Roses are red...

We live close enough to the small center of our town that I sometimes let my twelve year old son bike or walk with a group of his friends downtown to get ice cream.

Last weekend they stopped on the way home and picked up hamburger buns at the bakery for me. So, this weekend I asked my son and his buddies to stop at the fruit stand and buy me some flowers.

Yep, flowers. I asked four twelve year old boys to stop and pick up flowers.

They were quite willing to run the errand since I was paying for the ice cream, but  they weren't that sure on how to buy the flowers.

'What kind of flowers?' one asked.

'Do we have to pick them?' asked another.

'How do you buy flowers at a fruit market?' asked the third.

My son, who has picked out many flowers for our kitchen table in the past, simply wanted to know what colour I wanted.

So, off the boys went and a short time later they returned with lovely yellow tulips for my kitchen table.

Perfect.

Then today I went into the fruit shop to pick up some things. The lovely lady who works there was happy to tell me that she had seen my son and his friends come in to the market to buy flowers on the weekend.

She also told me that the boys had declined her offer to help them pick out the flowers and had only smiled when she accused them of buying the flowers because they were in trouble for something.

She had then proceeded to ask the boys if the girl they were buying the flowers for was pretty. She reported that my son had answered, 'yeah, she's not bad'. Now this woman wanted to know who the lucky recipient of the flowers was.

Uh, that would be me.

But, not bad? My son thinks I'm 'not bad' looking?

I can't decide whether to be insulted or simply amused. I am, after all, his mother and he is twelve. I can't help but wish he would still think I'm beautiful like he did when he was two years old, but at least he's not telling the lady that I'm coyote ugly.

So, if you'll excuse me I'm going to go and smell my tulips. The ones my son bought for me.

Thanks, buddy.

Comments

[Vicki@frugalmomknowsbest]

That is a super cute story! And just think, he won't think twice about buying his girlfriend flowers some day! Good job mom!

[Mommy Bear]

Aww that is so sweet!

[Michele]

Awww, great story!!
Enjoy your flowers that your "son" bought you :)

Michele

[sunshine]

your son is so sweet. :)

[Junk Drawer Kathy]

I'd be impressed. I think "not bad" is a very good review from a 12 year old boy!

[Grampy]

Considering you are his mother. I believe he was trying to say beautiful. Remember his friends were with him.I bet they picked out the best flowers in the store.

[Judi]

kids say the darndest things. When my son was about 4 I was a little upset when I opened my new drivers license. I said something stupid like "do I really look like this"? His reply was priceless at any age. He said "some things you just have to learn to live with". This out of a 4 year old!! I still laugh when I think of it. Thanks for the memory.

[JAS]

That's adorable. They can be so funny at that age.

[Anne]

From a 12 year old boy, "she's not bad" is glowing praise.

How great that you can send them on errands for you. You should really take advantage of that.

[Karen]

Awwwww, *melt* goes the heart.

[Kerslyn]

boys to pick some flowers are so cute!

[margie]

so i am just wondering is "not bad" better than "decent"?

[Fannie]

I think in 12yo boy speak "not bad" means "smokin' hot". I'm just sayin'. ;)

[Mom]

Oh, you have to remember that he was with his friends. It isn't kool!!! to tell somebody that your mother is beautiful.

He didn't tell the lady that "his mother was making him get the flowers for her," and that is a huge thing.

Enjoy your beautiful yellow tulips...