When my niece was six months old I took a year off from college to “figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up.” For that year I was nanny to my niece. We spent four days a week together from wake-up to dinnertime. I learned the practical aspects of childrearing from feeding to baths to naps and back again. I learned to be responsible for a whole other little person. We played and laughed together. We blew each other raspberries. I counted her teeth as they appeared. I watched as she learned how to crawl and then walk to discover the world around her. However, I didn’t tell her mother when she took her first step. I wanted Mommy to experience the “first” step herself.
After a year it was time for me to leave. I went on to eventually become a mom in my own right and my niece grew up into a beautiful young lady. Geography has kept us apart over the years with only the occasional visit. My niece doesn’t remember all the time we spent together but I do and I treasure it. I have a special place in my heart for her.
I’d like to think that I’m a special aunt in my niece’s eyes. A couple of years ago while at the theater watching the first Twilight movie, she told me that I was like a sister. OK, I'll take that.
But the true affirmation came from inside me. My niece is now a sophomore at the University of Michigan and 20 years old. She was born when I was 21 years old. I’ve known her for almost half my life. Just like any mother feels older on her child’s birthday, I feel older on my niece’s birthday. That by itself says parental love.
During that one year of life, my niece was my teacher and my hands-on practice for becoming a mom. I know that I wouldn’t have been as calm as I was as a new mother without my experience with her. I believe my "daughter of the heart" helped make me a better mom.
I love her all the more for it.
Do you have someone special in your life who is more than what their title suggests?
More than a niece? Aunt? Step-parent? Step-sibling? cousin?
9 comments:
What a sweet picture (and tribute)! Look at her eyelashes...I can almost smell her, looking at that cuddly moment. How lucky you both are.
I have my "older sister" Judy. Judy's birth mother passed away when she was very young. Her parents were good friends of my grandparents. She lived with my grandparents and mother for a while. After her father remarried a wonderful women, Judy was still part of our family. My grandparents treated her like another child. She was our main babysitter, I was in her wedding. She was in mine. Family celebrations and sadness, she is / was part of it all.
Daughter is very lucky to have you.
What a lovely tribute. No wonder you are such a great mom: you had good practice with such a yummy little girl! :)
I have a similar relationship with my own aunt. She is 20 years younger than my dad and we grew up more as sisters than as aunt/niece. I cherish her advice and wisdom to this day.
Amazing post! What a special relationship and wonderful memories. She's a lucky girl to be so loved.
So very sweet. I remember when she was born. She may not remember all that time but she sure benefited from it. And I know her parents appreciated that they had such a caring and loving person there for her.
Side note. warning next time. i read this at work and my patients think I'm crazy if I start crying.
Look at her sleeping so peacefully.
My sister spent a lot of time with my daughter when she was born 19 years ago--although she never filled the role of nanny, she was there for all the big firsts, and describes the experience in much the same way as you do here.
Although I only gave birth to 2 children, my family has expanded to include a Second Son, a Bonus Son, and, most recently a Koren international student who has joined our family for the next three years to attend high school in America. It's amazing how your heart can expand :)
This is very sweet! Some relationships are so much more than their title. I'm glad you both have each other!
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