There’s a Spanish Proverb - “… an Aunt can give hugs like a mother, can keep secrets like a sister, and share love like a friend.” Looking back it’s easy to see the influence of my parents’ relationships with their siblings on us. They were examples of closeness, trust, sometimes conflict, sometimes forgiveness, but lots of laughs. What most sticks with me now is how they, our Aunts and Uncles, were with us. For the most part they were welcoming, interested, and warm.
Myself, I’ve always liked being an Aunt. Of course, having sisters who are such incredible, loving mothers, has made it pretty damn tough to stand out, and swoop in, as the fun loving, cool Aunt ;-) Don’t get me wrong, I still give it a pretty good try!
Recently, very very recently, I’ve been reminded just how much I genuinely enjoy spending time with them, my nieces and nephews, and it got me thinking (surprised?). Many have heard me say, probably more than once, what a blessing it is to have been around my nieces and nephews while they were young. I really believe being there, regularly, during their young childhood, somehow locks you in for life. I’ve watched them grow up, have children of their own, even become Aunts and Uncles themselves. They are phenomenal individuals… all of them. They have a sense of self, they’re their own person, they’re strong, loving, funny, playful and interesting.
So I started thinking about "it takes a village” maybe it does, maybe it depends on the village. For me, the primary factor in affording me getting to be part of their wonderful village, to be close to, and know, my nieces and nephews is mothers who shared them so generously! And even though I love them, their mothers, my sisters, for many other reasons, I think I love them most of allfor that!
Love,
Sylvia
Myself, I’ve always liked being an Aunt. Of course, having sisters who are such incredible, loving mothers, has made it pretty damn tough to stand out, and swoop in, as the fun loving, cool Aunt ;-) Don’t get me wrong, I still give it a pretty good try!
Recently, very very recently, I’ve been reminded just how much I genuinely enjoy spending time with them, my nieces and nephews, and it got me thinking (surprised?). Many have heard me say, probably more than once, what a blessing it is to have been around my nieces and nephews while they were young. I really believe being there, regularly, during their young childhood, somehow locks you in for life. I’ve watched them grow up, have children of their own, even become Aunts and Uncles themselves. They are phenomenal individuals… all of them. They have a sense of self, they’re their own person, they’re strong, loving, funny, playful and interesting.
So I started thinking about "it takes a village” maybe it does, maybe it depends on the village. For me, the primary factor in affording me getting to be part of their wonderful village, to be close to, and know, my nieces and nephews is mothers who shared them so generously! And even though I love them, their mothers, my sisters, for many other reasons, I think I love them most of allfor that!
Love,
Sylvia