Bearsy

Bearsy could not hide his joy when I picked him up at his afterschool. He rested his elbows on the rail outside the room and looked dreamily far ahead of him.

I followed his eyes trying to see what had caught his eyes.

Nothing unusual. The same old school buildings we saw everyday.

Before I opened my mouth to ask, Bearsy blurted out to me: "Mom, I like somebody."

I was a bit bewildered but quickly grasped it.

"Well, being able to like someone is a wonderful feeling."

"Yes, yes, I know." He hurriedly cut me off.

"I like this girl from 6th grade." Bearsy volunteered the information to me all so quickly.

Bearsy is a new 5th grader.

"In that case, I hope you have not shared it with anyone else yet. Some people may misunderstand it and make fun of it, you know?"

"I know, I know." He grew impatient in a not-so-negative way.

"But my best friend also likes this girl."

I have grown a bit calm now, internally.

"Well, that means you guys have something in common." I paused briefly before I continued. "Sometimes liking someone is a good step to develop a lifetime friendship." I side tracked a bit, attempting to earn myself some time so I could respond more wisely to such an unexpected situation.

"Mom, you don't get it. My problem is I like too many of the girls. I like xxx in our church, I like xxx in my class and now I like this girl from 6th grade." He confessed it all.

I started to laugh but had to suppress my laughters.

I thought boys were supposed to develop slower. Or so the books say. I was wrong!

"Well, ..." Before I even started, Bearsy nudged me away from the afterschool, signaling me that there were people within the earshot.

By this stime his little sister had joined us and further conversation was closed.

I pondered upon his words and felt a bit guilty not detecting this new emotion earlier. More so, I tried to dig mentally into the books and other sources I read before and see how to cope with this new stage of my kids' growth. Nothing practical came up. So much so for all the learning! I signed.

Later on at home, as if sensing my intention to share the information with his dad, Bearsy pulled me aside and requested I not share the secret with his dad.

His request made me feel honored, almost to the point of a priviledge. So I am the only one he entrusted with such a precious information!

I shall keep the secret then.

Dinner time passed peacefully. Outwardly all looked the same but I knew I was transformed internally. How do I deal with his tender age and his growing emotions? How do I handle it and guide him wisely? Should I go back and re-read Emile and receive some enlightenment?

I decided against it but use my common sense instead.

At bed time I tried to bring up the topic again with little success.

Bearsy was done with the topic.

Well, that will give me time to prepare, I told myself.

The next morning, the ususal quick-paced Bearsy spent so much time in front of the mirror tousing up his hair. The gel he generously applied to his hair was about to drip in his eyes and onto his shirt.

I looked at him and started laughing out aloud.

This heart-breaker-to-be just added vanity to his list of sins.

"Wipe that off before it drips into your breakfast." I ordered.

"Mom, you don't get it. I have to put it there so my hair will stay in shape till the afternoon." Bearsy explained.

Well, what can I say, my wise readers?