Keep your hands where I can see them

Sadly, I can’t remember her first name, or last name for that matter, but she was the older sister of one of my best friends in kindergarten, and I was smitten with her.

She was my first crush, and after school each afternoon, she would kiss me on the cheek. It was easily the highlight of my day.

If I recall correctly, she was in middle school. I’m sure it was a harmless peck to her, but in my warped mind, I was dating a cougar long before I knew what that term meant.

My 2-year-old son, Luke, isn’t hunting cougars yet, but he’s already three years ahead of me when it comes to puppy love. Her name is Charli, and she is why Luke is excited each morning when I drop him off at daycare.

Whenever I ask him if he had fun there, he says, “Yes.” Ask him what the best part was, and he says, “Played with Charli.”

Ah, to be young and in love.

Last Friday, Charli ran up and hugged Luke as soon as he walked in the door. Other than my 6-year-old daughter, Lexi, I can’t recall ever inciting that type of reaction from a female.

Clearly, Luke already has more game than his dad.

I then saw a picture on Facebook of Luke and Charli holding hands at daycare. They looked so natural, seated on the gym floor in their long-sleeve gray shirts, smiling with their hands together.

My wife, Kara, oohed and aahed over the photo, but she then said, “We’re going to have trouble when he’s 15.”

I laughed and said, “Lexi’s the one I’m worried about.” Last year, I nearly lost my mind when I saw her holding a boy’s hand on a preschool field trip.

A double standard exists, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I smile proudly at a photo of my son holding a girl’s hand, but cringe when it’s my daughter on the receiving end.

Atta boy turns into step away from my baby girl.

Guess what? That’ll never change. My job is to chase off the knucklehead boys that come around until Lexi finds a man who will treat her with the utmost respect.

As for Luke, there will probably be a few more girls like Charli before he finds his match. No reason to rush into a commitment. Kindergarten is less than three years away, and the girls in middle school will love his rosy cheeks.

Thomas St. Myer writes a weekly parenting column for The Commercial Review. Follow him on medium.com, Facebook and Twitter @tstmyer.