Conversations at the Dinner Table: Dating

Dr. Peds was still at work, but the rest of us were gathered at the table outside on the deck, eating fingerling potatoes from the Farmers Market topped with fresh oregano from the plants we are growing on the deck.  After a delicate discussion on the differences between novels and romance novels, one of the kids said loudly and clearly, “I am not going to date anyone except the person I marry, and I’m probably not going to date anyone until I’m at least in college.”

“That’s just fine,” I replied.  “I didn’t date anyone except your dad before I married him, and we didn’t start dating until college.”

“Really?  Isn’t that kind of unusual?” said another kidlet.

“It is unusual.”

“But what about all those BOYS in your diaries that you liked?”

“Well, they didn’t like me back.  Sometimes you like someone and they don’t like you back.  I probably would have dated one of those boys if they had liked me back, but in the end they wouldn’t have been the right person for me and I was kind of blessed in the end that I only ended up dating the person who was the right match for me.”  It’s true.  At this stage in my life I look back and realize I was really saved from a lot of emotional strife. 

“Hmmmmm.”  A different kidlet asked, “Well, did Dad date other girls before you?”

“He did.”

“How MANY?” a kidlet gasped.

“Well, I don’t really know actually.  You would have to ask him that question.”

“Wait a minute!” another kidlet practically yelled.  “Did you ask HIM to start dating or did he ask you?”

“Well, technically he asked me sort of, but he knew a long time before that I liked him.  I liked him a lot, for a long time before we started dating.”

“Well why didn’t you start before then?”

“He was dating someone else and they broke up, and then he liked someone else, and then he started dating someone else that liked him and that didn’t work out.  But he knew I liked him.”

“So he thought you were a brainy geek  with a lot of books when he saw you?”  They’ve heard that part of the story a few times.

“Yep.”

“Wait!  Wait!  I bet you were wearing an oversized International Music Camp sweatshirt when he saw you!”  yelled a kidlet.

“Actually, I probably was!  I had several back then.”

“I KNEW it!  That explains EVERYTHING!”