I have a brilliant nephew, Sean, who will be 5 years old next week, and a beautiful niece, Sophia, who is 2 and a half. I was so crazy-excited to be an aunt, to be something to someone. I'm an Only. I'll never have an extended family like my husband or my cousins. My kids will never have cousins from my side. I wasn't sure I'd ever be an aunt to anyone. I was overjoyed when Sean and Sophia were born, and I thought I became a real aunt! I don't feel like a REAL aunt, though - I'm an aunt by marriage.
Sophia is 2 and I've never held her. I've never hugged her. I've seen Sean four times in his 5 years. My niece and nephew don't know me from Adam. My kids don't know their cousins. My kids do recognize pictures of their aunt, uncle, and cousins, because I want them to know their family on the rare occasions that we see each other.
I thought I was closer to my own cousins than they apparently actually are to me. I really don't matter to them. I really am alone. I really am an Only.
You know what? I'd really like to be included sometime. I'd love to be asked if I'd like to bring my kids over to play with their kids, or to take the kids to the park, or to babysit, or come over and watch a movie, or just shoot the breeze! Anything so I didn't feel so alone and forgotten!
I know I shouldn't complain. I'm vital to my kids, usually somewhat important to my husband, irreplaceable to my parents, and precious to my grandparents. That should be enough, right? I should stop whining. Sorry.
Sophia is 2 and I've never held her. I've never hugged her. I've seen Sean four times in his 5 years. My niece and nephew don't know me from Adam. My kids don't know their cousins. My kids do recognize pictures of their aunt, uncle, and cousins, because I want them to know their family on the rare occasions that we see each other.
I thought I was closer to my own cousins than they apparently actually are to me. I really don't matter to them. I really am alone. I really am an Only.
You know what? I'd really like to be included sometime. I'd love to be asked if I'd like to bring my kids over to play with their kids, or to take the kids to the park, or to babysit, or come over and watch a movie, or just shoot the breeze! Anything so I didn't feel so alone and forgotten!
I know I shouldn't complain. I'm vital to my kids, usually somewhat important to my husband, irreplaceable to my parents, and precious to my grandparents. That should be enough, right? I should stop whining. Sorry.
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