The Boy Next Door ⇒
I heard recently that when your young daughter gets her first crush on a man other than her father, you should write down the qualities of the man and compare it to her lifelong mate when she's older.
Well, here is what my future son in law should be like, according to this theory.
Meet our young neighbour, Jake. He is one of the nicest 12 year old boys I have ever met. Jake eats sleeps and breathes hockey, except when he's playing Lacrosse. He is a goalie. His father supports his addiction and has built him a paved "rink" beside their house (between our two houses) which he flooded when the weather was cold in December. I often throw pucks and balls back over the fence.
The first time I met Jake was the day after we moved in. He rang our bell, introduced himself and asked if there was any time I would not like him to play hockey outside. I told him that since the girls sleep at the other end of the house it would probably not be a problem but if it was ever bothering me, I'd open the window and let him know.
Since then he has endeared himself fully with Elise and, especially, Daniella. At our house warming party he entertained them by shining a flashlight on the wall and they were chasing the light around. The girls like to go next door and bounce on the trampoline. If Jake is home, he comes out and bounces with them - does funny tricks and double bounces them by having them sit down and he does big belly flops and bum drops to get them to catch air. They laugh so hard!
I knew Daniella was smitten when she started waking up and the first thing she said was "Go bouncing with Gake? Gake do silly jumps?" Then, the other day, Jake was bouncing on the trampoline and D went out on the deck to watch him, clad in a diaper. Jake invited her over and while I was putting some pants on her in the house she said "Look so pretty for Gake!"
He always seems so happy to see Elise and Daniella. He is a genuine boy with a big heart...just like his parents. Congratulations to Rick and Dana for raising such an amazing young man! If each of my girls end up with a man like I expect Jake to grow up to be, I will be one happy Mama.
