So our son piped up today: “I have a girlfriend at school.”

Ethan happens to be all of 5 years old, and in kindergarten, of course. Further questioning elicited the fact that, yes, he had a friend at school, and yes, she happened to be female.

“Do you play with her at recess?” my wife Teresa asked. “Do you play with her at lunch time?” No, and no, Ethan answered. Apparently he plays with her during class.

Frenzied whispered analysis by mother and father seems to indicate that Ethan’s definition of “girlfriend” may not be the standard one.

Sighs of relief all around …