The honor of being an aunt is a role that I eagerly accept. Most of the time. And that is the beauty of part-time mothering(otherwise known as aunting). You real mothers know that there is no such thing as part-time mothering. Unless you're an aunt. Aunts are given the privilege of assuming the responsibilities of care for the young brood for a prescribed amount of time, and when it is fulfulled aunt is back to carefree mode. Unless she chooses to worry about her charges.
You see, I am an aunt with a degree in Nursing. Which means I concern myself with Stages of Development; Erikson, Freud, and Maslow, not to mention physical milestones such as growth, motor skills and coordination. If I had a dollar for every concern I've had for these darling (normal) children, we'd be putting that addition on the house!
I remember the first concern I had. Diana (the oldest of the bunch) was a baby. She did not like to be held. By anyone. She would put herself down a night. She didn't appreciate the fact that she had nine-count, nine grandmothers and great-grandmothers waiting to give her some lovin'. Her sister Louisa came along a scant two years later and proved to be the true love-bug, but by then there were only six grandmothers waiting in line. Louisa gave Aunt Jessie some concern, too. Her head was horribly misshapen. She had a dreadful flat side from always turning her head the same direction whether she was in her car seat, bed or on the floor. I got on her mommy's nerves by suggesting that Louisa do more tummy-time. The trouble was Louisa hated laying on her tummy and thought that if provoked to cry, the only solution was to be held!
Miss Joanna gave Aunt Jessie three worries. She didn't walk, grow hair or talk for the longest time. She was two and a half before Aunt Jessie was satisfied that she was on the road to normalcy. That was before her older sister Sarah exhibited her advanced motor skills by giving Joanna a very close, boyish hair cut. We adult women felt like standing in a circle to cry and pray over her, interceding that the beautiful, brown hair be restored to our petite lady's head. But we didn't. We wiped our tears and Aunt Jessie moved on to the next developmental challenge.
Sarah was three and still in diapers. Then Sarah was three and a half and still in diapers. She knew all about what the bathroom was for, but for her the privacy of her room and her pants was sufficient. She was a very precise child, however, and promptly let her Mama know when it was necessary for a change. You know, I've given up on worrying about that problem. I think she is determined that as long as people keep pleading, suggesting and forcing her in the direction of the bathroom, it is not going to happen. Sarah will have to let Aunt Jessie know when she makes the graduation. I've put the matter out of my mind. (As only an aunt can!)
Cannon amazed us all with how quickly he learned to crawl, then walk, and now run. And he chatters away at an impressive speed the dilemma is, no one can understand a word of it! It's like the child was birthed in a foreign country. The syllables are there, but there is no comprehension among the peoples. Cannon does not seem to understand that his conversation is incomprehensible. In fact, if he is trying to tell you something and you are not responding correctly, he will crawl up on your lap, take your face between his hands and direct your attention accordingly!He is obviously an intelligent child, and I have a feeling one day soon he will be talking in full paragraphs for the world to hear and understand!
Retta was so petite Aunt Jessie worried that she was malnourished. However, her mommy can tell you, she puts away more food than Diana and Louisa together some days. And Retta's particular trick is to wake her mother at two in the morning asking for "milk and cheese, please" which usually gets results.
As time passes and I have more practise at the auntie role, I find myself spending less time worrying about my nieces and nephews development. Baby Alyssa's flat head was easier to except than Louisa's. And when Carlton wasn't walking at 14 months, I assured myself that Joanna's doing fine and she didn't walk for a long time.
I never tire of being Aunt Jessie. No one else (except maybe grandmas) has the privilege of enjoying the fun times, receiving the hugs and kisses, and exciting little stories without the responsibilities of motherhood. Yup. I love part-time mothering!

In photo from left to right:
Standing in back row: Diana and Sarah
Middle row: Uncle Kelvin holding Retta, Louisa, Aunt Jessie holding Alyssa, Joanna
Bottom: Cannon and Carlton