First Love Springs Eternal

Last fall, when three year old Zess started her preschool, a cute little blond boy named Zvan instantly developed a major crush on her. He loved her pigtails and braids, her brown hair and eyes, everything about her. He wanted to sit next to her at lunch and at circle time. Zvan even told his grandpa on the phone about how much he loved Zess and how beautiful she was. After school, when the mommies pick up their kids, little Zvan would try to hug Zess and shout, "I love you!" Poor Zvan's mom was a bit embarassed at her three year old son's strong sentiments. He was quite young to be such a Casanova. Zess, however, was totally oblivious and hardly noticed Zvan's attentions or his presence all year.

At the end of the year, his passion unabated, Zvan managed to get Zess to agree to give him a kiss goodbye. Imagine this mommy's shock when Zess and Zvan fully embraced and smacked lips! This was followed by this mama in the car ride home explaining that Zess never had to kiss or touch anyone else unless she wanted to. In retort, Zess declared, "I wanted to kiss Zvan."

Cut to this fall, at the beginning of the four year old year at preschool. This mama was sure that Zvan would have forgotten his passion over the summer and moved on to other boyish things, say riding bikes and marble runs. But immediately at the circle time on the first day, Zvan tried to sit next to Zess by wedging himself between Zess and her best little girl friend, Zofia. Bad move. Zofia and Zvan had a bit of a scuffle over the coveted spot next to Zess, but Zofia won out. Zvan went and sat on his mommy's lap and cried.

We'll see how this unrequited crush plays out over the course of the year. . .