Shelter Under the Auntie Tree

An aunt is someone special to remember with warmth, think of with pride, and cherish with love.




Elvis was born on January 8th, 1935.  But on this same date in 1993 a tiny girl was born to RB and me -- and Elvis had to take a back seat!  Emily lit up our lives then and continues to do so to this day.  Honest, kind, obedient, helpful, joyful, and most of all, striving to be like Christ.  On Emily's 11th birthday she received the best gift ever -- a nephew.

Aunties are special people.  I had many sweet aunties, but one that invested herself in my life was Aunt Posie.  Her name was Rosalee, but she was Aunt Posie to her nieces and nephews.  I loved going to her home.  Her homemade bread was unbeatable.  She covered the bread with peanut butter and sprinkled on some raisins.  And, oh my, her jonny cakes -- cornmeal and hot water fried and eaten with peanut butter and honey.  I won't comment on her homemade cottage cheese or tell you which of her shrubs was the recipient of it.

Uncle Jim and Aunt Posie with Sarah

Not only did I love her food, I loved her stories.  When Aunt Posie got out the ironing board, I knew stories were coming.  The story that I remember her telling the most often was The Little Boy who Called Wolf.  She taught us how to make dolls out of holly hocks and let me help her wring the clothes in her old wringer washer. 

Just like my Aunt Posie influenced my life, Emily gives herself to Ethan (her birthday present), her other nephew, and niece. (She can't wait until the end of the month to have a brand new nephew to love.)  She invests herself in their lives, and they love her without reserve. 

Here are a few ways an Auntie can shelter nieces and nephews:

Read them books -- lots of books:  Like this one by Vanessa Newton.  It's an amusing story about Auntie Mable praying around the table, but full of love and warmth. 

For younger children, What Aunties Do Best is a fun book.  When you turn it over there is another story, "What Uncles Do Best."

Take pictures when you are together and put them together in an album.  Look at them together for a "remember when" time.

Take them for an ice cream cone. 

Plan a craft for you to do together.

Fill his car with gas.

Send her cookies at college.

Listen.

Make their favorite dish.  My Aunt Judy made a chocolate cake sprinkled with powdered sugar.  No wonder I remember it 45 years later.

And nieces and nephews can shelter an Auntie, too:

Share a memory in a card or letter.

Include an aunt in your holiday meal celebrations.

Send pictures of your great nieces and nephews.  I love it when I get pictures from South Dakota.  It makes me feel like I'm a part of my great nieces and nephew's lives.  Kokomo and Chicago pics are loved just as much.  Melanie is good at doing this for her aunts.

Visit.  I love visiting my Aunt Jean.  Her back yard is a fairy land.  She knows each plant and where she got each one.  I love seeing them all and drinking tea from one of her big mugs.

Be there when they need you.  During the last move we made, RB's sister came to be with us for several weeks.  Aunt Marsho, with the girls' help, did most of the packing of our house.  But she planned times to get them out of the house (even if it was to get more boxes) and just kept things sane so they would have the least trauma possible.  They have a lot of "remember whens" from those weeks -- one of which was making soup with what she thought was leftover chicken in the fridge -- found out later it was fish. 

Mommies can help when the kids are small.  Melanie made Emily a special desk calendar this year filled with pictures of Auntie and the kids.  It was one of her favorite gifts.

Gift a book like Hugs for Aunts.

Attend programs, sports events, etc., or send a note of congratulations when an achievement is reached.  Aunt Melly is great at doing this for Emily, and it makes her feel special and celebrated.

If a niece is getting married, plan a time to teach her to cook a family favorite.  This is a good way to get to know a niece in law, too. 

Sheltering goes both ways.  So whether you're the Auntie or the niece or nephew, you can shelter.  Through the shelter a heart is cheered and warmed, lifetime memories are made, and a new generation is taught the blessing of family.