Little girl, big (broken) heart!

I thought we had a dozen or so more years before we had to deal with our LO’s first heartbreak over a boy, but it has already begun! And, to be honest, I’m a little heartbroken for her too!

The girls have always been outnumbered by the boys at daycare, but rather than stick with them she has always chosen to be one of the boys. And, in the last few months, she has been partial to one in particular… “My N”. She looks for him in the morning, makes sure to say good-bye to him 100 times before we leave and has even run out into the field area to pick dandelions and rocks for him before getting into the car to go home (because, clearly, that is love). And he is a sweetheart as well, running right up to her in the morning, sharing his cars with her and often shouting good-bye repeatedly from the playground as we walk away. They share a birthday month and really are the best of friends, with another little boy as their sidekick (otherwise known as the third wheel).

A couple of weeks ago when she was asking when she would see “My N” every day I just assumed that their family had gone on vacation as school had just let out for summer. So, last weekend when I brought the LO to see Toy Story 4 with a friend of mine, I was happy to see his cute little face pop into the arcade game we were killing time in before the movie started. I pointed him out to my LO and she beamed from ear to ear, shouting “My N”! He quickly ran over and jumped into the game with her and I went over to talk to his mom. I asked her how their vacation was and she looked confused. That’s when she realized why I was asking and told me; they had changed daycare! They moved to one that was closer to home and cheaper as well because they found the commute to ours difficult with a couple of older children in school as well. What?!? No! She admitted that they were not completely settled in yet and that they were thinking of returning to ours and I said please, please, please before running off to our theater. I told her I would leave our co-ordinates for her at the daycare so that we could plan play dates for the lovebirds as well, just in case. Apparently all they hear about at home is our LO so clearly it was fate!

The next day, daycare confirmed to me that they had in fact left the week prior. I told them that the mom did not seem committed so they said they would speak with her. Later that day, I received a text message saying that “My N” would be returning next week and I am pretty sure my heart skipped a beat – for my LO, of course. That morning she had been asking for him over and over again in the car, excited to show him her new Toy Story T-Shirt, and I couldn’t bring myself to tell her she may not get to see him anymore so this was great news!

Until it wasn’t.

Yesterday, I found out that they had resolved the issues they were facing in the new facility and they would in fact be cancelling their contract with our daycare. No! Tears stung my eyes as I thought about how I am going to break this news to our little love-struck girl. They still need to pass on our co-ordinates to the family, but what if they never get in touch? What if she never sees “My N” again?

I fear some sad morning car rides ahead… the first of many in the years to come I am afraid as well. Our LO is 3.5 going on 16! They grow up so fast.