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If you were lucky enough to have an aunt you were close to growing up, you know what a privilege that is. Aunts have a unique purpose in shaping our lives. They are equal parts support, fun and pure joy. Your aunt was probably the one who let you stay up past your bedtime while she babysat or bought you your first lipgloss. But they are also the ones you go to when you have trouble with friends or need advice with sensitive topics you can’t talk to your parents about. This duality ensures that they play an important role in a child’s life, no less than the parents and grandparents. They make a special effort to occupy a space in the lives of their nieces and nephews, making their lives better. Want to know more about why we root for aunts? Read on!
1. They Are The Perfect Babysitters
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The aunt is among the few family members who have been intimately involved with the baby from the moment of birth. Not only are they well-acquainted with your baby, but your baby is equally familiar with and likely delighted when they visit for playtime. Who better to entrust with babysitting when you require a break from your parental responsibilities? Aunts often step into this role because they possess an in-depth knowledge of the baby’s routines, preferences, and personality, having actively participated in their upbringing. You can rely on them without reservation to select the right diapers, handle bottle feeding, and determine the perfect time for an evening stroll, as they’ve likely been involved in these activities alongside you since your baby’s arrival.
While grandparents are always eager to care for the children in their lives, aunts typically have more energy and endurance. This enables them to respond to the child’s ever-changing moods and whims with a bit more emotional detachment.
2. They Are Your Child’s First Adult Friend
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Despite being an adult, an aunt can assume the role of a friend to your child. The absence of a parental dynamic allows her to engage with them as equals. While this may seem unconventional, it can prove highly beneficial for your child. They now have an adult role model with whom they share a common language, yet they still respect her as an authoritative figure. As a result, your child feels comfortable confiding in their aunt, knowing they will be heard and guided effectively. Moreover, when an aunt and a child can cultivate a best-friend relationship, it becomes much easier for them to play and have fun together, ultimately forging a lasting bond. Surely, you, too, hold cherished and heartwarming childhood memories of your own aunts!
3. They Help In Forming Family Values
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If you are family orientated and want your child to take after you, the best thing you can do for them is to help them bond and create attachments to other family members who will love and cherish them. The aunt takes up the number one spot on this list. The child follows their parents and family members and friends that are close to them with respect to forming and understanding family values as they see them as role models. They might even take after their favorite aunt and act or try to communicate like her. This is a sign that your baby is getting closer to the family. Yay!
4. Aunts Help Bridging The Gap Between Parents And Children
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Although parenting is a serious job, sometimes parents forget to have fun with their kids. Since they are tasked with disciplining them and raising them to be good people, they can come off as strict, rigid and at times, a little stuck up. This is why your child needs a cool aunt to rat you out every now and then and tell your kids all the mischief you used to get up to! Don’t be alarmed. This is a good thing. Your child needs to know that you were a child once too. It humanizes parents and makes them more relatable and approachable. This will help your child look at their parents through a different lens, bridging the gap between parent and child. Besides, who else is going to recount fond childhood memories other than the aunt!
There are some familial bonds that are special and cannot be recreated. The bond between an aunt and their nieces and nephews are one of them. It is pure, filled with love and laughter and support. Your children can learn a lot about life and their parents through their aunts. In them they have a friend, counselor and confidant for life! How lucky are they. This is why we should give aunts the props they deserve and always encourage them to spend more time with the kids!
