She's Just A Love Machine

I've been a Mom for over 4 years now. The majority of that time my own Mother has spent snickering behind her hand or even laughing right out loud as things are done onto me as I have done onto others, namely her. My Mom has waited many years for it to be my turn. You know just to even the score out between us. Whatever story I have to tell her about Abby she has a similar one to share about myself or my brother. I like to point out that Abby as a small kid is more like my brother than me and Wednesday was further proof of that.

Back in the day when Dave was a small, but charming tow-headed boy he was already a well accomplished flirt. He was a pint sized lothario. A playground Casanova. By j/k he had scored his first girl friend and brought her home to meet the family. Floating around the family archives is a photo of this "date". The little girl's name eludes me right now. Was it Tracey? Mom? Dave? Anybody remember. That night, by the glow of the TV they smooched and it was recorded on Kodak picture paper for all eternity. It was 1979.

Fast forward to 2006. This past Wednesday I sent my daughter off to school. As always she was happy and excited to go. The end of the day her Dad and I met her bus, which was late but we spent the time chatting with our neighbour who's son is in Abby's class. At home I inquired about Abby's day, she told me she'd spent some time in the "Thinking Chair" for something to do with water and her coconut tree. She was very excited about being the VIP next week so that dominated our after school chat. No more information was forth coming and we continued on with our evening.

Our evening that was disrupted by a phone call from Abby's teacher. Did we know that Abby had been in the "Thinking Chair" a *couple* of times that day? Well sure we knew about the water and the coconut tree. Apparently Miss S was more interested in telling us about her second stint in the "Thinking Chair". Because she kissed a boy. On. The. Mouth. My four year old daughter is already kissing boys. On the mouth! Excuse me while I hyperventilate into this paper bag for a while. Oh and can we call somebody to recussitate Michael? Thanks. Lucikly the teacher found it amusing and Abby wasn't in "trouble", but the teacher really pushes the idea of everybody having a personal bubble so the kids learn boundaries. She was calling just to keep us apprised of what was going on and we did appreciate that. Now the teacher didn't give us the name of the kissee, but appparently Abby has no shame hard and fast rules about kissing and telling. She told us right away she had kissed Connor. The little boy who lives across the street.

Me: So why did you kiss Connor?
Abby: I just wanted him to know he's a good friend.
Me: Well maybe next time you could just tell him he's a good friend.
Abby: Okay
Me: So what's the new rule?
Abby: No kissing boys at school.
Me: Or girls.
Abby: Or girls. Can I kiss myself?
Me: Sure honey. Now remember what Miss S says about your personal bubble. So no touching the other kids.
Abby: Mom I promise not to kiss Connor behind his bubble ever again.

That explains why when Abby came home and saw the 4 apple pies she asked if we could give one to Connor because "he's my friend". She also gave Connor and his brother one of the pumpkins she had grown this summer. So she kisses a boy then a few hours later shows up on his doorstep with gifts... hmmm guess I have to teach her about not appearing desparate.