Whether you have your own kids or not, being an auntie is pretty special.
That's because it's the very best of both worlds: all the love, cuteness, and cuddles, much less of the snot, mess, and noise.
As an auntie, you also offer invaluable support to both parent and child (not to mention YEARS of babysitting services).
And as an aside, whether it’s your cousin, neighbour, BFF, or actual sibling who’s recently given birth, you can legitimately assign yourself an ‘auntie’ tag in the aftermath.
Here, we give you five reasons why it’s just the BEST…
1) Everyone remembers their cool aunt
And now that cool aunt is… you! Buying sneaky ice-creams, bringing them on shopping trips, and being a trusted confidante – you have oh-so important roles to fulfil.
2) All the love, none of the sleepless nights
You delight in a day out with your borrowed small one, because having quality one-on-one time with a niece or nephew is invaluable. That and they still get passed back to their parents at the end of the day. Which means a good night’s sleep for you no matter what. Hurrah!
3) You know the stuff a new mum actually wants
Arriving at the door with bars of chocolate and mascara are always going to be appreciated. You book her in to get her eyebrows done before labour - and again six weeks again the new little ones arrives. You bring practical items for baba too – cotton wool, nappies, and vests - because you know that’s the stuff she needs. Go you!
4) You learn a new type of love
OK, they’re not yours… but they’re pretty close. Your heart swelled when you met them for the first time – and it has continued to grow with emotion ever since. Bad day? Getting a ‘I love my auntie’ hug and kiss makes everything an awful lot better.
5) You get to be a kid again
Revisiting all your old childhood favourites – the zoo, a playground, a day getting messy with paint and glue and glitter – is a real treat. And with a niece or nephew, it’s entirely possible.
