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Aunts – the closest thing a kid has to a mom! Some may argue that grandmothers fulfill that role and they are not wrong. A grandmother spoils a kid with lots of love, food, and stories but the relationship between an aunt and her niece or nephew is a whole lot different. An aunt is the one a kid goes to when they need a second opinion, when they need clarity or just when their mothers do not seem to understand them. Sure, parents are the ones who teach their kids right from wrong and build their moral values but an aunt plays an equally important role in inculcating values in their nieces and nephews.
How Do Aunts Play A Role In Children’s Upbringing?
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Remember when your mother was busy with an important task and your aunt stepped in to take care of you? Or that other time when your mom was just too exhausted because of how much of a ruckus your siblings and you created and your aunt swooped in to help you get some rest? These are incidents that we have often encountered.
Apart from these, there are several other reasons why aunts play an important role in their nieces and nephews’ lives. Let’s look at a few of them to understand the relationship.
1. Aunts Make Great Teachers
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Arts and craft might not be your mother’s strong suit, so your aunt steps in to help you out with it. They play a part in your education and help teach you numbers, colors, letters, and languages too. They not only make great teachers but also find various techniques to keep you engaged while studying.
2. They Inculcate Values
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Parents are the ones who lay the foundation of morals in their kids. However, aunts play a special role in strengthening that foundation and boosting their nieces and nephews’ value system. When kids go wrong sometimes, it’s the aunts who step in and make them understand how they’ve gone wrong.
3. They Spoil Their Nieces And Nephews
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It is tough being a parent because it is your duty to be strict with your children when required. But the role of an aunt is simply fun. She gets to be the cool aunt who the kids go to when they want that extra gift or ice cream for dinner. Aunts have the liberty to spoil their nieces and nephews and that’s a different feeling altogether.
4. They Correct Them As Friends
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We all know that children do not like to be corrected even when they do something wrong. They not only tend to become more rebellious but also start to misbehave further when parents try to correct them. However, because they share a close relationship with their aunts, children take these corrections smoothly and change their mischievous behaviors.
5. They Make Great Confidants
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No matter how close you are with your parents, there are certain things you do not feel comfortable telling them. After all, they are parents and might take things way too seriously or get over-emotional. This is when an aunt becomes the perfect confidant. Having an aunt to confide in is better than having a friend in so many ways. They keep our secrets, have our backs, and will stand up for us when we need them.
Why Is It Great Being An Aunt?
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Being an aunt is a fun responsibility because you don’t have to take care of the finances of the kids, worry about their education or the kids’ future. You get to shower them with presents, spoil them with love and hugs, and spend loads of time with them playing. Not only does this build a strong and close relationship with your nieces and nephews but you also get a chance to bring out your inner child every time you hang out with them. Games, mischievous fun, and pranks are a part of your everyday life when you are the cool aunt who your nieces and nephews turn to! What is your favorite memory as an aunt or with your aunt? Comment below and let us know.
