Young love

Walking out to the playground today, I spotted young love on the playground. A little boy and girl from another preschool class were happily running out to the playground. The little blond with curly hair was pulling a dark-haired little pudgy boy behind her. She was excited to be leading the way and he was just goofy with the biggest grin on his face. It was a precious reminder that love isn’t just for grown-ups. Love is just as alive at age three as it is at age 93.

Later, on the playground today, I took a moment to scan the playground, make sure all the kids were there and such, when I spotted a little boy from my class. He was walking slowly across the playground with his head down, Charlie Brown style. I walked over so that I would be in his path and kneeled down so he could see me. He kept walking and softly walked right into me. I asked him what was up and why he looked so sad. He sat down on my legs, looked at me with his big blue eyes and said,

“My girlfriend doesn’t like me anymore.” He continued, “She doesn’t like me. She’s playing with another boy and not me. She doesn’t want to play with me anymore.”

He was distraught as he looked over at the blonde haired little girl pulling around the boy with that same big grin as when I spotted them earlier. I realized that this blonde curly-haired little girl had been his “girlfriend” for the past week or so and she was now playing with another boy. Curling his head into my shoulder, his body just sank. He was experiencing his first heartache, at age three. We sat together on the playground and I kept telling him everything was going to be alright. As we were walking in, his Charlie Brown walk was even more apparent. I told him, when I feel sad I walk with my chin up looking to the sky and I feel a little better, and he did just that.