1. You're camera roll is full of pictures of your niece/nephew
I mean they're so darn cute and constantly doing cute things so how can you not document their life moments
2. You start shopping in the kid sections of stores and kid stores in general
They need that "Cute Like My Aunt" shirt or onesie. It's necessary.
3. You get severe withdrawals if you don't see them for a while
Yes, yes I do drive an hour out of my way for no reason just to spend time with her/him.
4. You spoil them
If your sister says no, you have to say yes. They need that extra sugar and to stay up late. They need that extra outfit or pair of shoes. It's all necessities.
5. You find yourself texting your sibling to get daily updates on what they are doing and Facetiming them all the time.
Yes it probably annoys your sibling, but I mean they are constantly growing and doing cute things and you just can't miss out, especially if you live far from them or are in college and can't see them all the time.
6. You become a mother hen
You want nothing to ever harm your niece or nephew. No, no I am not his/her mother, but if you so much as lay a finger on that kid it won't be pretty. And if they ever get hurt or sick, you instantly go all mom on them with the doting and being worried. You also take care of them much like your sibling does and are on the top of the babysitting list.
7. ...Speaking of being like a mom to them, you get mistaken as their mom...a lot.
Nope, not my kid. I'm just the cool aunt, but she is rather cute and I will take it as a compliment that you think I produced this rather cute tiny human.
8. You teach them to annoy your sibling
I mean technically, and hopefully, your sibling and you are out of the fighting phase that you probably went through in your younger days. Now, though, even though you both are "mature adults" you still find it rather entertaining and hilarious to teach their children how to annoy them and buy them the drum sets for their birthday.
9. You are their biggest fan
No matter what they do big or small, from taking their first steps to graduating, you will be their and support them in everything they do. You got that proud aunt thing down.
10. You find yourself doing strange things to make them smile
This is more in the baby/kid phase, but I mean singing and dancing in public have never been a part of what I do on a daily basis, but when my niece is cranky or crying I find myself dancing in a public place or playing peek-a-boo to make her smile. I mean that smile is totally worth it.
11. You become their go-to and advice giver
Something they don't want to talk to their mom about? You are always available. You are like a best friend/counselor/mom all rolled into one. You listen like a best friend would, you tell them ways to fix it like a counselor would, and you look out for their best interest like a mom would. It's a rare roll and relationship that you take on being an aunt, but you wouldn't trade it for the world.
12. You love them a crazy amount
It's so cool that the kid you grew up with and shared a womb with produced a human that shares the same blood and traits that you do. You can't help but love them unconditionally. The moment my sister told me she was pregnant was the moment I officially became a crazy aunt. From throwing the baby shower to watching my niece's first day of life to hearing her first words (Brag moment: I was the first name she said and the first one she ever told she loved), you were there and will always be. You love them.
