By A. Noelle
 
Despite its addition to Common Sense Media's list of 10 Worst Role Models on TV, we recently discovered that TLC’s Here Comes Honey Boo Boo can be more than a showcase of one woman’s efforts at “exploiting her family.” In a recent episode, it highlighted the love a child Auntie—a little DebutAunt—is capable of having.

 
Alana Meets Baby Kaitlyn is an episode of the controversial show that radiates charm and the pure joy of welcoming a new life into a family. In her opening statement, Alana makes clear her frustration and doubt over unvoiced reasons that prevent her from holding the baby: “They didn’t want me to hold Baby Kaitlyn in the hospital because they didn’t want me to give her my cooties.”
 
Alana can barely suppress her excitement and childlike curiosity upon entering the hospital’s nursery, eagerly checking through every viewing window to see if she could catch a glimpse of her new niece. “I see a window open!” she gushes and points in the direction of the window with a wide open smile.
 
Rushing over to poke at the window, as if to touch the baby through the glass, Alana stares in wonder, “She’s right there! She’s so cute!”
 
“Hey, Baby Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn, I love you.”
 
“I just want to pick her up,” Alana says with a slight whine and a pout, enthusiastically gesturing toward her baby niece. “She’s so itty bitty!” Alana then demonstrates the way she intends to hold Baby Kaitlyn in a gentle embrace. “This is one of the best days of my life,” she states matter-of-factly, “because Baby Kaitlyn is here!”
 
Hoping to teach Baby Kaitlyn everything she knows, Alana admits wholeheartedly that nothing beats being an Aunt, declaring: “Being an Aunt is WAY better than being a pageant queen!”

We’d have to agree.

Published: October 8, 2012