I am very much a family-oriented person. I love spending time with my family and sharing my days with them. The day I became an aunt, I was a bit unsure what goes with that. It isn't the same as being a sister, but it's not being a mother either. From what I've learned and gathered the past seven years, it's somewhat of a split for me. My nephew was born when I was 13, and my heart felt so unbelievably full meeting him. I remember feeling so nervous to be an aunt to him, because I was young still and thought that I wouldn't be good enough. I remember one evening he was over when he was 2 months; I sat down on the couch holding him. I held him for four hours. When I woke up to my sister picking him up, I knew that being an aunt was something that was going to be one of the best things for me.
At my young age of 13, I often got scared thinking that I'm growing up so fast, and that before I know it, Aiden will be grown up too. However, whenever I was with him he taught me without knowledge to not worry so much and to just love unconditionally, and that it's OK to not always know what I'm doing. All I could think about was how I wanted to just make sure that little boy was so happy and how I could make sure I was a good adult figure in his life.
Six years later, I was blessed with my amazing niece, Kylie. Over the course of six years I had learned so much about being an aunt, and getting the chance to do it all over again with a new baby was something I was so excited about. I never had a baby sister, and while Kylie wasn't necessarily that, I knew for a fact I could seize this opportunity to have that bond with her at some point, while also being her aunt. However, I became sad because it was only a matter of time until I would be leaving for school. January to August went by so quickly, and I was so afraid my niece and nephew would forget who I am, especially my niece since she is only an infant.
Since I couldn't be present for them for most of the year, I always made efforts to ask how they were, shared pictures and videos constantly, and I constantly talked about them and how proud I was to be their aunt. I guess when I reached college, I realized how much being an aunt had impacted me as a person. I became very motherly, sisterly, compassionate for others, but also imaginative, curious, and free spirited just like my niece and nephew. Being an aunt definitely is a sign that I'm growing up, but it's given me so many life lessons, and two remarkable young children in my life. I long for the day I can truly express my gratitude to my nephew A.J and my niece Kylie for the gifts they gave me. I love them beyond belief, and there is absolutely no changing that.
