The Power of Rob

So my baby brother took a long road trip from New Jersey to visit us this past weekend.


Rob holds a hallowed spot in our house, right next to the cans of tuna. He lived with us in Philly for about a year during which time he consumed vomitous quantities of Ramen noodles. When Bennett was learning to eat solid food Andrea started calling them Uncle Robbie Noodles and the name stuck. Several times a week right at lunch time uncle Robbie gets mentioned in our house. I don't know if it is the frequent mention of his name coupled with intense "oriental flavor (what is that anyway?)" or the fact that Rob lived just across the bridge in Jersey for Bennett's first three years and is the only uncle Bennett has really known. It could be the cool flying bird birthday present, the camping trips, the only relative at Thanksgiving for several years running, the fact that he can fly real airplanes, or any number of things that only Bennett knows. Anyway you cut it, he is magical with Bennett. Rob holds power to unlock something in Bennett that neither parent can.


Bennett is a touch on the timid side when it comes to physical activity. I have no problem with this as we live in a place where a little too much bravado would cost us at least a few evenings in the ED or worse. A good sense of fear will keep him alive. Bennett likes to swim in the lake, but that took a while and he only does it with a life jacket. He took swimming lessons in a pool and there was able to jump in from the edge without any flotation aids. He has never considered jumping in the lake without a life jacket despite my prodding. Jumping off the rock has never been an option even though a couple of his brave friends have done it. I never considered asking him to jump off the rock as his typical statement before getting into the lake is,"Dad, will you please lower me into the water GENTLY so I don't get my hair wet?"


Rob changed all that. The first day Rob was visiting Bennett asked if he could show uncle Robbie how he can swim without a life jacket. He dove right in for the first time from a low rock ledge and swam like a fish.... Where did that come from? The next day we were all hanging out at the lake swimming and barbecuing when suddenly Bennett announced that he was going to jump off the rock...The Diving Rock...12' of air to the cool waters below.





Stunned silence from both parents.





He walked over to the edge and stood there for several minutes before deciding that he wanted to jump WITH uncle Robbie. They held hands and he did not even hesitate. 1 - 2- 3 over they went.

WOW

The power of uncle Rob.