What's YOUR AUNTitude?

While performing my daily ritual of tweeting and reading of my busy timeline from those tweeters "I Follow" I came across an amazing article in the Huffington Post called "The Truth About Childless Women" written my Melanie Notkin AKA the Savvy Auntie.

"My circumstances have left me infertile but they have not left me non-maternal. I love the children in my life with boundless adoration. If I was not meant to be a mother to 2.1 kids, then perhaps I was meant to be motherly to many more."
Read the entire article HERE:

There is an entire community of women who feel the same way as Melanie and perhaps their circumstances have left them without a child of their "own" but they own the love they have for a child or children in general. Many of these women are childless, some by choice and others by circumstances, but deserve respect, love and support.

According to Melanies article "Nearly 46 percent of American women through age 44 are childless. That's up from 35 percent in 1976." This is a BIG issue for women that needs to be part of our dialogue.

I dug deeper into the world of the "Savvy Auntie" and discovered an amazing on-line resource for women who love children and the important roles these women play in the lives of children around them. I myself have a circle of Aunties who have been a wonderful support and source of love for both myself and my 2 children.

Check out the amazing resources, experts, gift suggestions and information. Join the community to connect with other Savvy Aunties too

If you are a Savvy Auntie on the go grab Melanies new book SAVVY AUNTIE: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers and All Women Who Love Kids (HarperCollins)-April 2011

I had recently had the opportunity to discuss the Savvy Auntie concept with Melanie:

LISA: Who is a "Savvy Auntie"?

AUNTIE: A Savvy Auntie is one who understands that Aunt-hood, just like parenthood, doesn’t come with an instruction manual, and seeks to discover how to be the most Savvy Auntie she can be and inspire other Aunties in the same way. She’s savvy in every other aspect of her life; now she can be savvy about kids too.

LISA: Where did the original concept of the community come from?

AUNTIE: When my nephew was born, I realized that there were no modern resources for the cosmopolitan aunt. Aunthood felt like an old "auntique" and not representative the fabulous kid-friendly women I knew. Where were the rest of this nearly 50 percent of American women? Where was my tribe? I couldn't find one, so I launched SavvyAuntie.com in the summer of 2009. And now there's a growing Auntourage.

LISA: What do you hope to accomplish through your on-line community?

AUNTIE: I hope that aunts learn from experts, find activities to do with their nieces and nephews, indulge in gift ideas and ask for and share in the savvy with each other.

LISA: What is your favourite aspect of being a Savvy Auntie?

AUNTIE: I love that my influence is different than that of my nephew's and nieces' parents. I give the children a different perspective on life. They learn from me.

LISA: What has been your most rewarding experience from your on-line community and/or publishing your book?

AUNTIE: Every day is a rewarding experience big and small, the good and the bad. It's all about building something spectacular for these women who deserve it because they give so much of themselves to children not their own. I'm so happy for and proud of Savvy Auntie.

LISA: What advice would you give any women who loves children but has yet to have any of her own?

AUNTIE: She should remember that aunthood is a gift. It's a gift to the children who never suffer from too much of her love, for the parents who know their children are loved without condition or obligation by another responsible adult, and it's a gift for her - a legacy she inspires. Every boo boo she kisses, every little hand she holds, every hug she gives is a gift. Being maternal is hers to own. So own it.

Did you know? Aunties Day is JULY 24th ~ Don't forget to celebrate the Aunties in your life. Shower them with the love and gifts they so richly deserve and bring to the lives of your child/children all year long.


Savvy Aunties are a mothers best resource for love, fun, and support for yourself and your child or children. It's about time we all change our AUNTitudes.

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