The Adventures of Sharkboy and Kiddo
Kiddo has a boy friend. He’s the boy on the next floor.She actually met him through me. His mom was someone I had to interview for an article that I was writing. We got around to talking and after finding out that we both had “only kids” who were of the same age (exactly 3 months apart), we agreed to schedule a play date.
We didn’t have to do anything much after that. Kiddo and her new friend, Sharkboy, became practically inseparable.
He came to that nickname because the only thing that they probably don’t do together is swim since Sharkboy is somewhat afraid of the water. It doesn’t stop him though from staying by the poolside and waiting patiently for Kiddo to finish swimming. That’s just how they are with each other. Sharkboy is extremely caring, always watching over Kiddo and it just completely endears him to her (and to me!).
Their display of genuine love and concern for each other, founded on an innocence only children can have, is both touching and extremely laughable. I marvel at it, my mother’s heart is warmed by it, and as a spectator, I am always entertained by it. Watching them together, how they are with each other, and sometimes how they fight is like being with an old married couple. There is never a dull moment. (well, maybe that also has something to do with them being two very energetic 5 year olds)
Their two and half years (half their lifetime!) of constant togetherness have been filled with many episodes of their own unique dramedy. Of the many adventures of my Kiddo and her Sharkboy, these are my personal favorites…
The one where Sharkboy is chivalrous
One play date with us mothers as chaperones, we took Kiddo and Sharkboy to a playground with inflatable slides where they had to take off their shoes and play only in their socks. After playing, Sharkboy picked up 2 pairs of sneakers from the shoe bin. Alarmed, Sharkboy’s mom stopped him thinking that he got another child’s shoes by mistake.
Sharkboy’s reply: “No, these are Kiddo’s shoes. I’m getting them for her.”
The one where they pulled a “Romeo & Juliet”
One day while going down the winding staircase of our building, Sharkboy saw Kiddo as she was leaving with her Dad. Sharkboy called out her name, frantically running after her. Restrained by his own yaya to keep him from tripping on the steps, he outstretched his arms behind the railings (making him look like he was behind bars) crying, begging Kiddo not to go.
Kiddo being a typical female relishing being pursued, nonchalantly said, “I have to go now -- my Dad’s here. Bye!”. If her hair were longer, I’m sure she flipped it over her shoulder, without giving Sharkboy so much as a second glance.
Apparently, girls will be girls, regardless of age.
The one where they started going to the same school
On Kiddo’s first day at Sharkboy’s school, he called her on the intercom and offered to pick her up so that they could walk to school together.
As classmates, they became even more inseparable, going straight to each other’s houses at dismissal to eat lunch together (with Kiddo making Sharkboy carry her bag for her), going home only at dinner time.
The one with the Care Bears
The day before we left for Hong Kong, Kiddo and Sharkboy made a pact. Kiddo asked Sharkboy to promise to wait for her. She left him one of the two Care Bears she owns, for Sharkboy to keep while we were away, while she brought the other Care Bear to Hong Kong with us.
And how loyal and true Sharkboy is! On the day of our arrival, Yaya # 5 said that he stayed in our house the whole afternoon, watching TV by himself, waiting for Kiddo. We got home really late that night so they didn’t get to see each other, but Yaya #5 said that he would have stayed, had his mom not looked for him and asked him to go home.
The one when Kiddo made herself part of Sharkboy’s family
At Sharkboy’s birthday party, Kiddo, without prompting, included herself in their family picture. She refused to extract herself so that they could have a ‘real’ family picture, no matter what I said. Well, not that Sharkboy wanted her to leave. They even have a picture where they’re not even looking at the camera, but at each other, their heads locked.
The one where another girl came into the picture
I knew that trouble was brewing when Kiddo asked me to help her make a letter for another boy in her class. When I asked her if we were also going to write to Sharkboy as well, she said “No”, explaining that Sharkboy had a ‘girlfriend’.
She didn’t know how to label it yet, but I could see it -- how she was trying to be brave when really, she was trying to deal with another girl’s presence in Sharkboy’s life. I could see right through her and her attempts to get Sharkboy’s attention and make him jealous. She even asked me to text Sharkboy’s mom to tell her about the new ‘girlfriend’.
