A Visit From Uncle Wal

For the past month the first words out of Will’s mouth have been “Where’s Uncle Wal?”

Uncle Wal isn’t exactly Will’s uncle, but rather my uncle, his great uncle, and Will absolutely adores him. Of course Will is lucky in that he’s gotten to spend all sorts of time with Uncle Wal during his short three years here.

My uncle lives in Cincinnati but visits us a few, or more, times a year, usually for about a month to help out with my grandmother who lives with us. I’m not sure who looks forward to his visits more, my grandmother or Will, or Wal.

And tomorrow after a month visit, Uncle Wal is preparing to head home. I’m sure Will is going to be devastated this time. As I write this, the two of them are out in the driveway in what has become their afternoon ritual, Uncle Wal pushing Will around in his little toy car, pushing him up to the top of the driveway and then letting the car go. Will screaming with joy as he goes faster and faster down the hill. I have to admit I’m feeling a little emotional about the whole thing.

Their morning ritual involves Will heading down the stairs to my grandmother’s place where he and Uncle Wal listen to the music of the Beatles and Carole King on the Internet. (Will’s a particularly big fan of Lady Madonna right now). They also watch the Pingu Disco dance ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5tEYMZoA-w ) and Will has gotten the pointing disco finger thing down to a science now.

As I’ve counted down to Uncle Wal’s departure I started to notice how much Will has gotten from not only the relationship with his uncle on a fun level but also a learning level. The other day while we were driving down the road, Will looked out the window and noted, “Those are storm clouds” to which I asked him why and he told me because they were dark. This, he told me, meant it was going to rain and possibly thunder and lightning. I asked where he learned that, half expecting him to say from the Little Einsteins on TV, when he responded, “Uncle Wal told me.”

Uncle Wal’s also taken Will on nature walks outside where they’ve looked at frogs, caterpillars, and other little creatures. Wal has also taught Will how to strum, rather than bang, on his little guitar and his even larger real guitar.

I also look at what Uncle Wal has taken from his relationship with Will. Here’s a guy who has never had much, if any experience with little kids, who has taken up babysitting for us, even giving Will a bath or two, and I believe a few diaper changes.

And then there’s what I’ve taken from the month visit—a really nice break. In the midst of taking care of Will, and my grandmother, and my two old horses, it’s often hard to take care of myself. Knowing that Will was having this special time with his uncle these past weeks has really allowed me to give myself permission to let the two of them play while I take a break. In most cases, I’ve spent that time cooking up some amazingly gourmet healthy meals, which is something I haven’t done much of in recent times.

Our family really has become a modern day extended family with a bit of a twist, but it works. I am a bit worried about how Will is going to react to his favorite uncle leaving but we’ve been trying to prepare him this week by telling him that Uncle Wal’s got to go check on his house and make sure it’s ok. Also that Uncle Wal needs to mow his lawn. At one point Will asked me if Cincinnati was far away. It is, I told him, but Uncle Wal will come back to see you soon okay.

Okay, he said with a big smile, as he ran off to request yet another playing of the Pingu disco dance.