Sarah
My niece Mary loves my boyfriend, Jed. (Mary is 2, but she has excellent taste in men.)
Jed and I visited Mary and her brother and her parents over Christmas. Jed went over like a hot fudge sundae. “Where is Jed?” Mary would say to me. “I will go get Jed and we will put ribbons in your hair.”
My sister-in-law, Mary’s mom, told me that a couple of weeks ago, entirely out of the blue, Mary said to her, “Wouldn’t it be great if Jed came to our house?” My sister-in-law, a little confused, agreed. Then Mary said, “Do you think he could not bring Sarah?”
Jed and I have been in Utah visiting family for the Easter weekend, and yesterday we saw Mary for the first time. When her family arrived at Easter dinner, Mary ran in, swinging her tiny-sized matchstick limbs and grinning like a pixie she-devil. She ran around the corner of the table and leapt into my lap. I turned her to face Jed. “Do you remember Jed?” I said. She nodded. She looked Jed directly in the eyes and said, “I talk about you all the time.” (For real she used italics.) Jed laughed. “Good,” he said. “I talk about you all the time too.” And Mary jumped down and ran away.
Today Manfriend and I are going to visit Mary and her brother and her mom. I’m not sure who’s most excited–Jed or Mary or I.
Which is my way of saying, Dear Apron Stagers, this is my whole post. I have family to love today.
[And Sarah jumped down and ran away.]
The Apron Stage 
17 comments
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April 5, 2010 at 11:47 am
Blue
I still remember my first big crush on a family member’s friend. I was entirely obnoxious and intrusive. Mary sounds much more restrained in her admiration.
April 5, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Heather
Love this post. One of my favorite things about my husband’s large family has been watching his younger siblings marry, and watching the children open their hearts to them. If my kids adore someone, they get an A+ in my book every time.
April 5, 2010 at 12:09 pm
smylies
Scurry scurry. Hope you enjoyed your weekend. Conference weekend in SLC. Green with envy.
April 5, 2010 at 12:29 pm
sister
I’m jealous. I miss you all.
I just read an article about lettuce in the nytimes and thought of you–I might even try the romaine lettuce soup recipe later this week (see the Mark Bittman video on the lower left of the article): http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/dining/07mini.html
April 5, 2010 at 12:32 pm
sister
p.s. nevermind the title “The Charms of the Loser Lettuces,” we know you make magical food with romaine.
April 5, 2010 at 12:32 pm
living in zion
Kids are such excellent barometers for judging character. If the young ones in your life love someone, trust them.
Besides that, I’d Mary has excellent taste in men and should do just fine in the dating pool when it is her turn.
April 5, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Jason M
My mom used to watch one of the neighbor’s dauthers during the week and sometimes I’d get to stay home and hang out. She used to grin and tell my mom that when she grew up, she was going to marry me. I think she’s probably got a hubby and kids by now.
April 5, 2010 at 12:40 pm
siblingeight
That was really beautiful, Sar.
April 5, 2010 at 1:07 pm
nakiru
One of my dearest little Marys, the daughter of a close friend, is in love with one of my best guy friends from college and she has him wrapped around her fingers. He is convinced that she is the cutest, sweetest little thing ever. I visited them last year, and every morning I woke up to two small bodies piled on mine and the sweet endearing question of “Miss Coral, Miss Coral, do you think Ben will come visit today?”
I don’t mind being chopped liver in situations like that.
April 5, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Traci
Child adoration is the best. My Margeruite is a little in love with almost all of the male members of our family- particularly my niece’s new husband. Another niece who is now sixteen used to be totally in love with me, when I went to the bathroom she would wait outside the door saying “Taaciii, Taci, you in there?” while sticking her chubby little baby fingers under the door. I miss those days, such a self esteem boost.
April 5, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Sara
Nieces and nephews are always more excited about significant others and non-family friends. Novelty. Sigh . . .
April 5, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Karen
When I was dating and engaged to my now-husband my youngest brother was eight. He and my husband hit it off quickly and would play video games, basketball, and other stuff together all the time. Once when we took Spencer (younger brother) to get ice cream he excitedly asked Mike if he wanted to have a sleepover. We giggled at the thought of Mike in a sleeping bag in Spencer’s room while I slept in my own bed in the room across the hall.
There is definitely something endearing about having a child adore the one you adore.
April 5, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Marilyn
Enjoy the family visiting! I wish Iowa weren’t so far away from everywhere.
Loved the Conference announcements, by the way. You have very goodly parents. xoxox
April 5, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Kandie
When my husband and I had just been married a couple of months, we visited my aunt and uncle and their two little daughters. After a short time of playing games and catching balls and just generally being his friendly self, the youngest niece asked him, “When I grow up, can I marry you?” She looked so puzzled as he tried to explain that he was already married to me, her cousin.
Now, more than forty years later, he has not lost his ability to be like a child and to play easily with one. His grandchildren just glow when he comes home. I do too.
April 6, 2010 at 12:02 am
AnnaBeth
My neighbor is convinced that my 3 year old charmer is trying to break up his marriage by stealing his wife. My boy does talk about her A LOT.
April 6, 2010 at 2:03 pm
katie
mary is beautiful and i love her question “Do you think he could not bring Sarah?” i can hear a little girl her age asking it.
April 7, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Louise Plummer
I remember having a huge crush on my Aunt Hennie’s fiance, Joe. He swung me around holding one wrist and one ankle. He’s still my favorite uncle. Uncle Jed has a nice ring.