The perils (and joys) of having ten nieces and nephews who all think their aunt is a Fairy Godmother

As an auntie who has dedicated her life to spoiling her nieces and nephews, I can confidently say that my bank account is not just a number, but a magical treasure chest filled with love, laughter, and endless gifts. From Sephora gift cards to JD Sports vouchers, I’ve become the ever-dependable Santa Claus in their lives, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

During a chat on the phone with my adorable seven-year-old niece, Luna, about three weeks back, she skillfully steered our discussion towards the upcoming Christmas festivities, focusing particularly on gifts.

Did Auntie Kate ever visit Sephora?” she inquired. “I did recently, my father took me there. I really enjoyed it.

She then reeled off a list of expensive Sephora skincare products she wanted me to buy her.

Afterward, I overheard Ruby, their elder sister, recommending a £50 voucher from its popular online beauty and makeup store (currently trending on TikTok) as a thoughtful holiday present for the two of them.

Then there was some polite negotiation about the precise amount that Auntie Kate might spend.

As a doting uncle, it’s only natural for me to indulge my nieces and nephews, so I made my way to the bustling Westfield shopping center in London, home to one of the seven Sephora stores in the country, with the intention of purchasing some gift cards for them.

Among my family members, there are a total of six nieces and four nephews, with Ruby, age nine, and Luna being two of them. As you might imagine, celebrating holidays such as Christmas can be quite costly when playing the role of an aunt.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d express it this way: “I often find myself sharing with my peers that my Auntie Kate has a substantial savings nest egg in her bank.

Let me clarify, I truly enjoy treating them. There’s nothing more fulfilling for me than purchasing gifts for their birthdays, Christmases, or simply whatever they request from me.

This holiday season, let’s not forget about our generous role models – the aunts, uncles, and godparents often viewed as the perennially well-resourced Santas. They’re the ones who, year after year, are counted on to fill stockings with thoughtful gifts and provide a little extra magic during this joyous time.

Besides Luna, Ruby, and Ottie, it’s William, aged 17, who is asking for money to buy new trainers. Harry, 12 years old, and Frankie, at ten, are keen on JD Sports vouchers. Alba, only seven, desires a pair of sparkly boots, while I’ve been told that Jaxon, aged two, wants a police officer’s costume.

Meanwhile, we find ourselves with Little Kitty, who, at just two years old, hasn’t verbally expressed any desires yet. However, it won’t be long until she has her own list of wishes, perhaps within the next year or two.

After 13-year-old Olivia requested an extravagant mirror as a gift this year, it reminded me of ten years ago when I picked her up from preschool and overheard her telling her teacher: “This is Auntie Katie. We like her because she buys us things.

In stark comparison to my childhood Christmases, which were quite humble, the festivities were richer and more extravagant. As a child, I was often reminded that December 25 wasn’t merely about receiving gifts. One year, I vividly recall being reluctantly taken to Midnight Mass, although our behavior was so unruly that it became an annual tradition we didn’t repeat.

Instead of making wish lists based on popular trends on TikTok, we’d spend time perusing through the Argos catalog. My all-time favorite gift remains the Queen’s Park Rangers shell suit.

Our Christmas stockings were rather slim on contents, but they’d never fail to include an orange (satsuma) and a chocolate coin. One special year, I found a Boyzone CD of their first single, a remake of The Osmonds’ popular tune “Love Me For A Reason.” I recall playing that song non-stop all day long. Afternoons were often spent engrossed in the board game “The Game of Life,” followed by settling down to watch Coronation Street and EastEnders.

In days gone by, Christmas was filled with an unending series of telephone conversations with family members. However, this year, the trend has shifted towards video chats using FaceTime instead. After all, who said keeping up with loved ones had to be confined to old-school phone calls?

I can already imagine my niece Ottie gleefully telling all her friends about her pile of presents.

Yesterday, she reached out early to express her eagerness for my arrival at our family get-together this weekend. She also shared with me that we’d be bunking together in her older sister’s room, as per our tradition of playing ‘hotels.’

‘We are going to have a proper girls’ night,’ she said.

She shared with me her plans for the evening: skincare and makeup application, a pre-Christmas meal, followed by watching The Grinch, all of which seemed to fill her with enthusiasm.

It brought a tear to my eye. And almost prompted me to buy her another present.

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2024-12-22 04:49