logo

  • Expertise
  • Activities
  • Gifts
  • Community
  • The Book
 
  • Already a Member? Click here to Log In Not a Member? Click here to Register
Join Savvy Auntie Now
Register now for SavvyAuntie.com and join fabulous Aunts and Godmothers just like you. It's free and easy. Not sure if you're a Savvy Auntie? Find out here!
Already registered? Click here
Screen Name
E-mail Address
Re-type Email
Password
Re-type Password
Zip Code
I am
Birthday
 
 
 Why do I need to provide this?
Keep me in-the-loop with the weekly Savvy Auntie e-Newsletter
Please send me special offers from Savvy Auntie and its sponsors - designed just for Savvy Aunties like you!
See sample e-Newsletter
Read our privacy policy here.
Sorry
Close
Success!
Congratulations! You are almost an official member of SavvyAuntie.com. You should be receiving an email within the next couple of minutes requesting you to activate your membership. Once you receive this email, please click on the included link and you will be an official member of SavvyAuntie.com.
Fill out your profile
Close window
Why do I need to provide my birthday?
Because the safety of children is very important to us, SavvyAuntie.com complies with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. To ensure that we do not collect personally identifying information from children under the age of 13, SavvyAuntie.com does not allow persons under the age of 13 to become members.
Close window
  • Home
  • Health & Nutrition
  • Special Needs
  • Books & Learning
  • Entertainment & Style
  • For You
  • Dear Savvy Auntie
  • Auntie's Day
  • Auntiepedia

More Dear Savvy Auntie

  • If you're Christmas shopping with nieces ...
  • I’m a struggling artist, but pretty happy...
  • The mother of my great niece and nephew i...
  • I have a 13 year old niece. My sister is ...
  • My brother and his girlfriend recently ha...
  • I'm 26, I have 5 siblings, twenty nieces ...
  • I'm somewhat concerned about my little ne...
  • My nephew is 11-years-old. He is an incre...
  • I am a 25 year old aunt to an incredible ...

Related Tags

  • Guaredisch, Guaredisch, Scooter, Aredisch,
  • Reruaredisch, Solarem, Denuaredisch, Scooter,
  • Solarem

Related Expertise

  • How to hold a baby
  • When there is an emergency
  • Guide to Baby Food
  • First Sleepover!
  • Guide to Children's Sizes
  • Healthy meals for hungry toddlers

Related Forum Posts

  • Olarem Guaredisch 11 28/02:34 PM
  • Destim Guaredisch 11 28/02:34 PM
  • Solarem festim Guaredisch 11 28/02:34 PM
  • Duaredisch 11 28/02:34 PM
  • Solarem festim Guaredisch 11 28/02:34 PM
  • Solarem festim Guaredisch 11 28/02:34 PM
  • Solarem festim Guaredisch 11 28/02:34 PM
  • Solarem festim Guaredisch 11 28/02:34 PM

Dear Savvy Auntie,


I am the proud Auntie of four nieces and one nephew. My family only has one boy every 15 years.

I am concerned with my sister's behavior towards my nephew, 5. She stays angry at him and has made a few remarks (though not in front of him) that make me worry. She insists he has a terrible attitude and never listens to her. I don't know what is going on because I live across the country and only get to come home every so often. I am the youngest of our family and do not have children but I worry about my sister and nephew. I do not feel I can call her out on her attitude because I am not a parent (which sadly they remind me of quite often).

She made the remark today that she used to love him so much when he was a baby because he was good. Every time I talk to her he has done something to make her angry. The most recent incident was that he was supposed to ask his sister what she wanted from McDonald's instead he asked if she wanted McDonald's. When he told her that she wanted McDonald's she blew up at him. I mean she SCREAMED at him. My mother stepped in but the look on my nephew's face makes me think this has happened before.

I don't want my only nephew to think he is not good enough but I don't know what to do. Our family is not always the most emotionally conscious family but I want to be there for these kids like people were for me. Please tell me what to do.

Emotionally Conscious Auntie

Dear Emotionally Conscious Auntie,



Your sister’s shortness with her son may be the result of so few males in your family and her unfamiliarity with how boys are different than girls. The quality of their attention is usually less acute and therefore they miss instructions and cues. It is also possible that your nephew may have actual attention issues. You might ask your sister what the teachers say about his ability to listen and follow instructions in school.

I understand that you are at a disadvantage because your family doesn’t respect your opinion since you don’t have your own children (a problem for many Aunties). You can remedy this somewhat by reading up on child development. The author I like very much is T. Berry Brazelton, he has written a number of books, you can probably find one in your library. This knowledge will arm you in any discussion about kids.

I also suggest you give your sister some sympathy for her upset without condoning her behavior. It is also natural for parents to let off steam about their kids; I am glad to hear she doesn’t do it to him, but with you.

In addition, you can stay in touch with him through Skype, praising him for any achievements and accomplishments and building a supportive and caring relationship with him. Believe it or not, you can be a role model for your sister even if she doesn’t acknowledge it.

You don’t mention the part his father plays in parenting. I am hopeful he is more patient as your nephew will be turning more and more to him as his “main” parent.

Best of Luck,

Natalie Robinson Garfield
www.TheSenseConnection.wordpress.com

Published: August 31, 2011 ,

Content Rating

Please login to add your rating.

Comments

0 Comments

Please login to post a comment on this page.

Home Expertise Dear Savvy Auntie Details
RSS Invite a Friend
  • Expertise
    All Expertise
    Health & Nutrition
    Special Needs
    Books & Learning
    Entertainment & Style
    For You
    Dear Savvy Auntie
    Auntiepedia
    Our Experts
    Auntie's Day
  • Activities
    All Activities
    Staying In
    Going Out
    Games & Sports
    Cuisine & Crafts
    Long Distance
    Good Deeds
    Submit Your Own!
  • Gifts
    All Gifts
    Gifts for Nephews
    Gifts for Nieces
    Gifts for Boys
    Gifts for Girls
    Savvy Auntie Gear
  • Community
    Community Home
    Savvy Forums
    Savvy Groups
    Savvy Blogs
    Aunthology
    Digital Posters
  • About
    Our Story
    Subscribe
    Press
    In the News
    Advertising
    What are PANKs?
    Aunt Lexicon
    Savvy Auntie Posters
    Internships
    Contact
    Facebook Page
    Help
    We're on Twitter!
    Melanie on HuffPost
    PANKPower.com
    Savvy Auntie Book!
    About Melanie Notkin
SavvyAuntie on Twitter SavvyAuntie on Facebook SavvyAuntie on YouTube
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Community Guidelines

Copyright © 2023 SavvyAuntie.com ® Inc. All rights reserved.