Post 2 goes to Owen and Elena.

I have 2 nieces and 2 nephews. The eldest, Jean Paul, is 24 years old. The youngest, Owen James, will be 3 years old in March. I love them all equally, but JP and OJ perfectly mark my evolution as an aunt.

JP was born right before I turned 14, so I loved him with a teenager’s heart. He was my first nephew! It was fun, but also scary, to have him around. Like him, I was a child with the sole advantage of being potty-trained. When Owen was born, however, I was 34. Being a full-on adult, I got to change a diaper and babysit by myself for the first time. I was now the adult in charge!

Owen has taught me I’m good with children. We play. We talk. We go out on little dates to the children’s museum and to see butterflies. We negotiate nap time, TV time, music choices, the total number of meal bites we’re having, and the language we communicate in. He’s taught me patience and about wanting to be present in the moment. I like the person I become when he’s around.

Elena is my goddaughter. I can’t find the words to do justice to what this means to me. Our lives are not joined by blood, but our souls are linked forever. Elena is the fraternal sister in a group of triplets. Her mom and I have been friends since junior high, and have remained close in spite of everything life has thrown at us.

I’d never been chosen to be someone’s godmother. I didn’t expect it to provoke such feelings of humbleness, honor, and pure love as it did. When I first got to meet her in person, my heart filled with love, LIGHT, and joy. I know our souls connected right then and there, because it only took a second for Elena to flash me a smile. I already knew having her mom in my life meant I had love, but I wasn’t prepared to see and love Elena the way I do. She truly is a golden sun.

MA