Puppy Love.

Jake's middle school dating rant on the way home from school today (real air quotes were used often):

"I think they should call middle school dating, "using", at my age. Because all anyone is really doing is saying they are "dating" someone to gain some kind of social status. There's no real intimacy. What's the point? Even if someone kind of likes someone, it's based on looks.. they don't actually get to know each other. You get nothing out of it- you don't have intimate conversations where you actually have emotions involved. What's so great about saying, 'Oh, hey, I like your hair today,' and then moving on to 3rd period? Real relationships have intimacy where you have real conversations like, 'Hey, my mom and dad aren't doing so well right now..' You get what I'm saying. I tell my friends that there is no point in dating at our age. Until you can pick up a girl, on your own, and take her out on a real date, you're not dating. For now, be friends like in class 'n stuff. You get to know a girl way better if you just have normal conversations with her than labeling yourself "dating". As soon as people start "dating", they barely even talk to each other. These "relationships" last a day or a week. By the time I get in high school, I don't want to have gone through "dating" a bunch of girls just say I've dated. It's so dumb. What's wrong with liking a girl from a far and getting to know her as a friend? And wait until you're older to do it the right way? I don't get it. But, I do find it GREATLY amusing to watch all of these people act like they are in relationships."

I hope I remembered it all. I came right in to write it down- This kid cracks me up.