too young for a girlfriend

Yesterday, Jake told me a girl in his class asked him if he wanted to be her boyfriend. He told me he didn't know what to say to her. I asked him if he wanted to be her boyfriend and he quickly said, "no". We had a little discussion about how girls sometimes become interested in boys earlier than boys become interested in girls and that it's okay. I told him to tell her that he really likes being her friend, but that he doesn't want a girlfriend. I explained that he wouldn't hurt her feelings if he was honest with her. He said, "ok" and ran out the door to play outside. That's all he needed, reassurance that it was okay to say no. He clearly isn't thinking about girls in a girlfriend/boyfriend way yet(thank goodness) but when he does I hope he remembers to be honest about his feelings.
A woman I met who has middle school boys told me she tells her boys to focus on being a good friend to girls and not to worry about having a girlfriend. Rather to have fun with friends and work hard in school because there will be plenty of time for girlfriends and all the heartache and drama that comes with it later. I hope I can pass on some of that wisdom to my boys.