Greetings from the Kids’ Table

[mostly from 12-25-03]

That’s right. I was bumped to the kids’ table during meals again, just like last year. Yes, I’m okay with. I do have short legs after all. Anyway.

I know some people who know me have expressed surprise that I don’t want children. I’ve been assured that, the older you become, the more the maternal instinct kicks in—hence, the growing wish for kids. Most people believe that, since like I act like a seven year old myself (and have more and more as I’ve “aged”), it’d be even more natural for me to look forward to children. For “playmates” of sorts, if nothing else I guess. I know lots of people my age (and even younger) start thinking about marriage and kids, mostly with favorable thoughts. Yet, none of that especially appeals to me at the moment. I don’t have a reason behind that—maybe because I’ve always been single (and perfectly happy with the fact, thanks).

What brought this on? Christmas at Grandma’s house equals Christmas surrounded with “little people,” as I affectionately refer to my younger cousins. I have five between the ages of just over one to thirteen years old. The upstairs has been taken over by baby toys (and I’m becoming an expert at balancing objects while jumping over the gate at the top of the stairs)—the basement was claimed by Legos, K’Nex, Hot Wheels, and (later) the eternal Playstation 2. I’ve watched “The Lizzie Maguire Movie” twice, “Freaky Friday” once, and the beginning of “Finding Nemo,” not to mention the hours I’ve wandering into games of Spongebob and Simpsons on the PS2. I’ve been gaining a distinct education on how it feels to have a younger sibling, and I’m glad all the training aids get to go back home to their respective homes eventually.

I love all my cousins, and the playing around we all do (plus the opportunity to watch movies like “Lizzie” and “Friday” without being mocked by college people). Yet, I never feel like I know what to do with the little people (as the youngest, I didn’t really get any experience in that regard), so I mostly defer to Caleb. But, at the same time, I feel like I should instinctively know how to handle kids anyway (why? I don’t know), so they’re not my most favorite thing in the world. My older cousins are great because they’re at the stage where they’re starting to understand jokes that used to fly over their heads, so it’s that much more interesting to talk to them.

I’ll wait for the other three to grow up a few years.