So many of the milestones we have reached in the past few years and those we will reach in the years to come say that we are officially adults. But many of us cringe at the thought of actually taking on the role of an adult, particularly when it comes to all of the responsibility that comes with it. Many of us and our friends and relatives close in age are graduating high school and college, getting jobs, getting married, and having kids. For many, the whole having kids thing is probably the scariest thing about becoming an adult. Sure, babies and little kids are super adorable, but having one of your own is full of major life changes and responsibility. For those of us lucky enough to have nieces and nephews, we know how great being an aunt is.
My nephew is a couple of months old now, and I’ve been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with him. In that time, I’ve thought of all of the things I’ll be able to teach and show him as he grows up. And then I realized how much he’ll be able to teach me in the years to come, and I just became even more excited to watch my little buddy grow up. Here are a few reasons why being an aunt is the best thing in the world.
You get to give the kid back
It sounds awful to say “give the kid back,” but one of the best parts about being an aunt is that you get to be there for all of the really awesome stuff like giggles and snuggles. But you also get to leave at the end of the day and let your brother or sister take care of the late night feedings and fits. As an aunt, you get all of the perks of hanging out with the little squirt without the mess and drama that goes on behind the scenes.
You get to practice for parenthood
Parenthood might be further down the road for you, or you may be thinking about it now. Either way, being an aunt is the perfect way to test-drive your skills. This one also goes along with the whole “give the kid back,” but just know that when you do decide you’re ready to be a parent, it’s not going to be all rainbows and butterflies. I am so proud of my sister for all that she does as a mother. Just watching her has given me a whole new appreciation for my own mother. They’re my heroes!
You get to completely spoil them
Moms and dads are stuck paying for all of the un-fun stuff like diapers and burp cloths. But as an aunt, you get to buy whatever you want for the little rugrat: cute little outfits, sentimental storybooks, and toys. Even buying socks and pacifiers is fun these days!
You’ll have a special bond no parent or friend can quite compete with
I’m sure your brother or sister and his or her spouse are totally awesome people. I mean, obviously they are if they’re related to you. But there are just some things kids and teens don’t share with their parents. As an adult who is closer in age to the kiddo than the parents are and as someone who doesn’t have quite the responsibility of the parent, your niece or nephew is sure to come to you for advice at some point. There are problems that some parents or even friends can’t quite solve like an awesome aunt can.
You see your sibling in a new way
I’ll admit that I was a little scared when I found out my sister was pregnant. I was scared that everything was going to change, and that my sister wouldn’t really be my sister anymore. But the second that baby came into the world, everything got impossibly better. I never could’ve predicted how much this little man would change our lives for the better even though I thought we were doing pretty darn well before he came along. I didn’t think it was possible for my sister and I to be closer than we were B.B. (before baby), but I think he has brought us even closer. He just highlighted all of her best qualities, which were there from being the best big sister in the world (obviously). My sister is just so amazing, and I want to take this moment to thank her for being the best big sister I could’ve asked for.
I hope you’re lucky enough to experience aunthood someday, even if it’s faux-aunthood for the children of your BFF. It’s such a spectacular thing to hold that little baby for the first time and say, “Hi there. I’m your aunt.”Â