boy oh boy oh boy

My oldest daughter, who is seven, has pretty much been a tomboy up to this point. She still doesn't get into the doll scene as much as other girls. Don't get me wrong, she likes glitter and a spinny dress as much as the next chica, she just...isn't as into it as, say, my other daughters, particularly the one who is four. That daughter loves to watch me put on make-up, and play with my jewelry and brush her hair and the like. Li'l ~j. ...not so much. She's in a hurry to get outside and play basketball or ride bikes.

We had a few incidents a while ago with li'l ~j. not being completely honest (well, more like blatantly lying just because), and it came out that she doesn't want us to be mad. So we've done our best to make it clear that as long as she tells us the truth, everything else can be worked out.

Let me just tell you.

She tells me the truth all right. About everything. Every thought, every action, every thought that was almost an action ("I feel like I stole Skittles from Miss Morgan, but I didn't!"). She incessantly confesses everything and although it can be draining, at times, for me to listen to it, I feel that we're establishing a good habit, so we keep it up.

Lately, the confessions have been about boys. Who she's got a crush on (which, I have to admit, is easier for me to hear than that she 'loves' some boy), who else has a crush on who else, etc.. She starts the crush talk with the following:

"Mom, I have to tell you a secret, okay, and promise, PROMISE you won't tell anyone, just keep this between the two of us, okay?"

Every time. That's how she starts it every time.

I think my favorite description is this:

"Sometimes I feel like I have a crush on Hunter, but I don't!"

I like that description because I remember feeling that way, and li'l ~j.'s the one who was able to put it into words. When she's with a boy that she can be friends with, she gets an imitation of a crush, but upon further reflection, she knows that it's not actually a crush. I have a hard time explaining it even now.

We've been taking swimming lessons each morning this week (I say "we" because while li'l ~j. & Curly are in their classes, Superstar & I take a parent/toddler class as well) and just yesterday li'l ~j. told me that there's a boy in her class that she's got a crush on. She doesn't know his name. They've never spoken to each other.

Ahh, seven year olds.

Today, after lessons, li'l ~j. said to me, "Mom, you know that boy that...you know? Well, today he talked to me."

"Really? What did he say?"

"When he stands the water goes to here (points to her forehead) on him. He told me that. And about swimming fast."

She still doesn't know his name.

I'm glad lessons will end next week. But she'll find another, I'm sure.