05/01/2026
In the midst of finals, graduation prep, trying to figure out where spring decided to go, and just living with an almost-no-longer toddler I introduce ššMy Auntie: A Bonus Mommy Story. šš
If youāve read any of my bios or have met me at any point in the last decade you will know that my husband and I went through ten years of fertility treatments until we had our little miracle baby Alex. Ten years of insensitive comments, rude relatives, unkind co-workers, and enough mental anguish that I changed career trajectories from coding to mental health counseling. Amazingly, I was able to see the positive through it. I was able to say, hey there is someone having it worse than me. My husband and I always leaned on each other for comfort. When attending an extended familyās engagement party, one woman came up to me and said, āso are you and [insert husbandās name here] done your honeymoon phase already? Your parents want grandchildren.ā I smiled and responded something tactful and then watched her go to a cousin and poke about when she was going to get married and that it was stressful for her parents to have such an older single daughter. I walked over and smiled and responded with a not-so indirect comment about nursing home care and how her children were really looking forward to selling her house to pay for all of those grandchildrenās weddings.
This Motherās Day I wanted to honor the aunties. The momās who arenāt moms but still there for our kids. I was that āmomā for years. I was very lucky, but not everyone is. This Motherās Day I am gifting this book to the āauntiesā in my daughterās life. Women who love my daughter even though she is not their own. I am so unbelievably grateful to have each and every one of you in our lives.
Love, Chanie