The Summer of Romance

Here I sit, waiting for my wandering teens to come home for the night.  Again.  Weekend curfew is midnight and Helena is off at Cafe Rio (or some such place) with her boyfriend and two other couples. Will is at his girlfriend's house watching a movie with her family.

Yes.  You read that right.  Helena and her boyfriend.  Will and his girlfriend.

Gah!  How did that happen?!?

I can't help but hear that old tune from the musical Grease.  You know the one?  "Summer Lovin'".  This seems to be the summer for romance.  The thing is, I can't remember getting older, so when did they?  There is another song from a musical for you.  "Sunrise, Sunset" from Fiddler on the Roof.

Oi.  I am old.  I have musicals stuck in my head!

Helena is 18 now and has been on lots of casual dates, so the transition to actually having a boyfriend is not that weird to me.  But Will!  That is weirding me out!  He just recently turned 16 and this girl was his first date, and now his first girlfriend.  I know my son is a handsome guy, it is just bizarre to me to know that there is a girl out there who is attracted to him. And that he's got the self esteem and, I don't know, hutzpah, to make the romantic move of making her his girlfriend! ... That might have come out wrong.  Of course girls should be attracted to him; he is good looking, after all!  But to me he will always be my little boy, and in my head, I still see him as a boy.  Phooey.

Helena's boyfriend is named Dagen.  He is 19 years old and lives one town over.  He works at a car dealership and is committed to leaving for a church mission in just two months.  He will be gone for two years.  I'm all for that!  I don't want to sound obnoxious, but they are both very young and dating should be casual at this point so that they can both explore the world and figure out who they are going to be.  There will be time later in their lives to explore serious relationship commitments.

Will's girlfriend's name is Ashley.  She is cute and friendly.  She turns 17 in July and is actually going to be a senior this coming school year.  Will is going to be a junior.  Other than that, they seem to have a lot in common and it is obvious they like each other.  Will now has added motivation to finish driver's ed and find a job this summer.  Helena was surprised to find out about Ashley, because she and Ashley had some classes together this past year and she didn't know Will and Ashley were developing a friendship.  But Helena thinks she is a wonderful girl and gave her stamp of approval to Will's girlfriend choice.

You better believe I've had "the talk" with both of the kids.  Several times, in fact.  Most of the time they seem to listen patiently and with an open mind.  Only occasionally do they give me the look.  You know, the 'argh, not this again' look.  I also gave Will several suggestions on date ideas that don't cost anything, since he doesn't have a job, yet.

So, I have a feeling that this will be my summer.  Sitting up every night, waiting for the wandering romantics to come home, looking forward to hearing about their summertime adventures.  Isn't it a great time to be alive?