To My Niece Today And Always | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

To My Niece Today And Always

Because there's never a bad time to remind her what she means to me.

54
To My Niece Today And Always
Personal photo

On June 4th, 2012, a beautiful baby girl was born to my sister. She was tiny and soft, full of life and yawns. Now, 5 years later, she's got a full head of golden curls and is always growing. This summer, I get to spend my days with her and we couldn't be more excited. While there may be bad days and there may be lots of tantrums, these are the things I want her to know now and forever.

You're such an important part of our lives, even when other things seem to take over.

Things have been hard for her, since both her moms work all week long. Add onto that a shift from preschool routine to summer and we've just put her whole world into a spiral. But every day I look forward to being able to spend time with her. Even when I'm at school myself, I never cease to tell stories about her or want to know what's going on in her life. Her parents are no different. With all three being busy, I know she sometimes forgets that she's important, but I'm trying to remind her otherwise.

Eating is not a torture we're trying to force upon you.

As silly as it sounds, she makes it seem like we're trying to feed her poisoned razor blades with what a struggle dinner can be. I'm always trying to find new ways to convince her to actually eat her meal or at least give it a try. Sometimes, you just accept it and give her a peanut butter sandwich. Other days, I call upon any gods who might listen to give me the strength to remain strong. Either way, the battle of dinnertime is something we engage in because we want to see her grow and everyone knows it's for a good cause.

You're perfect just the way you are.

Seeing a five-year-old struggle with body image issues is rough. It's bad enough for me as an adult to process them, let alone her, who barely understands what amazing things our bodies are. Every time she wants to put herself down (or occasionally tries to poke fun at someone else because of what she saw on tv), I try my hardest to remind her of a better view: bodies are beautiful, no matter what. Whether her thighs jiggle or my tummy is big, we're just living with these vessels and it's okay.

Never stop wanting to learn.

After a year of preschool, her desire for more knowledge has only grown. Last summer, she asked about math. This summer, she wants to learn science. She begged for ABC Mouse and hasn't gotten bored with it, including the books that she hates. Every moment is a chance for her to ask questions about college, nature, why we do the things we do and so much more. Each day, we encourage her even more to ask those questions and explore the world around her so she can continue to learn more and more.

Her Aunt Zizi loves her.

It's not easy to watch kids full time. I'm sure it doesn't compare to motherhood, but that doesn't negate the difficulty. There are lots of days where we hate each other. There are lots of days we snuggle on the couch. Some nights she sleeps peacefully, others she wakes up every hour. What matters is that at the end of the day, we both know tomorrow is a new day and we have to start fresh. When I kiss her goodnight, it's not because I feel obligated. It's because I love her and want her to know that, today, tomorrow, and always.

Being with my niece isn't a walk in the park, especially as she gets older and sassier (that one's definitely my fault). Things get rough trying to be the cool aunt while also trying to help with discipline and routine. It's not always the world the internet leads us to believe, but I wouldn't want it any other way. I'm still here to calm her down when her stuffed animal goes missing. I get to remind her that her moms love her, even when they have to be late to dinner. I have the blessing of waking up to her beautiful smile in the morning, when she comes in and asks, "Zizi, can I watch Pokemon with breakfast?" I know one day she won't be small and I won't be able to be here all the time, so I've learned to cherish those moments and hold onto them when things are rough. And I wouldn't change a single thing.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

1030
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

447584
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

20614
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

43822
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments