My oldest niece is about to give birth to her first child, and this means her younger siblings are about to become an uncle and aunt for the first the time to their nephew. As their own Savvy Auntie, it’s been my job to help them prepare for their new roles.

Dear Darlings,

You are about to embark on a great, exciting adventure – becoming an uncle and an auntie. Your life will not be the same when the little one arrives.

The first time you meet this tiny, fragile human, you realize something in an instant. This is family. This is possibility. This is love.

Becoming an aunt and uncle is very much like falling in love at first sight. Your heart sings and flutters. You are shocked by the intensity of it, yet welcome it like a cozy warm blanket on a chilly day. You realize you are part of that village that people talk about. You will care, worry, wonder, hope and dream – all for him. There will be nights you lose sleep. There will be moments of boundless joy.

You will collect the stories of the funny and smart things he says. You will tell the truth. You will spin stories of our family, becoming part of the ancient custom of passing down family stories that has been around since the dawn of the time.

He will ask you tough, life-altering questions, and you will struggle with the answers at times. Do the best you can.  

You will relish those small moments – when he grabs your finger the first time, curling up together to read a book, and those precious hugs and kisses. In him, you will see your parents, your sister, and yourself, and it’s both shocking and amazing to witness.

You will watch him make mistakes you can clearly see coming but know he has to learn on his own, no matter how painful it will be. You will help him pick of the pieces when he lets you.

You will teach him to climb mountains, swim oceans, and save the world. You will teach more than you’ll ever realize and learn even more yourself.

I can tell you from firsthand experience that being an aunt and uncle makes you a better person. You will want to make the world a better place for him and want to give him everything. You are amazing young adults who make me proud every single day, and I look forward to watching you discover newfound role. You’ve got this.


Photo: alexandr_1958
Published: March 16, 2016