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You're listening to LifeKit from NPR.

Hey everybody, it's Mariel.

When I was a little girl, I spent time with my Titi Margo at her house in Albany.

I remember sitting together on the green corner-eye couch in their living room, watching

Spanish game shows and telenovelas. She'd duck in and out of the

kitchen to stir whatever she had on the stove. When I wanted a cuddle, I would crawl up next to her body,

and she'd play with my hair. Sometimes she painted my nails. I felt fancy. I felt loved. I felt safe.

It's a special relationship, the one between Athea and her niece, or between a kid and any supportive non-parent who plays a big part in their life.

That could be an auntie or an uncle, a godparent, a family friend or next-door neighbor who you start calling Uncle Frank

or Zia or whatever. They're not our parents. They don't have the primary responsibility of raising us,

so they get to have a little more fun with us. When we're young, they spoil us, they buy us

ice cream, when we've already had plenty of sugar that day. And then as we get young, they spoil us. They buy us ice cream when we've already had plenty of sugar that day.

And then as we get older, they become confidants, the keepers of our secrets.

But while there's endless advice out there for parents, there's not much specifically for how to be in this non-parent supportive role.

And reporter producer, Maya Waina, who's an auntie herself, wanted to change that.

On this episode of Life Kit, how to be a good auntie or uncle or whichever name you go by.

Maya will talk about how to build those relationships, come up with routines, and create a safe space for the kids in your life.

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