Auntie Era

Loving them first..

Before I ever become a mother, I became an auntie.

And what a sacred role that has been.

My nieces didn’t just enter my life, they filled it. The kind that makes you pray to God and ask, “If I love them this much… how will I ever love my own children more?” And then immediately wondering, how could that even be possible, when loving them is all I’ve ever known.

I pray my future children are just as good as they are. Just as kind. Just as warm. Just as full of light.

I have one niece who is seven years old and she is every bit a little girly girl. Pink and purple are her colors. She loves to sing, loves to dance, and loves to perform as if the entire universe is her audience. She doesn’t just walk into a room, she arrives. When I ask her what she wants to be when she grows up, she answers without hesitation, “A superstar.” And honestly, I believe her.

Then there’s the little one. Two years old and pure magic. The best humor a toddler could ever have. Sweet with curly hair and a personality that is fearless, funny, lovable, and warm. She isn’t high maintenance. She doesn’t need much. But she does need her moments. Moments for cuddles & hugs. The quiet time together mean a lot to her. Out of nowhere she’ll say, “Come auntie, come. Sit down with me.” Her love language is without a doubt quality time, and she gives it so freely.

Together, these two girls radiate love, light, and warmth. They make everything softer. Brighter. Better.

Being an auntie is different. I get to love deeply, protect fiercely, guide gently. And then, at the end of the day, I get to drop them off at home and return to my own space. But here’s the truth no one really talks about. Once a few days pass, I’m texting their mother asking, “When can I see them again?”

Because love like this doesn’t turn off.

At the same time, becoming an auntie has made me realize how much it truly takes to raise children. It takes a village. And that realization scares me a little. I wonder how I’ll be as a mother one day. How I’ll handle outside influence. How I’ll protect my children while still allowing them to grow, explore, and become who they are meant to be. If I already feel this protective over my nieces, how will I manage when they are my own?

Being an auntie has taught me that love multiplies. That it stretches. That it makes room without taking away. And still, I ask myself the same question over and over again.

Oh, how will I love my kids if I already love my nieces so much?

And maybe the answer is simple.
Maybe this love is just preparing my heart for what’s to come.