Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, But Names Will Never Hurt Me?

Post Edit:
Just to clarify. I, thankfully don't think anyone is gossiping about me or my immediate family. At least nothing too vicious and nothing that has wound it's way back to my ears.
This was in response to some things that were said about some people close to me that shall remain anonymous. But it was so frustrating to hear what was said and know it was pure untruth and very hurtful. It was a good lesson in how truly devestating gossip can be. So don't do it!!!!

I do not know who came up with that saying, but they are far from right.
A Jewish Proverb says "What you don't see with your eyes, don't witness with your mouth. "
I know we all gossip. I think it is the nature of human beings. Some are less inclined to do this than others and then there are those who have "diahrea of the mouth". So I am not going to use this post to further spread gossip but hopefully to warn. When you choose to pass on information think long and hard of the possible consequences. Are you sure it's absolute truth? And even then does it need to be passed along? What do you gain?
I have witnessed the unspeakable harm gossip can do to people. Some have weathered the storm fairly well, but they were in a good emotional state to begin with, where others were not. They were already in a vulnerable position and this has been devastating.
The mind is not as resilient as the body, therefore, sticks and stones may break a bone but that bone will heal, usually with no lasting effects, but "names" do hurt and can leave you crippled!

Love is in the air?

One of the things I appreciate about little boys is their matter-of-factness. They don't get too emotional about things which is a pretty nice balance to the emotion that abounds with girls.

Today I am driving my 3rd grade son to school and he casually announces that he has a girlfriend.

"Oh, really? Who?" I ask. He tells me it's a little girl who is new to our school and neighborhood and to protect her future rep, we will refer to her as "Jane". I probe him further only to find out that this relationship is not really something he enjoys but rather tolerates. He proceeds to explain that "Jane" follows him around the playground and watches him play soccer and dreamily sighs at his prowess on the soccer field. Are you kidding me?
Okay, so I am belly rolling while he is telling me all this because they are in THIRD GRADE!!!!!!! And his non-chalance about it kills me.

So, after school, we have some more alone time and I quiz him further about his "girlfriend". He tells me he has decided to break-up with her. (Again I have a near car accident, because I'm laughing so hard.)
"Did you ask her to BE your girlfriend?"
"No, she told me she was my girlfriend."
This girls got guts, but I'll give it to her for going after what she wants, albeit a little young?!
Perfect opportunity to interject the fact that he is a little too young to have a girlfriend and the reminder he cannot date until he is sixteen, so he may want to kindly tell "Jane" that she is a nice girl but he is only not quite nine.
"Yeah", he says. "Maybe I'll like her when I'm 16."