I am not sure how it started or even why, but when Paddy was around 3 to 4 he would say to me, “I like you and love you.”  At first I would laugh and of course, “eat it up” as any Mom would, I’m sure.  I tried to explain the difference to him, but I think that understanding only made him more determine to let me know he really did like and love me.  I started saying these words back to him. After awhile I think it finally dawned on me how nice it was to actually be liked by someone who loved me.  I think sometimes, as sad as it is maybe, we don’t always like our loved ones. Now that Paddy is 7 years old, I rarely hear “I like you and love you” anymore, but yesterday I was reminded of this phrase he said to me in years past. 

Yesterday, Paddy jumped in the truck after school very excited.  He pulled something out of his backpack and held it up for me to see.  It was a package of sponge dinosaurs in plastic capsules, the kind that dissolve in water and grow.  I knew he loved this kind of thing and had come very close to buying a package to put in his Easter basket, but for some reason didn’t.  Anyway, I was excited for him and wanted to know what he did to earn such a great prize. He explained that a girl in his class gave them to him.  Of course, I wanted to know all the details of why and what did she say.

It was just a simple, kind gesture from a very sweet girl and he has had other girls give him stuff before, but he blushed and said,

“I think she likes me.” 

“Why do you think that?”, I asked

“Well, while we were standing in line her best friend told me she did!” He said excitedly.

Paddy is charming with big blue eyes and a sweet smile.  He is nice to the girls in his class and it is no surprise that it had been rumored that several different girls like him.  Last year one girl even tried to kiss him, but missed his lips and ended up crying. (Bless her heart, she is a very sweet girl too.) But this girl is different.  Paddy was beaming with excitement declaring he liked her too.  I asked if he only liked her because she liked him and he insisted no.  I’m not sure how to handle this or what to do and say, if anything.  Even though Paddy is the youngest, this is a new situation for me.  Sissy and Bubba both still insist the opposite sex is gross. 

Paddy came home and immediately put his dinosaurs in water to watch them grow.  He carefully took them out and dried them.  They were his prize possession for the rest of the day.  He proudly told his sister and brother how this girl liked him.  He was beaming with excitement. His smile was spectacular.  Seeing his happiness over this simple word, “like”, made me want to call my husband.  Sometimes looking at my sons I see the man in them or maybe it is the little boy in my husband I see.  But I just wanted to call my husband.  I wanted to call him just to tell him I liked him. 

Regrettably, I got busy with my typical Monday night Bible study across town and never made the phone call.  This morning I told my Hubby the story of Paddy’s day and how it made me want to call him to just to tell him I liked him.  He pouted and said, “but you didn’t.”  I felt bad that I let myself get “too busy” to take the moment to call him. When he pouted I saw the little boy in him.  The little boy that just wants the girl he likes to like him too.

I took the time today.  I called him just to say, “I like you.” He laughed and said he liked me too!