Ah, young love ...

... And young heart break.

A teenage girl broke up with my teenage nephew. (The awesome kid I wrote about here.) And his heart's a little broken, but it's clearly mending. He has a good head on his shoulders, and he's wise far beyond his years.

You don't expect to be so profoundly affected by a text message conversation with a 14-year-old. Even when that kid is Jack and you have a special bond with him.

Anyway, I texted him as I left work today: "Hey, Jack Mac. Heard about u and (girl's name here). I am really sorry. You need me to buy u ice cream?"

Jack: No I don't need any as nice as that would be. I'm okay! Now you don't have to share me I'm all yours again! : )

I let out a huge belt of laughter when I read that.

Me: You crack me up. You are always special to me. I am glad u are my nephew and that Daniel has you to look up to. Hope you soaked up some sun this weekend.

Jack: Nope not really! Haha I'm glad I'm your nephew too! :)

Me: And I can beat up (girl's name here) if you want me to heh heh heh

Jack: No that would be mean, even though she broke up with me and that her reasons were really retarded that doesn't make her a bad person

Me: I know she's not a bad person. But you are a really great kid. Your aunt is protective and doesnt like when someone hurts her Jack Mac. Wow, that sounds like Rie

<< OK, here comes the ridiculously moving part. >>

Jack: Yes that does! The other day after this happened I said to myself what would Rie say to me and I came up with this: Jack she might have broken up with you, but she will soon realize what she is missing and even if you don't have her you will always have all of these other people around you that love you so much! :)

Me: That is exactly what she would've said. She said it to me when my heart got hurt. You are a wise boy.

------

We chatted about more things, but it's the exchange above that really moved me.

The depth of love and caring in that boy blows my mind.

And, dang, my mom sure left her mark on that kid. What 14-year-old considers what his dead grandmother would tell him? Yep, my mom was pretty incredible.

As for what Jack thought Rie Rie would say: It IS excellent advice -- and I wish I'd absorbed it better when my mom said it to me as a teen.