Requited Love?(!)

It's no secret that Aubree likes boys.  She's been writing notes for boys she likes since she was old enough to write (which was pretty darn young).  Nothing new there.

A couple weeks ago, though, Aubree received her first "love" note from a boy.  And not just any boy, a nine-year-old boy.  This particular boy is in her class at SCOOP, our home-school co-op.  Aubree's mentioned him in passing, but never thought he paid any particular attention to her, and she didn't pay much attention to him.  So when he handed her a folded up note with a big heart and the name "Aubree," she was a bit surprised (Mark threw the paper away before I had a chance to scan it.  I guess that's a Dad's prerogative.).

It took Aubree a couple days to tell me about the note, and when she did, her story was interrupted with a lot of giggles.  "I guess he likes me," was her assessment of the situation.  

 There's another boy in her primary class who she also really likes.  His name is Bryson and she's decided that it would be wonderful if she married him, because then there would be two Bryce's in our family.  Bryson also likes Aubree, and they're borderline disruptive with their talking and giggling in primary.

Aubree and Bryson unintentionally matching in purple

Now, Mark and I both remember "liking" other kids when we were young.  Nothing wrong with that; it's perfectly normal.  But this event did cause us to reflect and wonder about how well we've prepared Aubree for this boy/girl relationship/awareness thing.  So, we had our first (very basic and casual [in the car, even]) "dating" talk.  We discussed what dating is, what the terms "boyfriend/girlfriend" mean, and how our prophets and apostles have counseled that boys and girls don't start dating until they're at least sixteen. At the end of our discussion I posed the question, "Aubree, if a boy asked you to be his girlfriend, what would you say?"

She didn't hesitate with her answer, "Well, if I liked him I'd say 'yes,' but if I didn't like him, I'd say 'no.'"

Back peddling, I added, "What if you were only 12 when he asked?"

"Oh!" she amended, "then I'd tell him to wait until I was 16 and then I'd decide."

Phew.  If it sticks at 6 it will stick at 12 right?
I have a feeling this isn't the last love note she'll be getting, because....

Here's a not so secret, secret - Aubree doesn't just love boys.  She loves people.  And she's a gift-giver.  If she knows someone is coming to our home or she's going to see them, her immediate reaction is to run to write them a note, draw them a picture, or make them a gift.  I lost count of how many necklaces she's beaded for friends and adults alike.  She wanted to learn origami so she had another thing she could make to give to friends and neighbors.  She never goes to a party or activity without making sure she brings something home to share with her brothers.  Many of my friends have already claimed Aubree as their future babysitter because of how well she cares for their young children.

Aubree is so loving, it's no wonder she's so well-loved.