So what was a mother to do? To show my support, I bought colored paper and envelopes to make cards for the ‘new boy’ and texted Sharkboy’s mom, as requested.
Sharkboys’ mom immediately texted back, assuring me of Sharkboy’s loyalty, saying that the other girl may have been just a passing fancy.
Sharkboy and “The Boys”
When there are other little boys around, Sharkboy becomes all macho, ignoring Kiddo, claiming that he’s not friends with Kiddo because she’s a girl. This of course, only makes Kiddo cry. It amuses me to see how he tries to look tough in front of the guys, refusing to comfort her, so that they won’t see how he looks after her and appear to be a ‘softie’. Amazing how boys are all the same, regardless of age.
Recently, Sharkboy started hanging out with another boy in our building, seeing less of Kiddo. The funny thing is Kiddo doesn’t seem to mind. She’ll ask Sharkboy if he can come to our house after he plays, and if he agrees, will wait for him. She seems to already understand the concept of giving a man space.
The one where Kiddo meets Sharkboy’s grandparents
Sharkboy’s grandparents were visiting from the province and Sharkboy, ever so formally, and with such pride, introduced Kiddo to them as his “girlfriend”.
The one where Kiddo starts hinting about the future
We were in a department store looking for dresses and passed by the little girls’ gown section. One gown on a mannequin caught Kiddo’s eye, and she told me, “Mom, I want that gown. I’ll wear that gown when I marry Sharkboy.”
I love to joke that I knew at some point, Kiddo would overtake me in the dating game. It just seems surreal to have it happen 10 years too soon.
As I am writing this, I am chaperoning Kiddo and Sharkboy on yet another play date. Watching over them, seeing them caught up in their own universe, laughing and playing, makes me feel so privileged to be part of Kiddo’s friendship with Sharkboy. I can only hope that I can be part of the other male relationships that she will have in the future, though I imagine to a much lesser degree.
As she grows up, there will be many other friends that she will have, and a lot of other boys who will come along, but I look forward to the day when I can tell Kiddo about her 1st best friend and how they grew up together, and laugh about how boy-girl relationships don't change, whether you’re 3 or 30.
We didn’t have to do anything much after that. Kiddo and her new friend, Sharkboy, became practically inseparable.
He came to that nickname because the only thing that they probably don’t do together is swim since Sharkboy is somewhat afraid of the water. It doesn’t stop him though from staying by the poolside and waiting patiently for Kiddo to finish swimming. That’s just how they are with each other. Sharkboy is extremely caring, always watching over Kiddo and it just completely endears him to her (and to me!).
Their display of genuine love and concern for each other, founded on an innocence only children can have, is both touching and extremely laughable. I marvel at it, my mother’s heart is warmed by it, and as a spectator, I am always entertained by it. Watching them together, how they are with each other, and sometimes how they fight is like being with an old married couple. There is never a dull moment. (well, maybe that also has something to do with them being two very energetic 5 year olds)
Their two and half years (half their lifetime!) of constant togetherness have been filled with many episodes of their own unique dramedy. Of the many adventures of my Kiddo and her Sharkboy, these are my personal favorites…
The one where Sharkboy is chivalrous
One play date with us mothers as chaperones, we took Kiddo and Sharkboy to a playground with inflatable slides where they had to take off their shoes and play only in their socks. After playing, Sharkboy picked up 2 pairs of sneakers from the shoe bin. Alarmed, Sharkboy’s mom stopped him thinking that he got another child’s shoes by mistake.
Sharkboy’s reply: “No, these are Kiddo’s shoes. I’m getting them for her.”
The one where they pulled a “Romeo & Juliet”
One day while going down the winding staircase of our building, Sharkboy saw Kiddo as she was leaving with her Dad. Sharkboy called out her name, frantically running after her. Restrained by his own yaya to keep him from tripping on the steps, he outstretched his arms behind the railings (making him look like he was behind bars) crying, begging Kiddo not to go.
