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Dear Savvy Auntie,

What do you think when people tell you are too obsessed with your niece or nephew, but all you want to do is give them all the love you can and listen to them?? I'm not a parent but I’ve loved my niece since I knew she was coming to the world—all I can think about is how I would like to take care of her and help her learn.

Extremely Loving Auntie

Dear Extremely Loving Auntie,

There is no such thing as too much love! There is smothering love, intrusive love, demanding love, possessive love, or needy love. If you answered yes to any of these loves…modify your love. If you answered no to all of them just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your niece!

People who criticize you are probably jealous; either they don’t have what you have or are not getting what they want from you. Or…you talk too much about your niece to them. This is an occupational hazard of Aunties and Grandparents.

I suggest you keep a diary and tell all to your diary. Someday when she is old enough you may want to give it to her. I have one for my granddaughter and it is pretty gushy and mushy. I may have to edit it when I give it to her but, for the time being, I love “being in love!"

Enjoy your Aunthood,

Natalie Robinson Garfield
TheSenseConnection.wordpress.com

Originally published: July 26, 2011
Republished: March 7, 2018
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