valentine woes - part 2

Welp - we have the answer to Blake's anxiety about Valentine's Day.  He's in love.  Monica told me so. 

They were already loaded up in the car this morning and when I got in, it all unfolded.

Monica:  Guess what, Mommy?!?  Blake just said he has a girlfriend!  And she's in his class! 
Blake:  Giggles, hides face with hands.
Me: Buddy, is that true?  Clearly.  The kid can't stop laughing now.
Blake: Mon-i-caaaaaaa, why'd you say that? 
Me: That's awesome, Blake!  Is she pretty?  Is she smart?  Is she funny?
Blake:  Hysterical laughter with each question, but nodding yes through them all.
Me:  Does she know she's your girlfriend?
Blake: Yes, but she doesn't like me.  I'm not her boyfriend.
Me: Oh. 
Monica: That's because she's SIX!  An older WOMAN!
Me: Oh. 

That's all I had.  I'm not really sure how this part works.  So I tried (unsuccessfully) to guess some of the girls' names that I remember from his class on the way to school.  As we were approaching, he got nervous again. "Mommy, can you please stop talking about this now?" he whispered.  "Blake, no one can hear me while we're in the car," I whispered back.  Nonetheless, I dropped it.  God forbid one of the fifth-graders that opens the car door for them to get out at the curb hears the tail-end of our conversation. 

On the rest of my commute, it all started coming together.  About two weeks ago, Blake started caring what he wore to school.  I've been lucky to be able to dress him as long as I have, but now he's getting picky.  No collared shirts, nothing with "dinosaurs or bears or anything babyish" on it - he only wants skull and crossbone stuff.  Which is leading me to believe he's in love with an emo kindergartener, which is slightly disturbing.  But we're going to roll with it.  Surely it's just a phase.

Famous last words.

valentine woes

Check out these fantastic crayon hearts the kids and I made to add to their Valentine cards at school this year!  Aren't those super cute?  We really had a blast chopping up crayons and (not-so) patiently waiting on them to completely melt in the oven. 

Monica was thrilled and has some fantastic ideas about how to make her own cards instead of using store-bought character crap.  I would tell you what they are, but got lost in all the details.  I remember hearing things like 'special paper, buttons, beads, hot glue...' - it's going to be a pretty big project.  Blake... not so much. 

Me: Buddy, won't these be cool to give to all your friends in class for Valentine's Day?  We can give them a little notebook, maybe some candy...

Blake: No.

Me:  Wait, what?  But we just made all these hearts!

Blake:  Yeah, soooo - I don't really want to go to school on Valentimes Day.

Me:  Whyyyyyy?  All of your friends are going to be giving you cards and you'll give them one.  That's the way it works now, it's completely fair.  Monica, back me up here - isn't Valentine's Day fun?

Monica:  Oh yes.  And this year, the boys that give me the best cards are the ones I'm going to chase for the rest of the school year!  It's probably going to be Thomas, and Connor, and...

Me:  Okay, baby.  That's a whole 'nother problem entirely.  Blake, you will go to school on V-day and you're going to love it!  Tell you what, I'll pick up some superhero cards for you to give out so you don't have to do heart stuff, is that better?

Blake:  Ummm, I guess.  But I'm still not going. 


This continued for as long as I could stand it, and he still wasn't convinced.  I remember overthinking Valentine's as a youngster - Who's going to give me one?  Is mine good enough?  Please God, I'll use my best handwriting forever if I get the most!  In contrast, Blake's anxiety is really stemming from the fact that he doesn't know what to expect, it's not the real fear that we had growing up.  

Anyway... There really aren't any surprises here since we know he'll be coming home with exactly 26 Valentines.  But I hope he treasures each one of 'em... and that mine is the best. :)