"Auntie" Teresa
Just back from Family Reunion #5, this year in lovely Bar Harbor, Maine. Every three years, the Steger clan (Mom's side) gathers at some location around the globe to catch up, do outdoorsy things and most importantly, celebrate the cocktail hour(s.) This year, for the first time in 14 years, we had babies. (In case you didn't know, I love babies.)
My mom's dad, with 4 kids, remarried after his wife died to a woman with 4 kids of her own. The youngest of my grandpa's is the same age as the oldest of Granny Nanny's, so there's quite the age range over 8 kids. My mom and her full siblings were previously the only 4 married, each with two kids. This past year however, 2 of the younger siblings each had a son. Our oldest cousin is 27, youngest now at 5 weeks.
Something I immediately noticed is that everyone's language automatically changes with infants around. The arrival of Tristan and Brady caused everyone in my family to have a title, when anyone referred to them. Grandpa Jack and Granny Nanny have always been Grandpa Jack and Granny Nanny, but everyone else reverted to their titles of aunt, uncle, or cousin. When we were little we always said 'Auntie' and 'Unca' (Uncle) to any of my mom's siblings and their spouses. That faded away awhile ago, as the youngest cousin became a teenager. Instead of referring to my own parents as Mom and Dad, they became Auntie Susan and Unca Chris. My dad/Unca Chris kept getting a little confused and calling me Auntie Teresa when talking to the babies. Nope Dad, unless Peej has some kids we don't know about, I'm not an auntie just yet. Cousin is the correct title.
This is funny to me because it's not like the babies have any idea what's going on. Tristan got more comfortable with all of us as the week went on (I was his favorite, obvi) but even at 7 months, cousin/aunt/uncle means nothing to him. We're all just big people popping our faces up to his trying to make him laugh and like us best. And Brady pretty much slept the entire week, opening his eyes occasionally to let us know he was tired, hungry or needed a new diaper. He even slept through the whale watching cruise, on which my mom, aunt and countless strangers puked due to the rocking waves (we didn't even get to see a freaking whale.)
I do love babies, but it seems they make my entire family talk like lunatics, and not just to said babies.
My mom's dad, with 4 kids, remarried after his wife died to a woman with 4 kids of her own. The youngest of my grandpa's is the same age as the oldest of Granny Nanny's, so there's quite the age range over 8 kids. My mom and her full siblings were previously the only 4 married, each with two kids. This past year however, 2 of the younger siblings each had a son. Our oldest cousin is 27, youngest now at 5 weeks.
Something I immediately noticed is that everyone's language automatically changes with infants around. The arrival of Tristan and Brady caused everyone in my family to have a title, when anyone referred to them. Grandpa Jack and Granny Nanny have always been Grandpa Jack and Granny Nanny, but everyone else reverted to their titles of aunt, uncle, or cousin. When we were little we always said 'Auntie' and 'Unca' (Uncle) to any of my mom's siblings and their spouses. That faded away awhile ago, as the youngest cousin became a teenager. Instead of referring to my own parents as Mom and Dad, they became Auntie Susan and Unca Chris. My dad/Unca Chris kept getting a little confused and calling me Auntie Teresa when talking to the babies. Nope Dad, unless Peej has some kids we don't know about, I'm not an auntie just yet. Cousin is the correct title.
This is funny to me because it's not like the babies have any idea what's going on. Tristan got more comfortable with all of us as the week went on (I was his favorite, obvi) but even at 7 months, cousin/aunt/uncle means nothing to him. We're all just big people popping our faces up to his trying to make him laugh and like us best. And Brady pretty much slept the entire week, opening his eyes occasionally to let us know he was tired, hungry or needed a new diaper. He even slept through the whale watching cruise, on which my mom, aunt and countless strangers puked due to the rocking waves (we didn't even get to see a freaking whale.)
I do love babies, but it seems they make my entire family talk like lunatics, and not just to said babies.
posted by Teresa @ 11:26 AM
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