When I had my babies I felt that I had earned all the congratulations that came my way. Through the long slog of pregnancy, through the difficulty of labour and through the sleepless nights, I invested my sweat equity. I was overjoyed when my children arrived, of course, but I worked for that joy. And I continue working for that joy. That’s the bargain that we make when we become parents.
Three days ago I became an aunt for the very first time. My younger sister Gretchen and her husband Aidan welcomed their son Tyson. He is adorable, and like most new babies he looks just like his father. The labour was a little rough, but in the end Tyson is perfect and worth every bit of it. Gretchen is so happy, and she deserves all of the congratulations and good wishes coming her way.
My sister, the radiant new mama, and baby Tyson
What has surprised me, though, is how many congratulations I’m receiving as the new auntie. I have done nothing, and I mean nothing, to earn them. Jumping when the phone rings and stalking email is hardly a trial. I made a few baby things, yes, but I have done the same thing when friends had babies and no one congratulated me for that. I am excited and happy to share the joy, of course. And I’m soaking up the congratulations whether I’ve earned them or not.
Baby Tyson
This is what I imagine being a grandparent must feel like. You get all of the well wishes and none of the work. You can visit once in a while and then hand the kid off when you’re ready to go home. Sweet! If I’d known how great this aunt gig was, I would have done it first. Or at least I would have spent a bunch of time nagging our various siblings to procreate, because this gig is plush.
So, help a newbie aunt out. What are your tips for living up to my new role in young Tyson’s life? How far is too far in totally ignoring his parents’ wishes and buying him all manner of contraband? Where do you draw the line in teaching rude songs and jokes? Please pass along your aunt-ly or uncle-y wisdom!
I love being an aunt. In our family, aunts & uncles are supposed to corrupt the kids…and it's their parents' jobs to roll their eyes and let us spoil them rotten. Can't wait to see what being a grandparent is like.Congrats to you all!
Remember that your sister is also your children’s aunt. The line is wherever you would want it to be for her and your kids. Do you want her to give your kids triple chocolate cake and a popsicle for lunch? No? Then, you probably shouldn’t feed her child that either. Would you want your child belching the Canadian National Anthem? No? Then, you shouldn’t teach her child to do that either. Just remember that if you buy her child a drum set for Christmas, she may buy your children recorders.
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ROFLMAO at Casey’s comment. Yup, the whole noisy toy thing is definitely used for revenge
Congratulations Auntie! I know you will be the “cool” aunt
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Congratulations Amber! I am an auntie and god mother so I buy my niece and nephews exactly what they ask for on their birthdays, I host sleepovers, I babysit for free, I make cookies with them, I take them to the circus and to movies and I give them big hugs and kisses when I see them. Being an auntie is great – enjoy!
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I wouldn’t teach my nephew rude songs but then that’s because I don’t like them myself. I have been known to buy loud toys for him…but then that was before my kids arrived on the scene and quid pro quo became a bit more relevant.
Congrats to the WHOLE family (especially your sister and BIL) on the arrival of Tyson,
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We have the opposite situation here – I have a 5 1/2-year-old, and this is my sister’s first child. In terms of noisy toys, the quid pro quo is only becoming relevant now for her. I have no desire to exact my revenge, but most of our noisy toys came from the super-cool Auntie Gretchen and Uncle Aidan.
I’m not an auntie but I am a godmother. Unfortunately they live across farther away and I don’t see them very often, but I do spoil them with high value gift cards for birthdays and christmas. They are much older now, high school & college aged, but as babies, oh the goodies they’d get… it was so much fun!
So congratulations on becoming an aunt!!!
Will you be ‘aunt’, ‘ant’, or ‘auntie’? I have a few auntie’s and aunt’s, but would prefer to be called Auntie myself.
Oh and as far as those noisy toys… why not share them with Tyson when he’s old enough? Nothing like giving back those toys to family when they’re ready to use them!
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Kale has an honorary aunt who gives him I would prefer for him to not have, like licensed merchandise and super plasticy toys. She knows i don’t care for these items at home, but I know she feels he shouldn’t go through childhood without a close relationship with Winnie the Pooh. She tells me I am a curmudgeon. I tell her she wastes her money. Ultimately, she can buy whatever she wants, Kale and I will graciously accept these items, and after one wear or a week of play, they are donated. She believes it’s her job as an auntie to give Kale whatever I deny him. I have just become adept at censoring how much naughtiness she supplies him with.
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I was the aunt who bought noisy toys before I had my own kids. I did not really get it back then. Now that I have my own kids, I think twice before buying really noisy toys.
Congratulations on becoming an Aunt.
Lisa
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Congrats to your kiddos too for their new baby cousin! Beautiful Mommy and baby! Now go make them a casserole or something, lol!
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I figured you were joking. I’m pretty sure that my advice has nothing to do with being a good aunt either.
