Tell us a little about yourself:

I'm 39, an astrologer and owner of Astrostyle.com with my twin sister, Ophira Edut. I live in New York City and Seattle.

Are you an Auntie By Relation, Auntie By Choice, Godmother, Mommy Auntie or Other?
Relation:
My twin sister, Ophira, brought Clementine, 12 and Cybele, 1 into my life.

How long have you been a Savvy Auntie? How many nieces, nephews and godchildren do you have?

I’ve been a Savvy Auntie since 2006, when Ophira met her now-husband Jeffrey. His 6-year old daughter Clementine stole our hearts then and we’ve been bonding ever since. In 2010, Ophi gave birth to Cybele. We had our only psychic twin experience then. I felt all her pregnancy symptoms!

What do the kids call you?
Clementine calls me Tali and Cybele hasn’t decided yet. We’ll see when she learns to talk.

What’s the best thing about an Auntie?
I don’t have to be the disciplinarian with my nieces. I get to take them on fun outings and introduce them to new hobbies and crafts.

What’s your Auntie expertise?
Clementine has taken a shining to many of the same things I like. At age 11, she built her first website (I’ve done web design). We learned how to make metal jewelry together this past summer and like me, she loves to sing. We do karaoke together. She likes to make clothes too and she helped me bedazzle all my Burning Man costumes this summer.

Changing diapers:  bonding experience or total yuck?
I leave that one to Mommy. Not my thing if I can avoid it.

What’s the first book you ever read to them or song you ever sung to them?
Clementine wrote a lullaby for Cybele and I love singing that to her.

Most fun activity you ever did with them?
Taking Clementine to the Mermaid Parade on Coney Island was the best. Cybele has accompanied me and my sister to many meetings and radio show appearances. She is the best tagalong niece and has a magical presence wherever she goes. She’s our angel.

Best gift you ever bought them?
Jewelry making tools for Clementine and still waiting for Cybele’s personality to develop to determine what to gift her.

Spoiling: Auntie’s prerogative or Never a good idea?
An auntie’s prerogative all the way.

What’s the worst mistake you ever made with the kids? Or, greatest lesson you ever learned?
When I was a single girl about town, I used to rehash my love drama to my sister with Clementine in the room. Although she pretended to tune it out, I wonder if she understood. I was perceptive as a kid and I picked up on things. I knew better but I let the man-drama trump my good judgment. I regret that.

What do you keep in your bag when you’re taking care of the kids?
Whatever my sister packs. And if we’re missing something, hey, we’re in NYC. It’s only steps away from a store that sells it.

What do you cherish most about your nieces?  
The way they surprise me with their creativity, their insight, and their responses. Clementine is wise beyond her years and I’m sure Cybele will be too.

What do they love most about you?
That I don't talk down to them. I take their interests seriously and encourage their creativity. I also express my creativity to encourage them to be free and individualistic.

Who are the Aunties, past, present, personal or public, that you look up to?
My own aunt Carolyn was my shero and role model. She has always been an artist and supporter of the arts. Everything from her clothes to her car to her home décor are colorful, offbeat and creative. I’ve always felt free to express myself around her. She honors my emotions and doesn’t talk down to me. She was a confidante for me in my teens and taught me to express my femininity without judgment or shame.

What are your words of advice for other Savvy Aunties?
Don’t underestimate the impact you can have on nieces and nephews. They need a wide variety of adult role models and you may become their anchor as a teen as my own Savvy Auntie was for me.

Published: December 27, 2011
Photo courtesy Tali Edut