seeing each other tomorrow. The daycare staff approaches and tells the little girl she needs to let go so that my boy can get ready to go home. The daycare lady fixes me with a smile, “she calls him her boyfriend and asks ever morning when her boyfriend will get here.”

What I can I do but laugh, it is such a close friendship full of innocence and deep affection that forms so wonderfully between children: fast friends. Although I still can’t help but marvel that my 3 year old son just seamlessly introduced me to his first girlfriend!

By Shari Marshall – April 8, 2017

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