It’s All About Love
My Katie gets home from camp today! I can’t wait to see her and hear all about her week. I want to know everything. What friends she made, what crafts she did, what she ate, what important life lessons she learned (like the throwing up thing or the M&Ms thing) and mostly what the camp did for her spiritually.
Camp was where I started finding my God as opposed to my parents’ God. And that’s what I want for Katie. Yeah, she’s only 12 and her faith is still strongly based on how she’s been raised. But she’s getting to the age where she’s going to have to figure stuff out on her own and I think camp is a great avenue for that. So we’ll see.
She has a “boyfriend” (I use the term loosely because, like I said, she’s only 12) at church who is in her grade at school. The kid is an absolute doll. He’s going to be quite the charmer as he gets older. I can’t be friends with his mother, though, because she’s young and cute and looks great in a two piece bathing suit. Drat it all if she isn’t nice, too.
I ran into them yesterday at Target. It was so funny because I was putting my stuff on the belt and saw somebody looking at the candy in my aisle out of the corner of my eye. When I looked up it was Matt. I said, “Hey, Matt,” and when he saw me he broke out into a huge smile. He was polite and said “Hi” back, but he was looking for Katie. I could tell when he realized I was alone. The smile dimmed just a little. His mom and I finished up about the same time and we stood at the front of the store chatting for a little while. She said Matt’s been checking his text messages all week to see if maybe Katie came home from camp early. Ahh… Young love.
On the other end of the spectrum is Taylor and his love life. He dated a girl for about three or four months and broke up with her about a month ago. I came to love this girl in that length of time and I was heartbroken when they broke up. Not because I thought they should always be together and end up getting married or because I miss her so much – even though I do miss her. But because I knew she had her heart broken.
I think she’s gotten over it better than I have. Even now I can cry just thinking of it. I’m not sure if it’s because I remember what it’s like to have my heart broken or because I’m a mom and the thought of my children hurting is almost more than I can bear. Probably a little bit of both. I spent one day in a total funk, crying at the drop of the hat. I cried for this child and the pain she was in and I cried for her mother. But still, I couldn’t begrudge Taylor for breaking up with her. It wasn’t a decision easily made and he did it with much anguish because he didn’t want to hurt her.
Taylor now has another girlfriend. Which makes him sound like a player, but he’s really not. I won’t go into the whole story – partly for his sake, but mostly for yours – but his new girlfriend has been someone very special to him since last summer. I love this little girl, too. Ever bit as much as the other one. And her mother and I are becoming great friends – she’s also a breast cancer survivor of 10 years. GO CONNIE!
And I never thought I would say this about my 15-year-old son, but I honestly won’t be surprised if this is the one. Yes, I totally believe in young love – you should hear my family stories. Like my middle sister was 14 when she started “dating” (group dates and family outings only – lol) her now husband. My oldest sister started dating her husband when she was 16. Both have been married over 30 years. I was old and 18 when I started dating Todd. So I know firsthand that sometimes young romances do stand the test of time.
It would be fine with me if he never broke up with another girl again. I don’t think I can take it. Of course, I’m not sure what her mother would have to say about me already having them married in my mind. :o)
My last “love” subject is the party we’re going to this afternoon. Some good friends of ours are getting married in Rhode Island in a few weeks – just the two of them and Todd and I – but today is the reception or wedding party. Cristie – the bride – is the lovely woman who introduced me to my newest addiction – the Fluffernutter. So she thought it would be apropos if I were to make fluffernutters for the party. I am honored. But I guess that means I need to get up, pour another cuppa joe and get to work.
So that’s all the love I’ve got at the moment. And if by, say, Tuesday I’m back here complaining about how Katie is driving me crazy, please refer me back to this post. ‘kay??
I’m so with you on the break up thing. I’m also happy (and relieved) to report I’ve really liked the young women my boys have dated. Although it’s only two so far for each of them. And I give it at LEAST a week before Katie does something that drives you crazy. 🙂
Kids and their love lives! I remember that I was always at least as emotional about their love lives as the were! OK, OK, I know! but they grew up fine and so did I!!
