Savvy Auntie: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers, and All Women Who Love Kids

I liked this book, it has some of the newborn parenting practices that our friends told us they would do when their son was born. Now that he's here it's been a great guide. If your nephew or niece isn't a baby, 2/3 of this book isn't for you. The last 3rd is where older kids, like 5 years and up, are addressed. Not worth it if you're not dealing with a newborn for the first time. I was, so it was really helpful.

I first became an ABC 12 years ago, although I didn't know it had a name yet. My friends had a son who was the most amazing being that I had ever encountered and I didn't know I could love someone that much. I was 30, not married and no children! We were the mutual adoration society for each other, well, we really still are, if truth be told. And then, they had another son, who is my Godchild, also pretty sure he hung the moon! But then, my Brother and Sister-in-Law announced they were pregnant, and as excited as I was, I was scared. I was terrified that I would never love my niece or nephew as much as I loved these other 2. They lived across the country, I would never see them... what if there wasn't that bond.... what if, what if, what if....? I had all these questions that not only could I not find answers to, I couldn't, in good conscience, ask anyone. I couldn't bring myself to say the words out loud! I needed "Savvy Auntie: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great Aunts, Godmothers, and All Women Who Love Kids"!!!!!!!!If I had this book 12 years ago, there would have been less sleepless nights, less gray hairs and a few less Tums ingested! This book answered every question I had back then and told me what to do about it, how to support my Brother and Sister-in-Law, how to continue to be a great ABC as well as a new ABR, and how to loosen up about my insecurities. My Sister-in-Law gave birth to an amazing little girl and they now live on the same coast and we have one of the closest relationships I could have ever asked for. Although we may have had a rocky start at the beginning I'm pretty sure she thinks I am the best aunt ever, and she's pretty much the best thing going! Now as far as my friends are concerned, they now have 2 more sons, who also think I am the best "Auntie" , however, the 12 year old and I are still the closest. I'm not sure that will ever change.I am now 42, still not married and still no children of my own. This was not how I planned things for my life, but clearly I have adapted. I'm starting to come to grips with the fact that I may never give birth to my own children, it's tough to swallow but there it is! Since being a Mom isn't in the cards for me, I plan on being the best Aunt I can be, and it's nice reading a book that celebrates that (and uncles too!) because it is kind of a weird place to hangout when everyone expects you to get married and have kids. Thank you Melanie Notkin for taking the time to write this book, giving us the advice, tips, funny anecdotes and life lessons that we all needed, even if we didn't know we needed them!

I have mixed feeling about this book. I got the kindle edition because it didn't seem like a book I'd need taking up space on my bookshelf but I was curious about the content. It's very cute with an abundance of aunt-based plays on words but that wasn't really what I was looking for. Unfortunately I felt like the cutesiness of the presentation (is it because babies are implicitly involved?) diminished the message which is an important and valid one- that aunts are really important people in kids lives. I was hoping for more substance & maybe anecdotes from real people who have been important aunts to young people to get a sense of how they cultivated those relationships. Perhaps because I'm older and not just becoming an aunt and have spent a lot of time around babies, I didn't need to know all the info on baby care. There was a lot of other content that I just swiped by because it seemed irrelevant to me. On a positive note, I do feel like the author made a sensitive effort to be inclusive of both Herero & LGBT aunts as well as all the circumstances that could lead a woman to be an aunt without her own children. I guess I was just looking for a deeper exploration of the experience of being an aunt, but I can see where this might appeal more to a woman in her 20s who is just entering the role.

I have a 21 year old niece, a great-nephew, and several ABC (Auntie by choice) kids in my life, so I'm not a new Auntie. With the birth of my nephew just over two years ago and his little brother a couple of weeks ago, the involvement level changed. I get to be, and I WANT to be, a lot more hands-on in their lives. I felt like a DebutAunt all over again. The timing of Melanie Notkin's fabulous Savvy Auntie book could not have been better!Instead of learning by trial and error or simply being nervous about what to do with the kids, I can refer to the incredible amount of information packed into this lovely book. We were on Auntie and Uncle duty when the new baby arrived, and that meant a few days of keeping big brother entertained and happy (our kids have 4 legs). Thanks to the Auntie's in Charge chapter in particular, all three of us had a wonderful time. We took a two year old shopping and out to eat for most of one day, the first time we'd been out with a child that young. Thanks to knowing what to expect and how to handle whatever came along, the whole day was a joy.There are many things I'll refer back to as ALL of my Auntie kids grow and change, but one thing made such an impact on me that it will simply stay with me. Reading the book and the website have helped me realize I'm part of a wonderful and loving community. When I was growing up, I always treasured the time I spent with my childfree relatives and other adults, that special time focused just on me. Reading Savvy Auntie has helped me remember just how important those times were, and it has given me the knowledge and confidence to keep providing that joyful safe space for the kids in my life. The love was already built in!Another unique and much-needed element to this book and to the Savvy Auntie community is the lack of judgement when it comes to our choices to have kids or not. The book accepts and celebrates women like me who decided years ago not to have biological children, but it also accepts and celebrates women who aren't sure, or who do want children but the time isn't yet right. Including great Aunties is another important bonus. As I read, I felt accepted and valued simply because I love the kids in my life. That acceptance, without the accompanying assumptions and questions so many of us have dealt with over the years, is priceless.I've bought copies for other fabulous Aunties in my life, and I'll be buying more in the future. Thank you, Melanie, for creating such a warm and wonderful community, and thank you for the fantastic book!Peace.

Great present for a soon to be Auntie, well received and the content looked sure to amuse and inform would recommend

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