I spent a weekend with my nephew recently and really enjoyed catching up in person; it's rare considering he lives so far away from where I live. He's seven, and totally bonkers like I was at his age and is such a funny and cool kid. I had a blast.
We video chat a lot so I know what's going on in his life but that's not the same as being in the same room so we caught up on the many things he does and I got to feel way more involved than a simple video chat. He was telling me about his sailing activities, something he does every Friday afternoon.
He's now sailing solo after a lot of instruction and is gaining more and more confidence; the good thing is they're teaching him every aspect of sailing little by little and in time he'll become an expert sailor, should he stick with it which I think he will. Considering he wants to sail around the world when he's older - a big ambition for a seven year old to have - he needs the right grounding.
Besides the obvious enjoyment aspects of spending time with my nephew, it was so great to see him developing well and with so many diverse interests. I'm very proud of him.
Having to say goodbye knowing there's thousands of kilometres between us and that I'll not see him for quite a while is always sad, but the good memories we make together are priceless and o treasure them.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post courtesy of my sister in-law
In a society that accepts and promotes putting a device in the hands of children to keep the quiet or entertained it's refreshing to see a little boy being brought up with adventure in his life; this is how I was raised and how you were raised to, considering your posts. It's a credit to his parents.
Becca 🌷
I couldn't say it better myself, and I completely agree.
Sailing alone at that age (even with supervision from parents) is a great achievement, as teen he will be an expert if he keeps it up... We are going to our niece Sunday to let the kids play together and gather, not thousands of kilometers separating us, a little thousands... You could start planning next visit 😄
It's a little club and there's a lot of supervision from experts doing the training so it's pretty safe.
I'm doing a video with the little guy tonight (Christmas eve) and am looking forward to it. I miss him a lot.
I hope you have a nice time on Sunday and the kids enjoy playing. Also, have a nice Christmas whatever you do, and don't eat too much fucken panettone. (Actually, eat heaps!)
He gonna be so happy waiting for Santa to come!
Thanks! Today, the 24th, here we don't really do anything, Christmas for us is just tomorrow, we are gonna go to my parents and eat a lot! I'll take some pictures of the panettoni for you 😄
Have a good Christmas you too, today and tomorrow or whenever you celebrate!
We don't do much Christmas eve here either, it generally a Christmas day thing and the same overeating that you do! 😆
In a Finland it's a Christmas eve thing and my brother and his family are there so we always video chat and all.
I'm relaxing tonight, Mexican food for dinner and some movies. Typical Christmas eve.
Interestingly here in the south they celebrate a lot Christmas eve, while not much the 25th, here in the north the opposite
Mexican sounds good, I loved it when I went to Mexico except the fried stuff, too heavy for stomach... I'm taking Chinese food tonight... Movies is a good plan aswell
Meanwhile first panettone is taking the fly
Panettone number one done, only 17 more to go!
The kids grow up so quickly, I'm lucky that most of my next generation live nearby and I get to see them often, especially the little tots. I was living away from home when the older ones were growing up and I missed out on them growing up, so now it's like catching up time with the rest.
It seems like only last week my nephew was a little baby that is cuddle and entertain with silly faces and noises and now we have lengthy conversations about all sorts of things. It's cool, but it's also happening so fast. You get it though, obviously.
What an achievement! What memories he will have with his uncle too. Some of my most favorite memories involve my uncles. They taught me alot, some things for the good, some not so good (according to my mom). Does my heart good to see things like this still taking place in the world.
Thanks mate, and yeah I tech him some good things and (when he's older) will be helping him find some mischief I'm sure. That's what uncles do. 🤔😂
Awesome uncle!
Guns, girls and 4x4's.
Education complete.
(Ok, maybe some other stuff too.)
I remember when I was learning to sail at a much older age as your nephew.
The feeling when you are out there with no other sound but the wind flowing through the sails and the water hitting the boat feeling how the boat reacts at every little of your movements is priceless.
I've not done a lot of sailing and none solo but I get what you're saying. My nephew really loves sailing and I hope he keeps doing it, a handy skill for a person I think.
The memories of the good times bring the good times back to life and your nephew is always with you in your heart even if you can't be there for him. He is very much like his uncle, he will be good at whatever he undertakes, because he has good values and principles.
He certainly gives things a red hot go and doesn't mind a setback, just readjust and pushes on.
That's the way to do it!
He's obviously being raised well by his parents or guardians, and he'd be a unique and capable person by the time he's an adult. I admire what you wrote about his social skills. A 7-year old being that socially capable is a bit of a rare thing. I wish him the best in life.
He's being raised as I was raised, or near enough to it, and that's the reason he's doing as well as he is. He doesn't get plonked down in front of a screen, like most kids.
That looks like a really fun skill to learn. It's pretty cool that they teach them as much as they do. I wouldn't know the first thing about a sailboat. I am more familiar with pontoons!
He's learning a lot of things with the idea being he's not one dimensional. No computer games or screen time though.
Was it motocross bikes when he was younger or is my mind failing me again?
Nah, BMX and he still does that, and mountain bike riding too.
Seven-year-old solo sailing? That's such a talented kid. No doubt he'll be more skilled as he grows.
For sure, he's a smart kid.