The 7 Best Things About Being an Aunt (Or Uncle)

I spent my whole life wanting to be an aunt. Two of my siblings are much older than I am, and for some reason I thought I would be an aunt when I was still a teenager.

It didn't quite work like that, but I am lucky enough to now have five nieces and nephews to play with whenever I want to.

In celebration of official "Aunt and Uncle Day," here are the seven best things about being an aunt (or uncle).

1. You can borrow a kid whenever you need one. Do you want to see "Finding Dory," but think 29 is a little old to go solo? Borrow a kid. Better yet, borrow two and maybe your sibling will pick up the ticket bill.
2. Talking to a little kid on the phone will boost your happiness.  I don't know if this is proven or anything, but I can tell you that picking up the phone and talking to a little kid who loves you, and also isn't your own kid who wants money or something from you, will put you in a better mood.
3. There is always an excuse to make a cookie ice cream sandwich. Especially when you're at grandma and grandpa's house. Nieces and nephews are over? Ice cream sandwiches are part of the event.
4. You can teach them how to do stuff without it being your responsibility. If ten minutes pass and they just don't "get" what you're trying to tell them, pass it on to mom or dad.
5. You get to repay your older siblings for being an annoying little sister. I seriously almost typed "annoying little Michelle," because I am everyone's little sister including my three older siblings. Hopefully some of the hours I have spent playing with their kids have acted as repayment for bugging them as a child.
6. Let's face it, they make your Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat accounts more adorable. Selfies alone? That gets boring pretty quickly. Babies being dogs on snapchat? That's always cute.            
7. They will tell your future children that you "used to be cool." I spend a lot of time with my nieces and nephews, because I'm young and I'm fun and so are they. But, you know, if I ever have kids, I'll be old and tired and thankfully I have these five little guys and girls to tell my kids, "your mom used to be cool."