My brother gave us a ring on Sunday afternoon. We were exhausted after our market foray. I was calming down with a Yoga class.
He had his sons. He wanted to take his eldest, twelve, to see the latest and last Harry Potter. His eight year old was too young to go so… would we look after him?
I will give my brother credit for his request, he offered to take either Hubby or daughter in return. Neither wanted to be traded!
At seven o’clock we took delivery of the young man, I was finished with my relaxing Yoga and needed a good run. My nephew put the shoes on he had instantly discarded on his arrival and announced,
“I’ll come with you. I’m a good runner.”
So off we went. He was a good runner… in bursts. He was a good walk-jogger… in spurts. He talked non-stop which kept him breathing and we played games and took photos and timed our walk. Fifty minutes of Aunt/Nephew bonding.
Well on my way to achieving the best Aunt in the World Award I made him an orange squash with fizzy water when we got home.
After cleaning up the spilled drink which he had knocked over onto the living room carpet we made a new bottle of soda water with the much coveted Soda Stream which we have and Dad doesn’t.
When dinner was over we still had at least an hour to go before we could expect to see the two brothers, his and mine, so I dug out the sharpies and markers and announced we were going to write on the carpet in the hall!
“Really?” said my wide eyed nephew excitedly.
“Yep…” I said! “and when your Dad comes to collect you I’ll show him what you did and tell him to take you home for good!”
“Oh please don’t…” he said.
“I won’t,” I promised as I handed over the drawing implements. He and Malia filled the hallway with pictures of rabbits, skulls, strawberries, portraits and slogans. I videoed and took photos.
When the brothers arrived the oldest nephew immediately wanted to participate too. I asked him why he thought I would let him draw on my carpet?
“Because you let my brother!”
“Observant lad, and why else?” I asked.
“Because it’s fun?” he offered.
“Yes,” I said, “why else?”
“Because you’re getting new carpet on Wednesday?”
“Yes, and…?”
“Because you’re the best Aunt in the whole wide world!” said my youngest nephew thus placing the award firmly in my grasp.
Yes! That I am!!
Roll on Wednesday, I don’t think I can look at the floor graffiti very much longer!!
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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