My sister’s family is visiting from Florida this week. It’s difficult to get any serious writing work done becausspiwjg[qi31 0409UJ15M\2
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Sorry. That was my 3-year-old niece, Lucy, banging away on my laptop keyboard while I’m working.
Lucy is obsessed with the things in my office. She marches in here all the time just to look around, climb on the bookshelves, go through my tax returns, or to use crayons to add some color to my walls.
But she’s particularly fascinated with my computer. Sometimes I’m afraid she’s going to bump my laptop off my desk and knock it on thFi340YYY(&#$%2 ti9u2-39tu 1203902hsb IUHW)*i23ub. &#)OOPWow 4-2t-h024h)#$)T*)UUW 283h2039))239#.
My nieces have enough energy to power an average suburban electrical grid. They arrived in our driveway last night after spending upwards of six hours in the car. By the time they got here, they were not unlike compressed atomic matter contained in a jar, just waiting to explode.
When my sister’s SUV pulled in, the doors of the vehicle were flung open and little voices screamed, “UNCLE SEAN!”
Immediately, a duo of two-foot-tall humans leapt out of the automobile. These were towheaded girls, barefoot, wearing multi-colored tutus, their lips and tongues were stained with blue dye from eating either Kool-Aid, candy, or—and we cannot rule this out—BIC pens.
They moved so quickly they looked like a giant blur. I could hardly see them. They were blond-colored streaks, wholly invisible to the naked eye. Their location could only be determined by the distant sounds of their spontaneous singing of songs from the Disney movie “Frozen.”
“AUNT JAY JAY!” they said, throwing their arms around my wife.
They call my wife Aunt Jay Jay because at one time they could not pronounce the name Jamie. Used to, my niece Lucy couldn’t pronounce the name Sean, either. So whenever she said my name she just called me “UNCLE SSSHHH!” which sounded exactly like she was using a particular word often used by commercial truck drivers.
So anyway, as soon as the two children entered our home last night, it was a non-stop hurricane party. Their footsteps were loud, gaily booming throughout the house as they wandered from room to room, under their own recognizance, shouting things like, “WHICH ONE IS MY BED?” “I LIKE BUTTER!” And “WHERE DO YOU GO PEE IN THIS HOUSE?”
My older niece was carrying a toy megaphone so that it sounded like she was a police hostage negotiator as she meandered through the home.
“THIS IS A PRETTY NICE HOUSE!” she’d say.
“UH-OH! THERE IS A NEW HOLE IN YOUR COUCH, BUT IT WASN’T ME.”
“HELP! I’M OUT OF TOILET PAPER AND THIS BATH TOWEL ISN’T WORKING!”
So we’re having a large time over here. My wife and I don’t have kids. In my life there have been many times when I’ve found myself wondering what it would be like to have children. I suppose now I know the answer. Exhausting. It would be exhausting.
You should have seen these girls get ready for bed last night. When their mother told them to get dressed in their nightgowns, the kids staged a full-scale mutiny. At one point there was a naked child, running through the living room with a megaphone and saying, “I WILL NEVER GO TO SLEEP!”
Dinner was also fun. Dinner was loud. Dinner was a full contact sport.
There was a moment before we ate supper when we were all sitting down, when someone asked me to say grace. We all agreed that one of the nieces should say grace instead.
So we folded our hands. We bowed our heads.
My 5-year-old niece closed her eyes tightly and said, “God, you’re a really nice guy. Thanks for being nice. Also, I love my Aunt Jay Jay and Uncle Sean so much. Thank you for making them.”
I tell you, it was enough to absolutely melt your H(&#$ %2 ti 9u2-39tu 12039W02 hsb$$ IUHW)*i23ub
48 comments
Ann Thompson - May 18, 2022 6:36 am
Love this ….they grow quickly.
Adele - May 18, 2022 6:38 am
Adorable, Uncle Ssshhh xx
Holly Lebed - May 18, 2022 7:06 am
Awww. What a sweet prayer. ♥️
Vernon Fowlkes - May 18, 2022 9:08 am
Dear Sean,
Well done. Again. I’ve been through this many times and it’s exhausting, excruciating, and wonderful all at the same time.
