Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had my first crush in kindergarten. I think for some kids it's just kind of in the background of their mind. Then again I was in Kinder in 1986 when it was not unusual for kids to watch soap operas in the afternoon hahaha

OP here, yes! I also watched soap operas as a child. Maybe we just lived in a much more sexualized world?

Grew up in Europe here, parents would ask/talk about boyfriend/girlfriend whenever two kids of opposite sex playing together..... so that language was pushed nto the kids.
Now my DD 10 and 12 have had crushes, one on a girl one on a boy, but gossiping about crushes is not considered cool as it was when I grew up (how lame btw)

So I naively thought my super sporty 10 year old was too young or at least agnostic when it came to crushes on boys or girls. And she has never mentioned a one, and continues to deny any interest in anyone, mostly when her sister teases her. But then she left her diary in the living room, and, I perused a few pages. And, dear god, she reports crushing on every boy she’s ever grown up with in the neighborhood. Complete shocker, as otherwise I’ve seen zero sign of anything. Just because they aren’t sharing it with you doesn’t mean they aren’t having feelings.

DD12 has a crush on a boy in her class. (She goes to a private and they are in person.) She gushes about him all the time and it seems pretty mutual. They play video games and talk occasionally via video calls. She’s grossed out by kissing in movies/tv, seems kind of typical for her age.

OP, you must have been reading my mind! I have been thinking the same thing. My daughter doesn't have a crush, and doesn't obsess over celebrities. It is all about her girlfriends and sports (and tic toks).

I was insanely boy crazy. Everything I did revolved around finding out where the boys were hanging out. Back when you just had to guess and hope you were right.

My DD has a brother two years older with some cute friends, and she still doesn't really bite. I think -- wow, she is not her mother's daughter

I think this is all good. Girls are very strong these days. (DD goes to an all girls school). (I didn't do too badly despite my obsessions -- big law partner.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My straight DD did not. She wasn’t interested in boys until 9th grade. Then she was boy crazy a bit before falling for one boy and dating him
All of HS.

My lesbian DD came out at 11 and immediately had crushes she told us about.

Wow! I’m impressed by her confidence and comfort level.

My 9 year old nephew has boy crashes. Social media, mostly Tick Tick has made thing TOO available. He is obsess with Larray and James Charles. If it wasn't for social media he probably would not have come out at his young age.

Oh FFS. We need to stop normalizing this bullshit.

Anonymous wrote:I had my first crush in kindergarten. I think for some kids it's just kind of in the background of their mind. Then again I was in Kinder in 1986 when it was not unusual for kids to watch soap operas in the afternoon hahaha

OP here, yes! I also watched soap operas as a child. Maybe we just lived in a much more sexualized world?