The most wonderful aspect of being an aunt is the fact that you can develop a deep bond with your nieces and nephews. And this bond is very different than the one that these kids have with their parents.

As their aunt, you never have to punish them for staying out late, nag them to do their homework or scream at them for hitting their little brother. Your relationship with your nieces and nephews evolves free of any of the really tough child rearing responsibility and you can develop a closeness that is very different when you are an annoying parent. This can be an absolutely wonderful experience for both of you but when you are really close to someone, they usually end up telling you things that they don’t feel comfortable telling their parents and sometimes that information is something that makes you feel really uncomfortable. If you have had a bomb dropped on you and you need some help to handle it, here is a little coaching advice to help you deal with the issue.

Pat yourself on the back for making your time together a safe zone.
This child feels comfortable sharing information with you, which means that you have done an amazing job creating this relationship.

Be prepared.
A little thinking ahead of time can help you deal with whatever comes your way. There are some pretty standard issues that kids bring to you; sex, drugs, smoking, and relationships are usually what are on their minds. Think about those things and how you would like to come across before they ever bring anything up.

Have a standard answer for the things that you didn’t imagine they would ever say.
If your niece or nephew talks to you about something that you could not prepare yourself for, rehearse what you would say. “I have to think about that one” or “I’m not sure how to answer that” gives you some time to figure out how you would like to respond to them.

Enforce your boundaries.
Just because your niece or nephew would like to talk to you about something that is on their mind, doesn’t mean that you have to leave your comfort zone to talk about something that just doesn’t sit well with you. If you are totally uncomfortable, tell them.

Being the go to gal in the family is a really amazing position to be in. It means that you have established trust and proven yourself to be a good friend as well as a good aunt. If the kids in your life are coming to you for your advice and support, you have done your job. You have created a great relationship. Celebrate it.