Time for another installment in the ongoing saga of Uncle Aaron and Ryker, aka Nephew Boy.
Our exterminator, whom we’ve known for years, was at our house not long ago. Aaron captured him…well, not literally but verbally…and decided to talk to him about Ryker.
“My nephew boy,” Aaron began and proceeded to tell George some news about Ryker.
“I have a nephew boy,” Aaron continued. “Do you have a nephew boy?”
George did a great job of not laughing although the twitch in his mouth spoke volumes to us.
I know why Aaron called Ryker his nephew boy. It’s because soon our daughter will have a baby girl and so we have told Aaron that this little girl will be his niece…that a boy is a nephew, and a girl is a niece. So, for that conversation, Ryker was Aaron’s nephew boy.
Aaron has come to accept and enjoy Ryker in a way that mostly warms our hearts. I say mostly because there are still occasions when Aaron will get jealous at something we’re saying or doing with Ryker.
“You don’t do that with ME!” Aaron will say in a huff.
And one day Aaron, for whatever unknown reason, got upset about his position in life.
“I don’t want to be the uncle,” he angrily asserted.
“But Aaron,” I replied, “you’re the uncle because you’re Andrea’s brother. You can’t change that.”
“Well,” he said, “she MADE me be the uncle. She didn’t ASK me!”
We’ve learned it’s best at these times to mostly listen and not try to reason too much with Aaron. He eventually settles down and before long will probably be asking when Ryker is coming over again.
Of course, at this point Ryker is unaware of any animus from his Uncle Aaron. Ryker is still at that precious innocent age when he loves everyone…and that definitely includes his Uncle Aaron. He finds Aaron to be very fascinating and fun.
Aaron gives Ryker lots of snacks.
Aaron lets Ryker see his really cool toys and gadgets.
Aaron’s room is the BEST place in the house! There’s a jellyfish lamp and all sorts of squishy balls and flashlights and a frog light with glowing eyes and oh, so much more!
What’s NOT to love about Uncle Aaron?
Aaron is equally fascinated as he watches Ryker learn and grow, respond to him and talk, and eat. Definitely eat!
Aaron gets right down on the floor with Ryker and watches him with great interest.
Ryker claps his hands when Aaron claps or yells like his Uncle Aaron when Aaron is in his room and lets out one of his funny loud sounds.
Ryker will have so much to learn about his special Uncle Aaron as the years go by. We know there will be ups and downs with all that process, on both sides.
It really won’t be that much longer before Ryker outgrows Aaron on every level. I thought about that after I took a picture of Ryker and Aaron in our car. Ryker loves sitting in the driver’s seat, turning the steering wheel and punching all the buttons.
And there sat Aaron, always in the passenger’s seat, having fun watching Ryker play like he was driving.
Aaron will never be in the driver’s seat.
But one day Ryker will be.
I thought about how some day Ryker will perhaps be driving Aaron to Dairy Queen for his favorite Choco Extreme Blizzard or to Walmart to scour the aisles for a special treat.
And I pray that God will use Aaron to enrich Ryker in ways that can only happen with a special person like his Uncle Aaron in his life.
He Said What?! 