...
every aunt knows how fortunate we are to have the love of our nieces and
nephews. And we are grateful to their parents, who have given us the gift of
aunthood. And so, Auntie's Day is also a time for us to appreciate all really
good things that aunthood brings:
1. When
a newborn niece or nephew holds our finger with her or his tiny fingers for the
first time, and we can't help but whisper: "I will love you forever."
2. The
first time a niece or nephew says "Auntie" (or something that sounds
remotely like "Auntie," or the name they will use to refer to us from
then on), we know we are bonded forever.
3. The
day we scream uncontrollably: "He's walking! He's walking! My nephew is
walking!"
4. The nicknames
we give them that are some combination of their proper name and the sound a
heart makes when it's exploding with joy.
5.
Hearing: "Higher, Auntie! Push me higher!" from a little kid voice on
a big kid swing.
6. And
hearing sweet little voices over the phone singing the same holiday songs we
sang when we were kids.
7. When
you visit and children come running to greet you with hugs and kisses and
things to show and tell you.
8. We
make up silly songs and sing them together over and over again, and again and
again, each time we visit.
9. Bath
time with baby! And all the delicious snuggles as we wrap them securely in
their towel.
10. The
way they nuzzle their little head into our chest as we read to them.
11.
There are many more unicorns and sparkly rainbows in these children's worlds
than in our own.
12. We
get to do the things with them we never did as kids -- or always did as kids.
Either way, it's much more fun to do it with them.
13.
There is always a niece who wants to play with our hair.
14. There
are children with whom to share our love of Hello Kitty, Snoopy, and Judy
Blume.
15. We
always have Thanksgiving Day plans.
16.
Baking Grandma or Great-Auntie's famous cookies together so they can taste the
sweet love handed down from generation to generation.
17.
Kissing a "boo boo" and realizing it really does make them feel
better.
18.
Getting dressed up all fancy to have fancy grown-up lunch at a fancy restaurant
for the very first time. Or, maybe, they invite Auntie to a fancy tea party at
home with a magical teapot that never runs out of tea and Play-Doh cookies they
"baked" just for you in the play kitchen you gave them last holiday
season.
19. With
each niece or nephew born, our hearts keep growing bigger and bigger.
20. The
children's questions about life make us wonder about how many more brilliant
questions are to come, and about all the many questions we've never even
thought to ask.
21. The
look on their faces when they open their gifts!
22. When
a child gently slips their little hand in yours.
23. And
then, when they ask if they can still hold your hand "even when they're a
teenager."
24. When
we're invited to see their ballet recitals, skating competitions, hockey games,
soccer matches, science expos, and graduations -- and they have no idea it
means more to us to be there than it means to them.
25.
Seeing them enjoy the purses, jewelry, and other things we've saved for just
the time when they're old enough to appreciate them.
26. When
they refer to their family, and they include their aunt.
27.
Because they have as much fun celebrating our birthdays as they do each
other's.
28. The
day when we realize we no longer have to consider letting them win the game.
29. Our
fridge door always has colorful drawings all over it, and the word
"love" is on each work of art.
30. We
get to dance in the living room together like nobody's watching.
31.
Giggling is catchy.
32. They
don't have to love us, and yet, they do.
33. It's
always appropriate to skip down the street when you are with children.
34.
Teaching them how to use chopsticks. And telling them that eating sushi with
your fingers is also OK.
35. Home
run! Goal! Touchdown! Arabesque!
36. When
they ask that Auntie be the one to put them to bed.
37. When
they are shy with a new visitor, and hide behind Auntie for safety.
38.
Receiving a gift from a child who put his or her full heart into wanting to
give you something special.
39. Some
of the bits of knowledge and experience we've gathered over the years are
actually useful to them.
40.
Those special days, set aside just for the two of you.
41.
Knowing a child or teen trusts you and your judgment enough to confide in you
or ask for your advice.
42.
Those smiles. Oh, those smiles. And when those smiles are directed toward
Auntie, they are the best smiles of all.
43. Ice
cream! Waffle cones! Colorful sprinkles!
44. No
matter how often we see our nieces and nephews, or how not-often-enough we see
them, they love us just the same.
45.
Years later, they tell us about an experience we shared when they were really
little, an experience we had long forgotten, and we realize we've have a much
stronger influence on their happiness and well-being than we knew.
46. Even
for those of us without children of our own, we are forever part of a beautiful
family. Their family. Our family.
47.
We're not their mother, and we're not their friend; we're their aunt, the
perfect blend.
Happy
Auntie's Day, on Sunday, July 26, to all the aunts who give so much to the
children you love. Aunthood is a gift. This day is yours. To learn more about
Auntie's Day, and for digital posters and ecards to post and share, visit
SavvyAuntie.com. Follow @SavvyAuntie on Twitter and Instagram and use
#AuntiesDay to share your celebrations and stories on Sunday, July 26! Savvy
Aunties are welcome to join the Auntourage on Facebook.
Melanie
Notkin is the national bestselling author of Savvy Auntie: The Ultimate Guide
for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers and All Women Who Love Kids
(Morrow/HarperCollins). Melanie Notkin's second book, OTHERHOOD: Modern Women
Finding a New Kind of Happiness (Seal Press/Penguin Canada), is available now.
OTHERHOOD received a prestigious *starred review* by Booklist.
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