Today as I sat on my parents couch on Zoom with my parents, my brother, sister in law, and seven year old nephew, it was a reminder – this is getting old. For all of us.
My sweet nephew, who has been on Zoom school for the week, following a positive case near to his class, didn’t want much to do with the weekly catch up.
As we sat there, my brother Jeff and his wife, Kate did their best to keep John engaged and looped into the conversation without forcing it. I felt for them, as I imagined they’re thinking, this is the one time a week he gets a chance to engage in conversation with my parents and I, and maybe we’d be disappointed if he wasn’t eager to participate.
John and I have been reading Harry Potter (first time for both of us) semi-simultaneously (I’ve fallen a half a book behind – inexcusable lol) and they really would have preferred he’d have enthusiastically showed me a quick spell with the wand that the early Easter Bunny delivered (thank you Etsy UK), which he did eventually do (with minor hesitation).
But, at the end of the day, we’re all tired. Some part of me found myself sitting there ever so proud, that at the age of (nearly) 7, my nephew figured out enough to know – he needed space and wanted to be on his own for a bit.
It had me thinking, that often we may forget that, sure kids are resilient, but this has been going on for a year. It’s been a year of trying to explain why we’re still on a screen and not together in person.
A year of waiting to see when the next surge would come, whether school would go on in person or not, whether football is on, whether we can we finally gather as a family this summer.
This is getting old. And so is my sweet nephew. Kids are smarter than we think.
I was never really sure why I waited this long to read the Harry Potter books (especially as a teen during their peak) but now I know. When you’re separated from your nephew who you so adore, by an extremely large body of water, with no end in sight, you need that wing and a prayer. These books have been just that.
The books have provided me a way in to that busy little mind in the middle of such a confusing time. There’s something to say about the magic of getting lost in a book – and a world like Hogwarts – even better.
Sure, I drew a major blank just last week when my brother put me on the spot and asked me for my best spell (never to happen again haha) but just sitting around reading something that I know my nephew is so enjoying as well – is bringing me joy (not to mention the notes I’ve been taking since then to be sure I never forget the details again lol).
So, to the littlest man in my life – thank you. You’ve finally unlocked the nerd in me (as many of my friends that are Harry Potter fanatics have tried to do) and I’m thrilled.
Back to reading. Book 2 Chapter 8.