You know how they say that children instinctively ‘know’ things?  Do you think it’s true?  I know they can pick up on how the people closest to them are feeling; but is there more to it than just that?

I ask because…

Earlier this week I posted about the passing of my uncle.  Vinay had met him a few times – but would not remember him.  I was trying to think about the last time they met, and I can’t recall it.  He knows my aunt, though.  We go over to see her now and then.  The last time he saw her was just over a month ago.

Today, I was going over to see how they were doing and took Vinay with me.  It was straight after playgroup and he was quite exhausted, but since I was already on that side of the bridge, I figured he’d just have to deal with it. 

He was comfortable in their home – he knows where the parrot is, he helped himself to a couple of biscuits and was happy being looked after by the girls while my aunt and I had a little catch-up.  

I could see he was getting more and more tired.  He would come to me and put his head in my lap.  Or if I picked him up, he’d rest his head on my shoulder.  When he’s had enough of being somewhere, he starts waving at people – indicating that it’s time to go home!

I asked him, ‘Shall we go home?’  He climbed into my lap and started waving.  

As we moved towards the front door, he saw a framed, freshly garlanded picture of my uncle and pointed at it.  I took him to the picture.  After staring at it for a couple of seconds, he touched it.  And then started waving goodbye.  To the picture.  It wasn’t his normal two or three second wave.  It was much longer.

Everyone was quite choked up and didn’t know what to say.  And then my aunt kissed Vinay’s hand.

My son always fills me with wonder.  While I hope that he amazes others in the same way, I know it’s quite unlikely.  But today, I know he touched the hearts of some people that are very important to me.