Hi! My Abby is heading to camp on Monday for the week. And my oldest is backpacking for 11 days. It’s going to be quiet around here.You’re a step ahead with the love life stuff – ha!Sandy
I hope Katie had a good time at camp. I would like to see both of my kids grow spiritually.My son (the older of my two kids) is starting high school this year. He’s had two girl friends so far; one last summer, one earlier this year. He really didn’t “date” either of them. They just talked / texted and hung out at school.
Oh boy, break ups. You’re going to have to toughen up–he’s a good kid, he’ll probably always pick nice girls that you’re going to fall in love with too :)Welcome home Katie.
I hope Katie had fun…AND hopefully she didn’t learn as much as I did – what they say about preacher’s kids…sooooo right! Hahahaha!Your kids sound so darn cute! I think it is all very sweet. 🙂
I’m beginning to think that “no dating” stance isn’t such a bad idea. I think back on all my high school activities, and the ones I remember with the most amount of fondness and least amount of chagrin are the times spent with a group of friends rather than the dates I went on. I haven’t investigated it much yet–Audrey’s barely 8–but it seems to me there would be fewer temptations, fewer regrets, fewer broken hearts, better memories, and more good friends with that way of thinking. But hey, I could be wrong. I’ve been wrong a couple of times, so I suppose it could happen again. 😉
I love that you believe in young love! I met my husband when I was 17, and his mom was really against us dating only each other. She really wanted him to date around, but we both already knew we were meant to be. She got over it, and is now wonderful, but the first few years were tough with her always suggesting he date other people!
Rosie – It is nice that at least this far I really like the girls.Lynilu – That’s good to know! :o)Sandy – I hope you enjoy your peace and quiet!Dan – I shouldn’t have probably used the term “date” because they don’t date, either. They have a huge group of friends – all from the youth group at church – and do that sort of thing. But no real dating.Tara Marie – That’s what I’m afraid of! lolJodi_Lee – It is all very sweet. :o)Katybug – Like I told Dan, “dating” isn’t the correct term. It’s all group activities with kids from church or else with each other’s families. Taylor has actually brought up the whole courtship thing – which I’m all for!Radioactive Girl – I know too, too many people who have been happily married to their highschool – or younger – sweethearts not to believe. :o)
I think thats great.. so many people dont last these days.. see me… however it can work.. and it can work when you meet young.
Oh.. the idea of Hannah dating freaks me out. She is only 21 months old! But I must confess, there are a few little boys on the “you may date when you turn 30” list. And today as we drove to church, she started chanting the name of one of them. Does that mean she has her first crush?? Oh, thank God it’s just innocent cuteness at this age.
I think it is SO sweet that you cried when he broke up with his girlfriend. Breakups are miserable all the way around but it sounds like you’re raising such a kind, sensitive son! (The best kind of contribution to the world you can make, in my opinion!)
What a wonderful post! Ahhh young love…I know how you feel on all accounts. i also get attached to my sons friends and am now sentimental because some of younger sons friends will be leaving for college soon and I will miss them.
I heart this post. Big and I have known each other since I was 12, and dated since I was 15. It’s been the best 23 years of my life. Seriously. And now we’re starting to sag and go gray! Life does go by quickly!On another note…mmmmm…fluffernutters. Sounds good. xxxooogretchen
Pokey Puppy – One just never knows, do one?A Wandering Heart – I’m all for arranged marraiges. I’m just sayin’.Swishy – I just have to wonder if I would have cried so much if I hadn’t had my delicate hormonal balance disrupted in July.Seaspray – Ya know, you hear so much about how horrible teenagers are, but there are so many nice ones out there. I’m glad I know the nice ones! lolGretchen – You were 12 when you met?? What a story for your kids!! And is there a better sandwich than the mighty fluffernutter??