Tell us a little about yourself:  
Katie Rosman, 39. I am a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and the author of If You Knew Suzy, a memoir. Visit me at Katierosman.com.

Are you an Auntie By Relation, Auntie By Choice, Godmother, Mommy Auntie or Other?
YES! YES! YES!

How long have you been a Savvy Auntie? How many nieces, nephews and godchildren do you have?
I have been an Auntie for probably 18 years but I was at first too young to be savvy. My Auntie A-Game took root about 10 years ago, with the birth of my nephew Zack. In all, I am the Auntie to nine…and a tenth is on her way!

What do the kids call you?
Aunt Katie, Aunt Chi, Aunt Sass…depending on which sibling that are the child of.

What’s the best thing about an Auntie?
There is something very pure about the relationship. I am a mother too and I don’t mean to say my children and I don’t experience pure love, because of course we do. But with my nephews and nieces, the closeness is protected from day-to-day influences. I don’t have to discipline them, to wash their dirty socks, to wrangle them to go to sleep on time.  I was with my sister through much of her labor with Zack. The night he was born, I stayed up half the night reliving every minute. I remember thinking, “This is what it feels like to fall in love.”

What’s your Auntie expertise? Are you crafty, sporty, good at mending booboos?
I like to think I’m all of those things but the most important role I can play is helping my nieces and nephews to understand, appreciate and get along with their parents…people I know very well, people I’ve spend years learning about and relating to.

Changing diapers: bonding experience or total yuck?
Bonding! Though there are lots of ways to bond! I needn’t deal with their stinky diapers to be close to them! But I’ll do what needs to be done.

What’s the first book you ever read to them or song you ever sung to them?
We have a family song called “Ah Ah Ah Ah Baby” in which you recite the name of everyone in the family. Quiets them all, every single time!

Most fun activity you ever did with them?
Way too many to single one out. But I once took my sister’s place as “snack mom” at nursery school. I loved that. My nephews were so proud.

Best gift you ever bought them?
I wrote a book about my late mother, who is their grandmother. My nephew Mikey said to me, “When we’re older, we’re gonna read your book and we’ll known Grandma Suzy because of what you did.” So while my book is a gift to my own children and nieces and nephews, that response was a gift to me.

Spoiling: Auntie’s prerogative or Never a good idea?
Somewhere between the two. I spoil them a little but I try to operate within the rules such that my sisters and brother can feel comfortable putting their kids in my care.

What’s the worst mistake you ever made with the kids? Or, greatest  lesson you ever learned?
A Savvy Auntie makes no mistakes! Or, put another way: I’m not turning myself in!

What do you keep in your bag when you’re taking care of the kids?
 Sunscreen, sippy cup, chapstick, granola bars.

What do you cherish most about your nieces/nephews?
They helped teach me how to care for babies and that experience did a tremendous amount for my confidence when I was a new mother.

What do they love most about you?
That I can tease their moms in ways they know they can’t, but wish they could.

Who are the Aunties, past, present, personal or public, that you look up to?
Again, too many to single out. But I met a woman last month who is raising her late sisters’ children. I was incredibly touched not just by this woman’s sacrifice but by her attitude that there is no sacrifice involved. At its core, the bond between an Auntie and her nieces/nephews is about the bond between siblings. There are few relationships more important than that between siblings.

What are your words of advice for other Savvy Aunties?
Candy is currency.

Follow Katie on Twitter @KatieRosman.

Photo: Katie's Daughter and Niece, courtesy of Katie Rosman
Published: May 10, 2011