What is an aunt? According to Webster’s Dictionary an “aunt” is the “sister of one’s father or mother, or the wife of one’s uncle.” This is a pretty obvious definition in my opinion, but I think it’s a little deeper. Is an aunt just someone you share genes with or does that title require much more? Last September I was bestowed with the title when my nephew, Matthew, was born. This tiny little baby was going to call me aunt one day and I knew that meant much more than just being related to him. Being his aunt meant that I would be a role model, teacher, friend, confidant, babysitter, and so much more. As soon as this realization hit me I wondered if I would do well in my role as “Aunty Sharon.”
The first few months of his life went on and I was lucky to be living in the same city as him. I got the opportunity to have him sleep on my chest, laugh at my fake sneezing, and attempt to feed him when all he really wanted to do was chew on his spoon. It was great and I was so honored to be such a big part of his life. Then I was asked to watch him for a couple of hours three days a week while his mom was at work. I thought it would be just like every other babysitting job I had in the past; I had no idea what I was getting myself into and I definitely solidified my "aunt-hood."
I loved him more than words could describe, and that could be seen in any reaction (crying) I had to pictures of him doing cute things, but I never knew what that love could do. We bonded on our walks as he babbled and I sang, we laughed as I chased him around my house as he got faster and faster, we made new friends in my school cafeteria, we gave each other endless amounts of kisses, and we documented our days on Snapchat.
His laugh turned my whole day around. I could stay up all night long studying and he could fill me with energy to make it through the rest of the day, or use up the rest of my energy chasing him. I could hear him laugh across the cafeteria with my friends while I got food and when I couldn’t hear him a little bit of a panic went through me. I would about jump out of my skin when I heard him cry and I can’t lie and say that I didn’t feel good when he reached for me. I know for a fact that he could make the ‘t’ sound because we practiced almost every day. I could tell when he liked, or didn’t like, certain people. I got to the point where I could guess what he wanted without him having to do much. All he had to do was ask for a bite politely and I would give him whatever he wanted, which resulted in his Buddha belly, but that just made him cuter. I didn’t think it was going to be that big of a deal when the semester ended, but that was very wrong.
I cried. My friends cried. Then when we went into the café we cried again because he wasn’t there. He had touched every single one of our lives and it was going to take some adjusting to be without him every week. Obviously, he won’t remember any of the time we spent together, but I will. I will remember all the things we did and the fun we had, but more than that I will remember to laugh at the little things and I will remember that I always have the energy to be happy and polite to everyone no matter how tired I am.
I cannot wait to watch this little man grow up and become the big man God has created him to be. I know he will do amazing things and I will always be looking and listening for that laugh and protecting him from that panic-inducing cry. I read once that only the best sisters get promoted to aunt. I don’t know how great I was as a sister but I must have done something right because being an aunt has been one of the biggest blessings of my life, and I cannot wait to see what other blessings God has in store for me.
