Three's a Crowd for the Dynamic Duo
It's party season.
Weekend after weekend. Sunday after Saturday. One party after another.
If you were an adult, you'd have kept Berocca in business for another year.
When you're four, you deserve a note of thanks from this country's cane growers.
Right now, we're in the middle of our annual birthday cluster.
Kindy mates, cousins, more Kindy mates, soon a birthday of our own.
Last weekend it was her BFF.
They are inseparable. A dynamic duo. A kind of playground Thelma and Louise.
Their bond has been forged through the shared experience of starting daycare together, before either could talk.
Miss Thelma loved the party. Sack races, balloon races, egg and spoon races. "With real eggs!" She squealed in delight. Hard boiled, of course.
But even as they play together, without a care in the world, I can see trouble brewing.
Any friendship has challenges.
For now, Miss Thelma and Miss Louise think their biggest hurdle is which one gets the pink noodle at swimming lessons. And who is reduced to tears when there's only yellow left.
But, as the father of a girl, I see boys. They're everywhere. And they won't leave my precious little girl alone.
Master Batman invited Miss Thelma to his birthday party. She was just a little too excited for my liking.
Master Batman is very touchy-feely. Miss Thelma has had more than her share of bear hugs. He's an expert in unintentional choker holds.
Get it out of your system now, champ. It's a bit cute now, but you do not want to be trying that on in a couple of years.
Already wary, my paternal Geiger counter started crackling like the cellophane on Master Batman's present when I realised Miss Thelma was the only girl at his party.
It appears Master Batman's two obsessions are Batman and my daughter.
And it's not entirely one sided.
Every time I say "Batmaaaaan" in that teasing sing-song voice every father reserves for his children, Miss Thelma's embarrassed response is too quick to be a true denial.
"Stop it, Daddy. Batman's not my favourite boy," she insists.
Master Batman's definitely her first crush.
But recently, there's a new boy in town.
Master Romeo is quite the ladies' man. I'm hearing less and less about Master Batman. Master Romeo is the new topic of conversation.
Some days I could tell you more about what Master Romeo did at Kindy than how my own child spent the day.
Suddenly calls of "Romeooooooo" elicit a familiar response, once reserved for Master Batman.
Except, now there's a new denial. I heard it for the first time this morning.
"No, Daddy. Master Romeo is Miss Louise's boyfriend," Miss Thelma retorted.
Boyfriend! Miss Thelma is not yet five. Not far off it, but not yet. Where did she learn that word?
It's far too early to be thinking in terms of boyfriends and girlfriends. Especially when two best friends are smitten by the same boy.
It's the sort of drama that could tear apart a friendship.
They wouldn't be the first to fall out over young love.
It'll be tough enough for them to maintain their friendship when they start going to new schools next year.
I plan to make sure they still see plenty of each other. Their connection is too special to allow it to evaporate.
And if that means keeping them both away from boys for a few more years, we'll I guess that's just a bonus.
Follow Michael on Twitter @MichaelCoombes
