Redheaded Jill

I am not an overly touchy person, but give me the chance to rock a baby to sleep or sit with a toddler and read a book and I am in complete heaven. There is nothing sweeter. I have lots of friends with kids whom I adore, but the children who mean the most to me are my niece and nephews.

My oldest nephew is a fascinating first grade fiend. Sometimes he is completely standoffish and wants nothing to do with nobody, and other times he will spontaneously jump into my lap (with no warning) so gotta constantly be prepared. He isn’t one to ask for affection or comfort, so when he makes the first move to sit with me or cuddle up I LOVE it. He loves to wrestle and play rough. He often plays this game called, “Catch me” where he literally shouts, “CATCH ME” and runs and leaps into your arms, or onto your lap. It is not my favorite game because my nose has suffered more than one collision with his little head, but I got to thinking… This kid who is too bashful or maybe proud to ask for hugs and cuddles still needs affection and that physical touch. This might be his way of seeking it. So when he does jump on me I am sure to give him a squeeze. The other day in church I reached over and held his hand. I expected him to push me away, but we held hands for the entirety of the song. I was shocked. And also elated. I am like him in that I don’t always know how to ask for what I need, but a spontaneous hug from my mom or dad does not ever go amiss.

My middle nephew is the definition of a cuddle bug. He loves to cuddle and be held and carried. He just turned 5 and is the definition of sweetness. I love and value that about him. Every time he leaves the house (or you leave the house) he has to give you a hug and a kiss. When I walk him to the school bus and he climbs aboard he turns around to offer that same hug/kiss before sitting down. There are days where he forgets so from the top step of the bus he will hug/kiss my hand instead of my cheek. I will be so sad when he outgrows this stage.

My niece is the baby, just 19 months old. She is more like her oldest brother in a lot of ways, but she does love to be held/carried. If her mom is around she wants nobody else, but when I’m watching her solo I can always expect a sporadic slobbery kiss or a boop to the nose. When she was tiny I would rock her to sleep before nap time and it was the best part of my day. More recently she doesn’t enjoy being rocked and will request to just be put in the crib, where she puts her little hands behind her back and quickly falls asleep. Sometimes when she is upset she will still let me rock her. And when she sees someone else sitting with you she gets jealous, so then she gets extra cuddly.

It is so fun to see all three personality of the kids. So sweet. So unique. 10/10 would recommend the aunt life.