In the small town of Denver, North Carolina there is a little boy named Gabriel Benjamin Matthew Clinton. He will also answer to Gabe, Gabey, Buddy, Munchkin, Dude, Nugget, Bubba and Gabers. I met this boy when he was barely a year old, as my sister was starting her job as his nanny. I didn't really get to know him until a few years later when my sister could no longer keep him. Since he'd met me several times before, the best transition was to fill the role as nanny for the summer. Little did I know when I started, that kid was going to teach me some valuable life lessons. Here are some of the things that Gabe has shown me.
1. Freaking is not a nice word.
Gabriel has a tendency to pick up everything people say. So when Dad drops the f-bomb a few too many times it catches on. When I left the nannying job to go back to school, Gabe had innocently used the f-word on several occasions. Upon visiting him the other week, however, I said that one of his games was like "freaking physics." He immediately snapped at me, saying "Don't say freaking! That's a bad word!" My jaw dropped and I honestly couldn't even laugh because I was so shocked. It was a little reminder to watch what I say around little ones, but the reminder came from the last person I expected.
2. There's nothing wrong with getting your hands dirty.
I'm not much of a priss, but I'm not a big fan of mud or anything of the sort. Guess who is? Gabriel. He loves to get dirty and roll around in the sandbox full of wet sand from the night before. I mostly didn't like it just because I was the one that had to clean him up. But after getting muddy in the lake with him, I realized that a little bit of dirt was no big deal.
3. TV really can be educational.
Every morning at breakfast Gabe has to watch "Mighty Machines." This show is literally about machinery. From construction equipment to street cars, they have it all. And as annoying and pointless this show felt, I am always impressed when I hear Gabe yell from the backseat, "Look! It's an excavator!"
4. Bodily functions are nothing to be ashamed of.
There's nothing like a kid screaming that he farted in the middle of a grocery store.
5. Good music is one of life's greatest pleasures.
I have an unhealthy obsession with the band Imagine Dragons, and it looks like it's contagious. Gabe's favorite songs are "Hopeless Opus" and "Polaroid." However, I just recently got him stuck on "Work This Body" by Walk The Moon. Gabe is super into uplifting music and it's so fun to see him get into it. I'd post a video of him standing on his training toilet singing "Polaroid" but he's totally naked and he may not care about his modesty but I do.
6. Being naked is only natural.
The number one question I get about Gabe is why he is always naked. My first response is that he's a kid so why not? But my next response is usually that if I could be naked all the time I probably would be.
7. When people are mean, it is best to walk away.
Gabe has a little girlfriend that tends to be a little bossy. He's usually pretty good about being patient with her, but when she starts getting over the top he just move on to something else. She usually cries hysterically, but Gabe could honestly care less.
8. There's nothing wrong with asking for help.
Things can be difficult as a child when you want to do certain things but need help. Luckily, Gabe isn't a "throw it against the wall when you can't do it" kind of kid (except that one time his tablet stopped working). He just asks for your help, and I think that's an awesome quality to have.
9. It's OK to be horrified of bugs.
If you ever see me running with a little white kid, you're not witnessing a kidnapping. There's probably just a bee nearby and Gabe and I don't want to be around when it strikes.
10. Don't be afraid to try new things.
Gabe more or less taught me this lesson with his disinterest in anything that is not part of his routine. Food, activities, etc. I realized that I can be that way as well, and I should break the cycle before I get stuck in it.
11. It's always a good idea to talk to new people.
Gabe is a big talker. He knows no strangers. Everyone within a five-foot radius is his friend. I try to remind myself that if this little kid can talk to a crowd of people he doesn't know, I can ask the lady at Walmart where to find the tortillas.
12. Don't take life too seriously.
At the end of the day, no one really has their life totally figured out. Stop freaking out and just live. Maybe run through the fountains at the park with a toddler or something.
August 31, 2016 marks the fifth year of little Gabe's adventurous life. Kiddo, with your fifth year I hope you find happiness, excitement and lots of frozen yogurt. Love and miss you, stinker!
