Joe's growing up (sniff, sniff)

Today Joe walked in the door from walking his little brother home from school and stunned me with the first words out of his mouth.

"Mom, guess what? A girl told me I was cute today."

I actually had to make him repeat it to make sure I heard him correctly.

The girl (he doesn't know her name and she isn't in any of his classes) told him this between lunch and the next period. He thinks she's cute, too. She asked him if he wanted to go out with her.

He told her he was Mormon and that even though he might like to, he won't date until he's 16.

(Sniff, sniff) Can you say proud mom? I knew you could.

Of course, I've always thought he was cute, but I admit to having just a touch of partiality.