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congratulations all round (what beautiful pics).
i’m wiping a tear at all the ‘noisy toy’ comments (laughter i assure you) – though i’m not really an aunt (an aunt-in-law to nephews too far away to have much contact with) i can second the karma stuff with noisy toys.
i think in prep read the last chapter in Mate and Neufeld’s Hold On To Your Kids about building a village of support for children – that’s what I would be trying if i lived closer to my son’s only cousins
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I have no aunt advice since I’m not one yet.. But I send both your sister, and of coarse you, congratulations.
And can you please tell your sister that I never looked that good after giving birth.
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Wow, do you and your sister ever look a lot alike!
The role of being an aunt is to basically be another adult role model. At least that’s how I treat my role of being an uncle…although I’m not a very good role model either. Hmm.
Just be yourself, Auntie Amber, I’m sure you’ll do fine. Oh, and congratulations
My friend Jenn is the coolest, funniest aunt in the world. She dresses her nephews and baby niece up in punk clothes and makes them pose for punk rock band pictures and then gives the photos to her sister as surprise gifts. She buys funny t-shirts for them to wear and takes them on fun outings. They love her and I love the stories. Generally, I think her sister likes it too.
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My little nephew is in Chiliwack…I haven’t seen him since his first birthday in April.
So so far not rockin on the cool aunt thing here..
Great post! I got a lot of congrats when my sister had my niece, but in fairness I had a baby 6 days later so there was congrats going all around. I hope to have a great relationship with my niece over the years. I’m planning on buying her some bling for her first birthday in a few weeks. I’m fairly certain it is an aunts job to spoil them rotten
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Just don’t take him to get his nose pierced until he is at least five. You get to be the cool aunt! Congrats!
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Does your sister live nearby? That would make me incredibly jealous. I love being an aunt, but I only see my niece and nephew two or three times a year, and my nephew on the other side even less. You don’t need my advice — you’ll be a natural at the cool aunt gig. My sister’s kids and mine get along amazingly well and have adored each other since birth/first meeting — it’s really amazing, especially since the age-similar pairs are both boy/girl. Of course, my niece doesn’t really think of herself as a girl, so that helps.
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You know, I don’t mind noisy toys. Because if the noisy toys are being played with, I am being left alone. It’s all good.
I am an only child but I have two “nieces” (soon to be three) who live far away and whom I would dearly love to have a closer relationship with. I aspire to be the voice from far away who sends unexpected gifts and letters but at the moment, because of my own bundles of joy, I am just a picture and (I suspect) a collection of stories.
Of course, most of my aunts are like that too. Because my parents are older, their siblings are older still so I have more great aunties than aunties. Lots of cool cousins, though.
I guess the congratulations are for being an aunt..which can be an important person in a kid’s life.
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Being an aunt rocks in oh so many ways. I love it. It’s one of the few roles in my life in which I feel cool. Hmm…possibly the only one…
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Congratulations!
We just returned from a cousin-ful weekend, where I got to be an aunt to three wee ones. Most of the requirements involved fetching cups of milk and more blueberries.
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The one thing that I love about being an Aunt is the shopping that I get to do for my nieces and nephew. I tend to be fairly frugal with my own girls and get hand-me-downs for clothing or borrow things that they might need for a short while. I rarely go into GAP Kids or Please Mum to look for things for my own kids, but now that I am an Aunt, I have every reason to spoil the other littles in my life and its the best excuse to buy those stinkin cute outfits and books that I can’t justify buying for my girls.
And in this case, my sister is equally as good at doing the same with my girls! Most of their best outfits and other fun purchases come from her!
Congratulations!
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Had to chuckle over the comment about grand-parenting not being much work. Just had coffee with friends this morning, some of whom are grand-parents to small children and they are exhausted! Yes, it’s a lot of fun but we do put in a lot of hours. We have stories, and I’m going to have to write the book or play soon!
My favourite aunt story? My darling nephew (6 mos. older than my son and still good friends with him) is now my financial advisor. I’ll bet not many people get an e-mail with stock info beginning Dear Auntie Marcy. Love it!
That baby is SO precious! This makes me a little teary though. I’ll never be an aunt. And my husband will never be an uncle. That is just one of the many MANY crappy deals with being an only child. We’ll never have nieces or nephews, and my kids will never have first cousins. That sucks. I’d LOVE to be an aunt!
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Congratulations to your sister! I have 2 nephews, 5 nieces and soon will be an aunt again!
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Congratulations on becoming an aunt! I recently became an Aunt too! I say, impart all the motherly wisdom your sister will accept. By the way she looks so much like you!
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congrats on your nephew!
and im not an auntie just yet but im getting there! my best friend is 19 weeks pregnant and we are so exited for the little penut to be here already! lol, we have a doctors app. tomorrow to find out if they can tell the sex yet! im so ready to be the “cool auntie allie”!
i am becoming a aunt can’t whit to meat her for the fist time