About Rebecca Eckler
Since becoming pregnant with her daughter Rowan, Canadian journalist and author Rebecca Eckler has penned three hilarious books, including the best-selling Knocked Up. Catch Rebecca’s weekly unique perspective on motherhood and single parenthood.
*Names, aside from Rowan’s, have been changed to protect identities of the pint-size romantics.
“I didn’t think Leo liked me at first,” my daughter said to me, as I put her to bed. “But now he’s my boyfriend.”
“He’s your boyfriend?” I asked.
“At first I didn’t think he liked me because he was always hitting me,” she said.
As the movie He’s Just Not That Into You suggests, women are programmed to be attracted to Bad Boys from an early age, thanks to mothers who say things like, “Sometimes, when a boy hits you in class that really means he likes you.”
“Sometimes, when a boy hits you in class that really means he likes you,” I said to my daughter. Doh! But, really, I do think this is somewhat true, and it’s better than saying, “That kid is an ass.”
I asked Rowan how Leo became her boyfriend. She looked at me as if I asked her what her name was. “Mommy! He gave me a sticker! I’m the only one he gave a sticker to!” Ahh. Isn’t six year-old love grand? All it takes is for boy to give girl sticker and you’re an item. There’s no questions like, “Will he call?” “Why is he still talking to his ex?” or, “Is he father material?”
Leo gave Rowan a sticker and – bam – boyfriend and girlfriend.
I was happy for my daughter. A few weeks ago, her best friend Jessica landed a boyfriend, and my daughter felt left out. “I have a secret mommy,” my daughter had whispered. “Jessica and Jacob are boyfriend and girlfriend. They kissed!”
My first thought was not, “That’s a little young,” but, “Gross. What about germs?”
“Where did they kiss?” I asked, hesitantly.
“They kissed….on the hand! And now they’re boyfriend and girlfriend.”
Again, a kiss on the hand and – bam – boyfriend and girlfriend. I wish it were that easy, and simple, as an adult! (There is a little love triangle because last year Jacob was Franny’s boyfriend and Franny and Jessica are also best friends, but anyway….)
It hit me I should probably tell my daughter she should maybe, um, concentrate on learning to read, because there will be a LOT of time to worry about boys. But, first, I called my “boyfriend” and said he should give me a sticker to prove his love.
“You’re too complicated for a sticker,” he laughed. Too complicated for a sticker? Ouch.
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