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How can I help my nieces and nephews through a divorce?My brother and his wife have separated. The kids are blaming their mom and being very mean to her. I even had to use my aunt voice and explain that it is their dad who wanted to separate.They are so confused and hurt. I don't know what to do. How can I help get my nieces and nephews through this?
Divorce is difficult for most everybody and particularly the children. Usually, the kids are angry at the parent with whom they feel safest. So, don’t try to figure out who is right or wrong -- mom or...
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I am a new auntie (3 weeks) and if I was scared before, I am definitely a bit scared now.Maybe scared isn't the word. It is just my sister and I; we have no other siblings. After our mother passed away, I helped raise her as I am 12 years older.I feel like I am not doing a good job and in the way. I am trying my very best but feel like it isn't good enough. I do not have any children of my own, although it has been my dream to be a Mum.Any suggestions out there on how to tackle this without bein...
I would like to be helpful to you but I don’t know what you mean about "being the best." In child rearing, respecting the baby, and on through adulthood, is as important as loving.The common questions...
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My husband and I have been together for five years and have recently decided to divorce. I'm very close with my eight-year-old goddaughter, and even though she has never been close with my husband, my heart is breaking having to tell her the news. She has cerebral palsy spasticity and I'm sensitive to adding any more stress in her life.Part of my ongoing challenges with my husband is that he feels that he can reprimand my goddaughter and is very critical of her (and my other family members)Do yo...
You can talk to your goddaughter about grown ups sometimes have problems and they try to work them out... but often they don’t work out.Remind her that you love her and tell her when you and you...
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My niece has a 28-month-old daughter - my great-niece. I have been noticing for awhile that my great-niece is not talking much at all. She uses only one word to communicate and doesn't have that many words to begin with. I've never heard her say even two-word sentences. She is definitely behind the range of where she should be at.The TV is constantly on at their place which I know that isn't helpful for toddler speech development. I am the only aunt and can’t say anything about this to my niece ...
I sympathize with your helpless feeling. You are in good company in Savvy Auntie community.Minimal language at this age is still within the norm. If she goes to a pre- nursery or accredited day progra...
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I recently had my niece say something really judgmental on Super Bowl Sunday. I said that Gladys Knight looked great in her outfit, and my 11-year-old niece said “Yeah, you’re probably saying that because she so old.” I felt defensive and wanted her to understand that it’s not nice to call someone old.I did not call her out on her statement because her parents that were in the room at the time and I didn’t make a big deal of her overly judgmental statement. I was curious though, should I have sa...
Good for you! A lecture on ageism is heavy handed, particularly when her parents didn’t chime in.I can understand your feeling, but it isn’t about you. This is natural comment from a young girl. As sh...
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My brother is two years younger than I am and married later-in-life to a woman who is 13 years younger than he. They have one daughter, my niece Elizabeth, who was born in 2007. Her parents do not permit me to do the ordinary fun things with her, like a play date, sleepovers, movies, teach her how to sew, etc.The last time I saw Elizabeth was December 26, 2016. At that time, I asked her whether she looked forward to getting the weekly envelope filled with funny comics and human-interest stories ...
The prohibition you are suffering is quite like an epidemic in Savvy Auntie world. It is so sad and infuriating!Kudos to you for creating a way to stay in touch with Elizabeth...keep it up. Someday, t...
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