When Addie was 2 years old, ang favorite niyang toys ay dinosaurs, cars, robots, etc. Her favorite cartoon characters were Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Miles from Tomorrowland. Mejo boyish si Addie pero we noticed also na at a very young age, she has this “attraction” to boys.
Recently, she discovered the concept of princes and princesses… and boyfriends and girlfriends.
Addie: Mommy, are you and daddy, boyfriend and girlfriend?
Me: Yes, but we’re married already.
Addie: What’s married? Like a wedding? Like in your picture?
Me: Yes, the one in the picture.
Addie: When can I have a boyfriend?
Nahulog ako sa upuan. Gusto ko magwala, pero pinigilan ko…
Me: When you’re as big as Mommy already. Since you’re still a baby, your boy classmates or friends are like your brothers.
Addie: Okay, Mommy.
Tumingin sa malayo si Addie na tila may malalim na iniisip.
Addie: Mommy, can I kiss my brothers on the lips?
Jeskelerd!!! Puwede bang ibalik nalang sa dati? Yung boyish siya?
Mejo nag-panic ang lola niyo. 4 years old lang si Addie teh! Times like these, I need a juicy. And where can else can I get help but from the experts themselves, my mommy friends…. and google haha! This is what I learned…
1. Keep the innocence
It’s normal for kids to be curious and mimic adults. Even if they don’t watch TV shows that depict adult relationships, part of growing up is imitating what they see. Malamang Addie saw me and Papa O kiss. So, should we stop doing that in front of her? No. As grown-ups, we tend to see things in our perspective, but kids do things innocently. It is our adult reaction and response which can take a kid’s innocence away and put more into their minds.
2. Listen and acknowledge
When your child starts to ask about relationships, listen to them and talk about it. Ang tendency kasi natin is to change the topic, or sabihan yung bata na “masyado ka pang bata” and stop discussing the subject. But listening and talking to your child this early about adult relationships makes them feel comfortable to tell you these things and ask for your advice. It’s an opportunity for parents to create an open relationship.
3. Teach
Once you have that “openness”, set your family morals and teach them appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Constantly talk and listen to your child. Your child may look at things innocently now but soon, she will start to see things like a grown-up. So it’s better if you’re there to guide her and reinforce your family morals.
With those in mind, kinakabahan pa ba ako? Actually, oo. Gagawin ko naman lahat yan pero…
San ko ba pwede itago ang anak ko hanggang mag-trenta siya? 😛
My daughter is 5 and meron daw syang 2 boyfriend! (Dizzy) and may ex boyfriend din from nursery kasi now kinder na sya! Gosh! Kabataan nga naman
Wow!!! ang cute ng daughter mo hahaha!
hello, ms. d! i have a 5yo and as early as 3.5yo when she started school she declared that a boy in her class is her ‘boyfriend’! until now na nag-transfer na ang boylet, yun pa rin daw ang boyfriend nya! so we let her – kasali sa pretend play nya yun lagi, we invited him and he attended her bday party last yr. we don’t make a fuss about it, sabi namin, they’re friends kaya ‘boyfriend’ but she insists she ‘loves’ him. yung ibang boy classmates daw ang friends, iba daw yun! pero we just let her be kasi we believe the more na dinidiscourage at ginagawang taboo yun ganyan the more sila nako-confuse and baka magka-malice pa sa mind nya. 🙂
Thanks for sharing Mel! Nababawasan na ang kaba ko haha! I agree, we shouldn’t discourage them 🙂
Ang laki na ni Baby A. Namiss ko rin mga kuwento mo abt sa kakulitan ni Addie, Ms. D
🙂 Thank you!
Nakakaloka! Ang ganda ni Addie kaya dapat ikulong na talaga yan!! Hehe.
Hahaha! Saan puwede? 🙂
Namiss ko mga kwento about Addie! At parang dalagita na sya sa pic, ang pretty!
I also have a 4 year old daughter. Thankfully wala pa naman sa stage na nagtatanong about boyfriend/girlfriend. D, goodluck sa inyo ni Papa O 🙂
Based sa aking research… (research talaga!), they start asking ng mga 6 years old. Napaaga si Addie! Hahaha! Good luck din sayo Rowena… kaya natin to!! Hahaha 🙂