Kiddo being a typical female relishing being pursued, nonchalantly said, “I have to go now -- my Dad’s here. Bye!”. If her hair were longer, I’m sure she flipped it over her shoulder, without giving Sharkboy so much as a second glance.
Apparently, girls will be girls, regardless of age.
The one where they started going to the same school
On Kiddo’s first day at Sharkboy’s school, he called her on the intercom and offered to pick her up so that they could walk to school together.
As classmates, they became even more inseparable, going straight to each other’s houses at dismissal to eat lunch together (with Kiddo making Sharkboy carry her bag for her), going home only at dinner time.
The one with the Care Bears
The day before we left for Hong Kong, Kiddo and Sharkboy made a pact. Kiddo asked Sharkboy to promise to wait for her. She left him one of the two Care Bears she owns, for Sharkboy to keep while we were away, while she brought the other Care Bear to Hong Kong with us.
And how loyal and true Sharkboy is! On the day of our arrival, Yaya # 5 said that he stayed in our house the whole afternoon, watching TV by himself, waiting for Kiddo. We got home really late that night so they didn’t get to see each other, but Yaya #5 said that he would have stayed, had his mom not looked for him and asked him to go home.
The one when Kiddo made herself part of Sharkboy’s family
At Sharkboy’s birthday party, Kiddo, without prompting, included herself in their family picture. She refused to extract herself so that they could have a ‘real’ family picture, no matter what I said. Well, not that Sharkboy wanted her to leave. They even have a picture where they’re not even looking at the camera, but at each other, their heads locked.
The one where another girl came into the picture
I knew that trouble was brewing when Kiddo asked me to help her make a letter for another boy in her class. When I asked her if we were also going to write to Sharkboy as well, she said “No”, explaining that Sharkboy had a ‘girlfriend’.
She didn’t know how to label it yet, but I could see it -- how she was trying to be brave when really, she was trying to deal with another girl’s presence in Sharkboy’s life. I could see right through her and her attempts to get Sharkboy’s attention and make him jealous. She even asked me to text Sharkboy’s mom to tell her about the new ‘girlfriend’.
So what was a mother to do? To show my support, I bought colored paper and envelopes to make cards for the ‘new boy’ and texted Sharkboy’s mom, as requested.
Sharkboys’ mom immediately texted back, assuring me of Sharkboy’s loyalty, saying that the other girl may have been just a passing fancy.
Sharkboy and “The Boys”
When there are other little boys around, Sharkboy becomes all macho, ignoring Kiddo, claiming that he’s not friends with Kiddo because she’s a girl. This of course, only makes Kiddo cry. It amuses me to see how he tries to look tough in front of the guys, refusing to comfort her, so that they won’t see how he looks after her and appear to be a ‘softie’. Amazing how boys are all the same, regardless of age.
Recently, Sharkboy started hanging out with another boy in our building, seeing less of Kiddo. The funny thing is Kiddo doesn’t seem to mind. She’ll ask Sharkboy if he can come to our house after he plays, and if he agrees, will wait for him. She seems to already understand the concept of giving a man space.
The one where Kiddo meets Sharkboy’s grandparents
Sharkboy’s grandparents were visiting from the province and Sharkboy, ever so formally, and with such pride, introduced Kiddo to them as his “girlfriend”.
The one where Kiddo starts hinting about the future
We were in a department store looking for dresses and passed by the little girls’ gown section. One gown on a mannequin caught Kiddo’s eye, and she told me, “Mom, I want that gown. I’ll wear that gown when I marry Sharkboy.”
I love to joke that I knew at some point, Kiddo would overtake me in the dating game. It just seems surreal to have it happen 10 years too soon.
As I am writing this, I am chaperoning Kiddo and Sharkboy on yet another play date. Watching over them, seeing them caught up in their own universe, laughing and playing, makes me feel so privileged to be part of Kiddo’s friendship with Sharkboy. I can only hope that I can be part of the other male relationships that she will have in the future, though I imagine to a much lesser degree.
As she grows up, there will be many other friends that she will have, and a lot of other boys who will come along, but I look forward to the day when I can tell Kiddo about her 1st best friend and how they grew up together, and laugh about how boy-girl relationships don't change, whether you’re 3 or 30.
