One of the joys of being around family is the amount of humor that generally results. I’m not certain from where this quality derives (be it an amount of relaxation, no need to impress, or something else), but it is certainly an ever-present situation with our families. There is a general feeling that people don’t censor themselves very much. This results in humor for obvious reasons. People are more likely to say or do things that others would find risky in other situations. As my father has said many times, “If you can’t make fun of your family, who can you make fun of?” Indeed. Family is a source of much entertainment.
When you add children into the mix the hilarity doubles. Our son has, on occasion, demonstrated knowledge of words we’d prefer he not utter in public. Sometimes he’s heard it from a family member, sometimes he’s just confusing consonants and vowels, and sometimes he’s just playing with the sounds he already knows and he just combines them in a way that happens to be a word he shouldn’t say. I don’t remember then name of the show now, but there was a time (maybe it still plays) where Bill Cosby (I think) would interview children. They’d say the funniest things. Their knowledge of the world is limited (much like their height). Their perspective is different and limited.
At any rate, I recently became “Uncle I don’t know” when my nephew was asked what my name was. “Uncle,” he paused and thought, finally giving up “I don’t know!” He ran out of the room quickly. He does, of course, know my name from pictures (we’ve been gone for so long), but the pressure was too much for him at that moment. Who hasn’t frozen up during a test? Honestly though, I kind of like it. I want to get a t-shirt made. Thanks, Nephew! Love, Uncle I Don’t Know!