Sometime this fall, or maybe it was the spring, I can’t really remember, Merrin began talking about her friend Nathan from daycare. She’d come home with stories about what toys she’d play with Nathan or what Nathan said or did. Then she began colouring and drawing pictures for Nathan. And then she just. wouldn’t. stop. talking. about. Nathan.

One day when I brought her in to daycare Nathan and his family were there – they are at daycare early as we are. I introduced myself to Nathan’s mother and said that Merrin really liked Nathan and talked about him a lot.

She seemed surprised by this, and asked me to repeat my daughters name. Seems Nathan has never mentioned Merrin at home.

My heart blushed for my 3 year old and her one-sided crush.

Since early December (real early, unfortunately) Merrin has been talking about, and planning, her birthday party. Now, for anyone not good with dates, her birthday is at the end of February. She has been talking about her birthday party going on 8 weeks now, but at least we are in the final stretch countdown. Because seriously – I am going to go insane if I have to listen to much more about the birthday party and how much fun it’s going to be. That or die from stress trying to live up to the expectation.

Anyway, in this past few weeks Merrin has talked more about Nathan coming and how much fun she was going to have playing with Nathan at her party and how Nathan promised he was going to come and could I please talk to his mom because we have to make sure Nathan is there and Nathan said he would get her a gift and it is going to be the best gift and Nathan is going to sit by her and they are going to have fun and could I just please tell his mom that Nathan was going to come to her party and OMG I’M GOING TO GO INSANE IF SHE DOESN’T GIVE IT UP!

I had been trying to explain that just because you go to daycare with someone or are friends with them or you give them an invitation doesn’t mean that they can come to your party. That something might happen and maybe Nathan or his brother might get sick or might have to go to their grandparents or something – that we would definitely invite Nathan but that she would still have a good party even if he couldn’t come. She seems to buy it, but I think more or less agrees because she knows that’s what I want – not because she really believes it.

This morning when I brought Merrin in to her daycare Nathan and his family were there. So I very clearly spoke:

“Good morning. I know I’ve mentioned it before but I just want to say again how much Merrin likes Nathan. And just so you know, Merrin is having a birthday party on Feb.20th and if Nathan is available Merrin would love for him and his brother to come. We will give him an invitation in a couple of weeks and we hope he can come.”

Yes. Those were essentially my words. In a clear loud voice to be sure that Merrin would know what I was doing.

And she did. The entire time I was talking she just stared at Nathan, smiling her big goofy smile. I turned to leave, calling goodbye to her over my shoulder. At first she ignored me or at least didn’t hear me. But a couple seconds later when I had my hand on the door Merrin called out to me and ran over.

“I love you Mom” she said while hugging into my leg as tight as she ever has.

And without a beat she proudly walked back to the table where Nathan was sitting.