Preparing To Be an Uncle

Excitement & Anticipation

Very soon I will be a first time uncle and I am excited beyond what I thought just months prior. In 2025 my family received the news that my sister-in-law and brother were expecting to have a child in early 2026, and to say that the room went wild would be an understatement. All of the staples of an excellent pregnancy announcement were present; chairs were jumped out of, screeches of joy were hollered, some tears of joy were shed, and hugs were exchanged all around. The months seemed to roll on and the thought of being an uncle seems to always be on the forefront of my mind. I think that feeling of excitement comes from all of the positive memories of my uncles (of which I have plenty) swirling around in my head. The joy of these memories have been coming back to me as the time goes on. I am excited to be a part of my nephew's life and (hopefully!) be a positive influence for him.

Understanding My Role as an Uncle

Between both of my parents I have over over a dozen aunts and uncles all of which have had varying degrees of presence and absence in my life. The good thing about having such a large family is it acts as an empirical study on what to do and what not to do as an uncle. Upon reflecting on the closest relationships I have between all my aunts and uncles, the ones that I have the most fun and positive memories with I am still close with and hold in incredibly high regard to this day. Being there for them as a partner for all the childhood adventures, whether real or pretend, will be crucial for developing a lasting relationship with them. Being there for everyday moments are just as important as being there for them at the milestones. The best relationships I have with my aunts and uncles are the ones that have never missed the major events that meant the most to me. One thing I have learned from my aunts in particular is the importance of being a safe person to talk about anything and giving good advice when needed. With all of these aspects combined, the role of being a good uncle is to be a friend, guide, and trusted adult to my coming niece and nephew. In all honesty, I want to be their Gandalf... minus the being centuries old.

The Responsible Part

Also like Gandalf, I will have to be the responsible party for any nieces and nephews. This should come as no surprise but children and babies are not just fun and games. My brother and sister-in-law will have their own parenting style, and if they ever come over I will need to babyproof the apartment. The floor has to be squeaky clean for playtime, the stairs will be blocked off, and anything that is breakable or could fit in their mouth will be out of reach. Babies and toddlers are danger prone, and that kid ain't getting hurt on my watch!

Values to Instill

On the topic of parenting styles, I am sure that there are certain values that the parents wants to instill in their child. Whether it's religious beliefs, social values, or simply ways to express themselves. As an uncle, it will be my responsibility not to instill my own beliefs and ideals onto my nieces and nephews. Regardless, I hope I can be a positive influence on my nephew. Above all, here are the things I know my family will want them to value: be kind to others, compassion & empathy are not a weakness, and (most importantly) GO BIRDS!