The suspicions of seven-year-old me have been confirmed:  adults are more than likely having a lot of fun while kids are sleeping.  We have fun with the kids, too.

Babies are still kind of gross and too fragile, but they’re more approachable now.

To the middle years kids hanging in small groups against walls and near drapes all night:  I feel you.  Do your own thing for a while.  You can come hang pretty soon.

Love, a grown-up-but-not-old kind of fun cousin*

 

*I prefer “cousin” as the most palatable gender neutral term for aunt or uncle.  This may be something I’ll have to insist on, just in case any of the young ones needs a bona fide queer on their team.  I have two step-nephews, which is unnecessarily bulky language, to be sure, but wait until you hear about my two baby first cousins once removed.  Ha!