To my “niece”,

It’s an honor to be your “aunt”. As someone once told me, being an honorary Auntie is better than a blood-related aunt because I was chosen out of pure love. The love I have for your parents, the love they have for me, and the love we all have for you. In just a few short months of life, you have managed to make me smile more days than not. Your infectious grin never fails to light up my face, and the pictures your mom sends me have the power to turn my day around. I might be biased, but you are the most beautiful child I have ever seen. You look exactly like your mama, and I hope you grow up admiring that because it’s a wonderful thing to look so much like a beautiful woman. Through the years of knowing your parents, they have demonstrated the most kind-hearted, young, powerful love I have ever known. You are absolutely blessed to have parents like them and I hope you never take that for granted.

As your aunt, I promise to always be someone you can turn to, someone who will never let you down. I want to be your friend, someone you come to visit when you need a break from life, school, and your parents. (Sorry). I promise to always be an ear you can confide in and welcome you with open arms. I will never judge you, or your actions but always be willing to help you become the best version of yourself. I promise to keep you out of real trouble, but maybe cause a little in the meantime.

I want you to know that no matter what, no matter where, I will always love you because you are my niece. You are the first that will ever call me Aunt, and I hope it means as much to you as it does to me. I like to think your parents chose me as an honorary aunt for a reason. Because they know that I will always drop what I’m doing or leave wherever I am if you need me. It kills me to not see you every day while I am at school, but I hope that the distance will eventually make our bond even stronger. I might not be there to see you walk for the first couple of times, or even hear you speak until I’m home on a break, but I have the whole rest of your life to watch you grow into an amazing woman and I’m blessed for that experience.

I wish nothing more for you than to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilled life and I’m honored to be able to have a part in it. Thank you for changing my life and bringing so much joy to everyone who touches you. You are one of the world’s greatest blessings, and I think I speak for all of your honorary Aunties when I say I love you.

Love Always,

Your Honorary Aunt