#nibling tag

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i’m babysitting for the niblets so my brother and sister-in-law get a night out. since i put him to bed, my 4-year-old nephew has:

- said woo! repeatedly while waving his hands in the air (while lying down)

- counted while unmoving in the dark (this went 20s->60s->40s->20s->one-ten

- sang hot to go

- wrapped himself tightly in his quilt while whispering (this may also have been hot to go)

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staying with a 4-year-old is just a constant stream of

him: i’m doing (activity with a very obvious pitfall)

one of us: careful! you don’t want to (fall victim to the obvious pitfall)!

(LOUD THUMP) (CRYING)

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when i talk about my 5 year old nephew’s interest in airplanes i am not fucking around

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listening to my nephew throw a tantrum about being asked to go to bed has me thinking maybe I’LL go to bed

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nephew has figured out that he can delay a thing he doesn’t want (ie bedtime) by deliberately picking long books to be read, tv shows to be watched, etc but he doesn’t actually have a sense of what makes something longer. so he will inform you in a very smug tone while watching trash truck, “this is a long one,” but it’s 13 minutes long. they’re all 13 minutes long

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excited that my nephew has reached an age where he does fun stuff like at the end of a phone call im going bye! i love you! and he responds for no reason at all in a very deep scary voice 𝑙⃫𝑜⃫𝑣⃫𝑒⃫ 𝑦⃫𝑜⃫𝑢⃫ 𝑡⃫𝑜⃫𝑜⃫

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i was riding along with my brother and sister-in-law, sitting in the backseat with my 3 year old nephew and suddenly he said “mom?” his mom replied. then, somewhat formally, “dad?” my brother waited a beat and then, sounding confused, said “yes?” nephew said several things around a mouthful of fruit bar. “you saw. a hot air balloon?” my brother tried. “yes, and two cairs.” “kites?” a nod. “just now?” we all looked around at the blustery, rainy weather. “no, at the libary. with just you and me.” inspiration struck my brother. “are you thinking about the hot air balloon art they have at the library at home?” “yes!” nephew sat back in his car seat, satisfied. i looked back outside at the rain and also tried to imagine a day when we might see a hot air balloon and kites in the sky.

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my nephew's obsession with airplanes and helicopters (NOT spaceships--the kid likes aircraft specifically) is well into its second year (he's nearly 3) which you would think would be convenient for those of us shopping for gifts for him. which it is! what's inconvenient is that aircraft is apparently not a big area of interest for kids his age, so there are a finite number of toys and books. and i am in competition with every member of my family AND my sister-in-law's family for them. cut-throat shit