But what I really came here to tell you was that when I got to the part where your nieces jumped from the car and yelled your name, I swear to you, the first thing I read was “UNCLEAN!”
So there you have it. If you didn’t know it before, you do now: there’s only one letter’s difference between “Uncle Sean” and the traditional announcing cry of a medieval leper. I thought you should know.
Enjoy your family!
Ed Caldwell - May 18, 2022 9:54 am
lol
mikec4193 - May 18, 2022 10:11 am
Little kids can be so much fun and so exhausting at the same time…non stop life…
Sandi. - May 18, 2022 11:05 am
This is a hoot … still laughing as I type! You described toddlers quite well. They have boundless energy, say what’s on their little minds without a filter, and are curious about any and everything. .
Anne Arthur - May 18, 2022 11:06 am
This is pure love. Enjoy – you can sleep out your exhaustion later.
I’ve five grandkids. You get the picture…
Karen - May 18, 2022 11:14 am
What joy. You beautifully described toddlers. They are beautiful blessings.
Gerri Harper - May 18, 2022 11:16 am
I can feel the absolute joy in every line of this column! My son and his family are coming up for Memorial Day and I can’t wait for the hugs, the noise, and the utter chaos 3 grandsons bring with them!
Jane - May 18, 2022 11:28 am
I remember little feet, loud voices, fingerprints, and injustice of bedtimes…. Better you than me! lol
Paul McCutchen - May 18, 2022 11:33 am
Have fun. Make sure you feed them doughnuts and sweet tea before they leave.
Dee - May 18, 2022 11:35 am
Glad to see the headlights pulling in and taillights leaving. Happy times! What a wonderful Uncle and Aunt🤗.
Donna W - May 18, 2022 11:36 am
I could see it all in my mind. Those little girls love their Uncle Sean and Aunt Jay Jay.
Connie - May 18, 2022 11:39 am
I love family! Can’t wait until these kiddos come spend a week with you and Jamie. Without their parents. 😍🥰❣️
Becky Thomas - May 18, 2022 12:13 pm
Pure joy!! I have 12 grandkids and they all live in my sweet town. Best life ever. Enjoy.
Suellen - May 18, 2022 12:14 pm
I can relate. This is what it’s like every weekend when my granddaughters come over to our house. Sad thing is they have a habit of growing up and the older one is already showing signs of it. Enjoying every minute of childhood exuberance while I can before the teenage angst sets in.
Christine - May 18, 2022 12:21 pm
So sweet. Have fun with your family.
Lynne Oucjebs - May 18, 2022 12:30 pm
I had to send this on to my niece who has a 3 yr. old and a 7 yr. old. Thanks for the great idea for a Christmas present – a megaphone.
Denise Walker - May 18, 2022 12:47 pm
I feel the same way about my grandchildren (ages 5, 6, 8, and 11) They are energetic, loud, and the sweetest kids!
Enjoy your time. They grow up too fast….
Jeff Corkran - May 18, 2022 1:08 pm
Having just had a four-day visit from our 2-year-old great granddaughter, I fully understand. But we also got to meet her 6-week-old baby sister and see her parents and her Gigi, our oldest daughter. It was a great visit, but exhausting.
Rhonda - May 18, 2022 1:15 pm
Y’all take such JOY in those girls!! They sound so ADORABLE!!! What FUN!!
Roseann Romans - May 18, 2022 1:38 pm
Hilarious…..I could totally visualize the whole evening. Right up there with Haisan and Carrabino. Times like this humor is so important.
Tink - May 18, 2022 3:10 pm
Have you been to our house when granddaughters visit? Lik
January Ornellas - May 18, 2022 3:14 pm
Yes, wholeheartedly agree with your niece! Thank you for sharing your amazing gift of writing with the world every day! 35?8;; uhlkjsc3;)95”9({#%*!||> (my 1 1/2 granddaughter says thank you as well!) 😀❤️
Michele Sandstead - May 18, 2022 3:18 pm
Another great one! You rock, Sean!!!
