The beginning of uncomfortable questions ...

This week Emma had me on my toes ...

We were leaving daycare and from our car the kids usually wave out the bay window at Renee's house, well Zachary (a 9 year old 4th grade boy who Emma has known since she was 10 months old) was smiling and waving to us. Miss Emma proceeded to start blowing him kisses -- mimicking her favorite Disney Princess "Ariel" and THEN says:

"Mommy, can we go back inside so I can give Zach a REAL kiss?"

I respond, with a look of horror, "Absolutely not. We do not kiss boys, we only kiss our family."

Emma sat in her carseat, peering out the window and then said "But Mommy, why do I want to kiss boys?".

Now, I could have taken that question a NUMBER of ways, but my little girl really wanted to know why she was feeling like kissing a boy!!!!!! It was not something I thought I would be discussing with her any time soon. So, I quickly validated her ...

"Emma, it is probably because you are friends with all of the kids at daycare and he was waving to show you how he has fun playing at Renee's too, but you CAN'T just kiss boys. You can give them a hug but no kisses. It's wonderful that you have fun and like your friends but we save kisses for our parents and sister and can give kisses on the cheek to our family and friends."

Emma smiled, looked sweetly at me and said "Ok, Mommy".

Whew ... hopefully we will not be having this conversation again ... and hopefully she really means "Ok, Mommy" and does not become a "kissing bandit" as Auntie Danielle so kindly pointed out! :)