Help! My daughter's first visit from a man
Our circle of friends had given birth to boys back then, when we were all in childbearing mode by chance. Without exception. Except for us. We gave birth to a little girl. Sweet and delicate, as heavy as two litres of milk and just as big. My husband told his friends with a swelling chest: «If one day your boys want to knock on my little daughter's door, I'll test every single one of them. Put them through their paces. They have to pass tests, from the theory of relativity to assembling a diesel engine!»
Yes, that's exactly how he imagined it. The friends nodded and sent their sons off to practical and theoretical early education. The boys grew up, some of them bright as a whistle and a few of them talented with their hands, reaching for the sky, changing their voices, not to mention their looks. And they took no notice of our daughter. That didn't worry my daughter at all. She had other things on her mind. She was somehow interested in boys, but if she was, it was certainly not one of our old circle of friends.
The day of the big trainers on our doorstep
«I'm in love!» the daughter beams at us. We would have noticed it too. She floats a few centimetres above the ground as if she's changed, already in a good mood in the early morning. No more adolescent emotional swings, at least none downwards, everything is light blue and pink. «I'll bring him home with me next weekend,» she tells us and adds: «Only if it's okay with you, of course.»
Of course it's fine with us. My husband swallows blankly at first, but then nods vigorously - of course we all want to meet the young man. Long gone are the days when the little princess wanted to marry her father. Forgotten that her dad was the hero of her childhood.
I can see it in my husband's face: His little daughter has become a young woman, on the one hand there is pride reflected in his eyes, but on the other there is also a small drop of bitterness. And it's called Alex. I put my arm around him: «Come on, it's nice to have a young man as a guest. Relax, I'm sure it'll be fine!»
«I'm in love!» the daughter beams at us.
It really will. Alex is a handsome, decent, funny young man who is also head over heels in love with our daughter. He is tall, she would have easily fitted into his trainers after she was born. After all, we don't want to make the initial mistake of calling our daughter by her old pet name (it happened twice), digging out old photos of her (hanging on our fridge) and curiously asking how they are getting on. It's not easy for Alex either, and the language barrier makes things even more difficult for him. A Bavarian doesn't understand dialect!
The morning after
The two teenage lovebirds soon disappear into the room. We stay behind at the table, my husband and I. Thinking they might come back soon, still a bit thirsty. Or a little hungry later. No, the door remains locked. At some point, we go to bed too. I briefly consider knocking, saying «good night», which would probably be as embarrassing as it gets.
The morning after? Honestly? The only difference for me was that I locked the door when I showered. I didn't sit at the breakfast table in my pyjamas. But otherwise? Everything was normal. Just a good-humoured young couple opposite us. So the whole thing was really easy!
Next weekend, by the way, my son is bringing his girlfriend home for the first time. «What, to spend the night?» I asked in amazement. My husband smiled smugly: «We're all really looking forward to it!»
Picture: Pexels
Read more from Irma Aregger:
- «Chills mum!»: If you can't plan, you have to suffer. At the latest when your own menopause coincides with your children's puberty.
- Army: Left, two, three - NO! First the little boy with the wooden rifle made the garden unsafe. Now the Swiss army is calling. The son wants to get a taste of military life - or does he?
- Son at the wheel - monstrous? Just a moment ago he was sitting on the Bobby Car. And suddenly Junior is sitting in the front left of the car. If only that turns out well, says his mum.
- Why my children are at boarding school: There are good reasons never to send your child to boarding school. But there are just as many reasons in favour of boarding school.