The Aunt Life

(coloring in the grass at the Botanical garden, summer 2011)


My 16 year old younger brother and I were texting the other day, agreeing that the life of as an Aunt or Uncle is indeed blessed. We have three other siblings, a 36 year old brother with 4 kids, a 35 year old sister with 2 kids, and a 25 year old sister with one child and a baby on the way.

Brendan and I discussed the fact that the role of aunt or uncle is unique. Like our nieces and nephews' parents, we are adults and have similar traits and backgrounds as their parents. Like their parents, we can teach, sometimes correct, play and be an example for them as (hopefully) well adjusted human beings.

Unlike their parents, we are not their parents! We can spoil them, act like kids with them more often, and speak into their lives in a way that is simply...different...than their parents can for the mere fact that we are the aunt or uncle and completely unique people of our own.

Sometimes as aunts and uncles, we can inspire or challenge our nices and nephews in areas that the children had previously turned a deaf ear to their parents about because we are another close, but not too close, role model in their lives.

This week I am thankful for my nieces, nephews and my siblings and their spouses who brought them into the world. My siblings are all excellent parents and I am so incredibly proud of the way they have brought up these well adjusted, polite, endearing, creative, well-spoken, intelligent, children who have only the smallest smidgen of naughtiness. (Who wants to be an aunt to a perfect child? How boring.)

Of course, as a person who does not feel an inkling towards having my own children in the least, I cherish my nieces and nephews even more because they are the nearest to my heart. I care about all the children of the world, but my sibling's children are the ones with whom I can immediately and over a long term, build a relationship with and love on their life journeys.

Also, as a person who does not want my own children, I am extremely happy that I can send them home to their parents when I am tired and need time alone. In my quiet time or while pursuing one of my myriad of hobbies, I praise God for my family and pray for my brothers and sisters as they work hard in raising these precious hoodlums.