Dating and marriage from a 4 yr olds perspective

The last couple days Avery has been talking to me about who she is going to marry. She is very distressed not to have anyone named yet. Her brother has turned her down and that is a sad affair. She told my best friend' s son, Ben, that she loved him during church. Ben says that he would rather she not love him since he loves someone else. I gather this is his teacher who he is "engaged" to marry. Ben is 5. Avery has also mentioned both Jack, her brother's friend and Will, who is a very sweet and quiet boy in her class. She would walk all over him.

Edward and I will be married 8 years the 15th of January. I was mentioning this to Avery in the car on the way home from preschool. She said that if I was married I had to be on an island and dance. This is a reference to The 12 Dancing Princesses which she has seen entirely too much. All these fairy tales end with marriage. Grand marriages where all the participants dance ballet is beautiful sweeping movements. I told Avery that in real life weddings happen in churches where you pledge to God your intent to honor this person all your life. And her next comment exactly...

"Mom will you help me find a guy?"

After I was done chuckling I told her that she would have plenty of time to find just the right guy. And it wouldn't just be anyone. She would know the right "guy" when she met him. She was concerned that she would not know where to find him. I suggested school, work, a party or church as some of the places. Here was her suggestion.

Mommy we need to take a blanket out to the road and wait. We can bring a radio to listen too and you can bring my bike too.

What are we going to do out by the road Avery?

Hellloooo! (yes she says this) we are going to wait for my guy. You can stay with me til he comes. Will you mommy. Will you stay with me?

I had to promise her that IF she needed my help I would help her. But I did not agree to camp out by the side of the road with her. I hope it never comes to this.