Now am I Your Girlfriend? (a mother’s perspective)
Is it possible that my two children know more about love than me? How else do I explain what I’ve observed over the last couple of years. My son and daughter are roughly two years apart, growing up with a single mother, and outwardly, seem to be just normal young kids.
Well, normal, except that they never seem to fight over the dumb stuff that children often fight about, and the fact that they’re obviously in love with each other. But even “in love,” they never have arguments and seem to be respectful and kind to one another in ways that most lovers never seem to find. I know I never found that level of kindness and gentle caring in any of my relationships, let alone with my “ex.”
Both of my children benefit from the genes of their father; mildly “Mediterranean” in their skin and eye colors, and absolutely beautiful. My daughter is the younger of the two; twelve now, and just beginning to blossom as a young woman. My son is just slightly awkward at 14, between puberty and full-on adolescence, but still beautiful, with full lips and deep, dark eyes. I’m not sure how they came to be a seemingly perfect couple – I only found out quite by accident, and it only confirmed what over time became my slightly curious suspicions.
Since they were little children they have been inseparable. But it was in the last two years or so that I started to notice the subtle change. There were completely unselfconscious exchanges of intimacy between them that one might have missed without careful observation — a fleeting touch or gentle kiss — but nothing that ever seemed dangerous to either. The two children just seemed to be growing into a “couple,” sharing their down time, my son helping with homework, sharing chores — all with a gentleness and patience that one would expect from an old married couple.
I’ve never asked them what was going on between them. They seem to be happy children, doing well at school, but unlike many children their age, not very involved with others outside their relationship. They laugh often with each other, but are mostly quiet and, by outside appearances, content in their relationship. If I thought anything was amiss, I’d say something, but even the most intimate part of their relationship appears to be built on trust. It’s certainly built on romantic attraction.
I happened upon them while they were napping together — not unusual in itself…except that they were both naked. And they were “spooned,” with my son’s arm around his sister, his hand on her cunt. Both were sleeping soundly. Now I guess most parents would have started screaming at them, but, with a little thought, I chose another strategy.
I didn’t want them to be ashamed about their feelings and obvious comfort in each other — it certainly didn’t look like my son had forced anything on my daughter, and judging from their general behavior, I had no reason to suspect otherwise. So, while it was somewhat uncomfortable, I just observed for a moment, and left them to their sleep.