My great-niece Bailey, who is four months old, has been finding her voice.

She giggles, coos, and babbles in various octaves as she tests her range, and she can blow spit bubbles and pretend to cry when she wants something. Her parents and I marvel at watching her as she figures things out.

My 15-year-old niece Jeanna is finding her voice as well. A  couple of months ago, we spent eight hours together on a car trip. She talked, and I listened. I learned all about her friends, the videogames she loves, her favorite “dub-step” songs, her plan to become a videogame designer, and her thoughts about the world.

Watching Bailey and Jeanna literally grow before my eyes, I thought how we Savvy Aunties are among the villagers helping our nieces and nephews find their voices as they make their way in the world. Each time we interact, listen and advise, we help them make sense of things and grow.

As they say, it takes a village, and there are times when we have to be the voice. During my sister and brother-in-law’s divorce, my number one focus was on my two nieces and nephew instead of their drama. Years later, my brother-in-law thanked me for always putting the kids first during that time.

The news happening in the world lately has been filled with incredible sorrow, angst, and political sniping, which are essentially voices filled with ugliness, anger, and sadness. When the news involves children, I look over at Bailey playing with her toes and hope those children have a voice. I look at the adults involved, some of whom are making poor or no decisions, and wonder if they have an Auntie to talk to. The world needs more Aunties.

What can we do in a world seemingly gone mad? It’s time to Auntie Up. As the saying goes, when women wake, mountains move.

Speak Up. Use Social Media to draw attention to an issue that’s important to you. No one is going to change their political viewpoints after posting a meme on Facebook, but you can use Social Media to walk your talk and publicize issues. Publicity on Social Media has drawn attention to events happening around the world. Just look at the young girls kidnapped in Nigeria and the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.

Get Involved. Support charities and organizations that make life better for children and their parents. Whatever your interest, there is a charity for it. You don’t have to give them hundreds of dollars. A few bucks and volunteering are just as appreciated. Investigate charities you are interested in. Websites, such as Charity Navigator, are good to use.

Rock the Vote. Participate in local and national elections, and learn about the candidates and where they stand on issues important to you. Whenever I skip voting in small elections, I feel like I’ve let woman suffragist Alice Paul down.

Together, our voices are even more powerful.

Published: August 13. 2014