There are so many reasons I love being an aunt to both my nephews and my nice. I think everyone likes being an aunt or an uncle for lots of reasons but here are just a few.
1. They're cute
This might be the most obvious one, but come on. They're adorable little kids who want to hug you with sticky hands and kiss you with sticky faces. A little gross, but it melts your heart anyways.
2. You can play with them whenever you want
For the most part, you'll be hard pressed to find a parent who wouldn't let you take their kids off of their hands for a while. And usually they trust you the most because you're family and you all survived your childhood just fine.
3. You get to be the good guy
You're not their parent. You don't have to follow the same disciplinary rules that their parents do. Granted, you don't want to go crazy and veer off the beaten path, but if they say something that's funny but also maybe inappropriate, it's okay to laugh. That's what the parents are for.
4. You can be their best friend
You can laugh and joke with them in a lot of ways their parents can't because of the disciplinary rule. This kind of goes along with being the good guy - you get to be their best friends, too.
5. They're funny
There's not a day that goes by when you are watching your nieces or nephews and they don't make you laugh. I mean, they might frustrate you, but that's just because they're kids. Adults frustrate us just as easily. The only difference is kids can still make us laugh while they're frustrating us because they're so innocent.
6. They keep you active
Whether your niece/nephew is a small child learning to walk or around ten years old, there's a good chance they'll want you to play some sort of game with them. For the younger ones, it's not so much a game as it is you hollering their name because they don't listen to you. For the older ones though, they'll ask you enough times that you say yes just to get them to stop asking.
7. You will be their favorite person
You get to hug them and buy them gifts and take them places. You can feed them their heart's desire because you might not get to see them that often.
8. They make me want to be a better person
Regardless of the age, you are someone they look up to. More so than just random adults in their lives. They trust you to show up and be there for them, and they also trust you to love them. That's a big responsibility and I don't know about you, but I feel obligated to live up to them. I want to be the best positive role model I can be.
9. You can give them back
At the end of the day, playing with them can be the most fun in the world. You get your exercise in while running around after them when they're little, and then you get to enjoy conversations and hanging out with them when they get older. But when they start being brats and you don't want to deal with it anymore, you are under no obligation too. Enjoy them during the good times and let their parents deal with the mood swings.
10. They're an endless supply of love
For the most part. Kids are much like dogs in that way - the love you endlessly. They get so excited to see you and they miss you so much when you're gone. As long as you're taking care of them and making a genuine effort, they love you and everything you have to offer in their lives.
