Fourteen years ago, I became an aunt, but being four, I didn’t really understand what that meant.

It was only two years ago that I started to understand the meaning of becoming an aunt.

After hours of sitting and impatiently waiting for someone to come out, my brother peeked his head out the door and said, “We have a baby!”

That’s when it really became reality.

Walking into the room to meet my nephew for the first was such an emotional moment for me. The instant I saw him, tears of joy came running down my face.

Suddenly, I knew what being an aunt felt like. It was truly a proud moment.

My nephew Bennett has taught me so many different things over the past year and a half.

He has taught me how to bring out the inner kid in me again. When I am around him, I get to be my silly, carefree and crazy self and he doesn’t judge me one bit.

We get to color outside the lines, watch “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” read books that were read to me when I was little and most of all just spend time together.

The smile he has when he sees me walk into the room could brighten anyone’s day.

He is honestly such a blessing from God, and I can’t thank Him enough.

The moments when Bennett grabs his blanket and walks over to me and holds his arms up and says “Mick,”  makes me warm inside.

Because I am an aunt, I get to do all the things parents say no to. I get to give him candy or let him stay up later. He gets to play more rough with me than they would let him.

Never would I tell them they are raising their child wrong, but I do just want to pick him up and cuddle him when he gets in trouble. Unfortunately, I have to sometimes accept what his parents do.

Being an aunt isn’t just about the happiness they bring you, but also it’s the memories they give that they’ll never think would mean something that much.