Preschool Romance

For the last two months, I have been working as a pre-school teachers aide. It's a whole different world from youth ministry when I was working with teenagers.

However - I can't help but notice, in spite of the 10+ year age gap between the two groups, there are some similarities between the two. The one which is most noticeable, is the relationship drama.

Relationship drama in preschool?

Oh yes. You have no idea.

Meet Sarah and John. (Names changed to protect the adorably innocent.) The first day on the job I step in and three year old Sarah has already arrives and is playing on the rug. She invites me to play with her. As we play she informs me of this:

"I don't like it when John chases me in the gym."

I can't say I blame her. If someone were chasing me in the gym I wouldn't like it either. I'm terrible at running. Which is why I live on the internet. My friend who gave me the job and came by to show me the ropes the first day told me John was five, and while everyday Sarah claims she hates it when he chases her, once they get to the gym she asks him why he isn't chasing her.

Sure enough, when we get to the gym that day, I can hear Sarah yelling this:

"John! Why aren't you chasing me?"

PSA to all little girls of the world: This is why they think we're crazy. Just make up your mind already!

As the week went on, this continued. She would complain about him not chasing her, and then complain when he did. Sometimes they sat together at lunch or during crafts or during circle time. Then, there was the one week when she played with one of the other boys in the class in the gym.

It was quite dramatic.

That didn't last though, and Sarah returned to John. I even saw them hold hands at the Valentines Day party.

Not long ago, Sarah arrived to school earlier than John. In her possession were two of those homemade rubber band bracelet things kids are wearing now. One was for her, one was for... you guessed it... John. We sat at the table together discussing it, and Sarah was debating what she was going to do. It reminded me a lot of conversations I would have with the teenage girls when they had boy problems. Our conversation went something like this:

S: I don't want John to know I gave it to him. Can you give it to him?

Me: Why don't you want him to know you gave it to him?

S: Because my aunt made it and I don't want him to think she's his aunt. She's my aunt.

Me: Oh, I see. (A few moments later.) You know, I don't think John is going to think she's his aunt. He knows she's your aunt. So I think you should give him the bracelet.

S: Okay... but I don't want him to know I gave it to him.

Me:  Why don't you want him to know?

S: I don't want him to know. I can run and hide and you can give it to him.

Me: Okay... (a few moments later.) You know, if I were John, and someone gave me a gift, I would want to know who gave it to me. So, I think you should give it him because he would want to know it was from you.

S: Okay...

Me: I can go with you.

S: Okay!

Not long after this, John and his dad came in. After they had said their goodbyes, I encouraged Sarah to go up to John. She handed him the bracelet. John promptly took it, raised his eyebrows, and then ran to try and give it to his dad.

Poor Sarah.

However, after some convincing from his Dad, he put the bracelet on his wrist and said thank you. I think all he needed was a bit of manly encouragement because after that - it was all John would talk about. He was showing it off to everyone.

He even asked Sarah to play dinosaurs later.

It was so Bye Bye Birdie.

Seriously, I feel like it's Cory and Topanga!

Although... John is going to kindergarten next year. So, we'll see what happens.