Chasity Davis Ritter - May 18, 2022 3:35 pm
I can imagine how happy your heart is today with those lils in the house. Enjoy every minute. It needs to become a regular summer tradition that they come spend a week or two with you every year. Your new home is beyond officially Christened now!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Dale Parsons - May 18, 2022 3:43 pm
We have a daughter and triplet boys. That was fun, still is. Now we have eight grandchildren. Love it.
Marie - May 18, 2022 3:43 pm
Your new home is making so many memories. We are so privileged to share in them with you. Thank you Sean and Jamie!
Shelton A. - May 18, 2022 3:52 pm
Ahh, the joys of children. Take them to the zoo. Kids love animals. Take them to see PIXAR’s latest or some other kid-friendly movie. Don’t let them eat candy…you’ll have a pair of dynamos powered by sugar (popcorn instead). Take them for ice cream (soft serve)…smalls to avoid too much sugar. Enjoy being an uncle. In the end, that means you get to turn them, sugar crazed, back over to the parent/s. Let them deal with them…lol! God bless to Uncle Shhh and Aunt Jay Jay (God help your dogs).
Debbie g - May 18, 2022 4:55 pm
Been here doing that now. Loving it. And love y’all 😀😀😀
Karen Callis - May 18, 2022 5:29 pm
Hilarious.
AlaRedClayGirl - May 18, 2022 5:43 pm
Love this! With four children, I can definitely relate.
Judy - May 18, 2022 6:01 pm
Sean, this was indeed your best! I laughed out loud several times while reading. My husband heard me from the next room chuckling. “What in the world are you laughing about?”, he asked.
It’s been about 5 weeks since I’ve laughed….I fell down the steps onto the wood floors & fractured my pelvis…Nothing has been too funny since. .. Thank you!!!
Susie Flick - May 18, 2022 7:07 pm
So glad to hear you have some little feet making noise and creating a ruckus and making memories. Curious how your pups are faring with the extra noise and non-stop activity. Enjoy every precious moment!
Mary Raber - May 18, 2022 7:44 pm
Awww! 🥰
Linda Moon - May 18, 2022 8:07 pm
From one kid sister of a kinda-sorta-Big-Deal-Brother to another: WELCOME! We’ll need to talk soon. Blessings and Grace to you all!
Christina - May 18, 2022 9:27 pm
I’m melting with you 😍
Brenda - May 18, 2022 11:04 pm
Precious – nothing comes close to little ones with an occasional visit! 🤣
Patricia Gibson - May 19, 2022 12:02 am
Hilarious 🤣I can relate!!
Harriett Owen - May 19, 2022 1:50 am
My grandson, his wife and two little girls, aged 7 and 3 were at my house last weekend. Were you peeking in our windows???
Krista - May 19, 2022 3:26 pm
Yes.
Pieter Voorhees - May 19, 2022 3:35 pm
There’s a song about that. “Thank heaven for little girls.”
terric - May 20, 2022 11:50 am
❤️❤️❤️
iwaly444 - May 21, 2022 2:29 am
O my Gosh! This is one of my favorites article! Gems, like “WHERE DO YOU GO PEE IN THIS HOUSE?” & “UNCLE SSSHHH!” & “THIS IS A PRETTY NICE HOUSE!” she’d say.
“UH-OH! THERE IS A NEW HOLE IN YOUR COUCH, BUT IT WASN’T ME.”
“HELP! I’M OUT OF TOILET PAPER AND THIS BATH TOWEL ISN’T WORKING!” AND ( this i am seriously thinking of adding to my Prayer Repertoire : “God, you’re a really nice guy. Thanks for being nice. Also, I love my Aunt Jay Jay and Uncle Sean so much. Thank you for making them.”
Just some funny “UNCLE SSSHHH!”
All the best ☀🐝🌻🦋
CHARALEEN WRIGHT - May 21, 2022 5:23 am
❤
Dru Brown - May 21, 2022 6:47 am
Those children are winners! Enjoy.
artwimberley - May 21, 2022 1:58 pm
We used to journey from central Missouri to Mexico Beach, FL each year for a week’s stay beachside. Upon our arrival my two young great nieces were like jumping beans released from the restraints of the car to explore and voice their discoveries and excitement. My husband’s description of those trips was “we’re making memories”. Enjoy making your memories. All of you will enjoy recalling them. Cheers, Sean and Jamie!