“What will I do with 3 rambunctious little boys all under the age of 10?” I thought to myself with an honest hint of trepidation before my nephews showed up for their 3 day visit yesterday.
My sister tried to give me an out with the obligatory, “Are you sure you want to keep them?”
I smiled and insisted. 🙂 It was my idea after all! I don’t know my nephews as well as I’d like because for the most part of their lives they’ve lived in Florida. Only in the past few years have my sister and I lived in the same state and even more recent that she lives only a few hours away. It was time they got to know me and I know them besides Christmas’ and an occasional funeral.
Bottom left- fun in the pool
Bottom right – figs from the fig tree in our backyard!
When the youngest, Ray, came over you could tell he was a bit weary of me. Out of the three boys, Ray is the most transparent with his feelings because he has no issue in saying what he feels.
After a few hours of fun in the pool, dinner, eating figs from the fig tree in my backyard we settled in for the night. As I helped Ray get ready for bed he said, “Aunt Shannon I need to call Heather and tell her something has changed.”
“Okay, sure you can call Heather,” I offered as I put his top over his head.
“Um, do you want to know what has changed?” he asked.
“Sure, only if you want to tell me,” I said.
He leaned in close to my face and whispered, “I like you now.”
😀 I laughed and pulled him into a bear hug. “Oh, I’m so glad!”
Later he gave me one of his (5) stuffed animals to sleep with because he knew I would take good care of it.
When Ray woke up this morning he came straight to me, wrapped his arms around my neck and sat in my lap. I forgot how much I missed my boys being that young. Mine are so big I can sit in THEIR laps!
All three nephews have been a complete joy getting to know. Playing cards with them, taking them to a movie, getting ice cream…all the things we can do in the freedom of summer and at your Aunt’s house. Seth and Ryan are also getting a taste of what it would have been like to have a bigger family. 😉
My favorite aspect of their visit so far is sitting with each one of them and simply getting to know them, their likes and dislikes, their mannerisms, and seeing glimpses of the various gifts and talents that are already appearing. Each one so different from the next yet each so much like my sister it takes me back to the days we shared a bedroom growing up and dealing with her idiosyncrasies.
As Mother Theresa said: “What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.”
That means every one IN your family. (Even the ones that are hard to love. 😉 )
Blessings
Shannon