What Three Year Olds Can Teach You

I try not to think that my nephew is exceptional. He's three years old, and I find conversations with him more stimulating than the words I exchange with my peers. His name is Vincent Jerome, and to be frank, the kid's funny shit.

Vinnie cares very little about current events or celebrity gossip. He simply wants you to notice him when he does his "naked dance" or sings along with the sesame street crew. He always laughs at my jokes, as long I keep a strictly fart noises and knock knock jokes line up. He always notices when I'm sad, and offers me his favorite toy to try and cheer me up. Never afraid to say I'm sorry or offer a big hug and kiss, there's just nothing you can't look to Vinnie for.

Every expression Vincent makes can make you smile. Joy, sadness, confusion, and anger are emotions Vinnie wears on his sleeves. If you yell too loud, he'll run to the corner and give you the cold shoulder for all of five seconds; you then feel such guilt that you can't help but offer him a cookie, to which he'll respond with a pouty but proud "Yes."

Though only three, Vinnie has shown me truer friendship than those I used to call my closest. He doesn't judge me for my job, my taste in boys, or my life choices. He'll always run to me with a giant smile and arms open wide no matter what I did the night before.

I'm leaving home in a week, and though I am twenty kinds of excited, there's nothing that saddens me more then to watch my nephew grow each and every day.

Vinnie has taught me that true priorities are family and love, and there is nothing that can compare. The ignorance of children has been something admired by adults who have learned too much about life for generations, and it is easy to see why. Vince cries when he's sad, smiles when he's happy, and loves everyone for who they are, not what they pretend to be.

Thank god for children, and thank god for the funniest, cutest kid I have ever had the pleasure to meet. He's truly changed me. That is why I chose to kick off my blogging career with a post about him; this way you can attribute a bit of my immature humor to the fact that I hang out with a three year old almost everyday.