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Hey everybody, it's Mary L.

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

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

watching Spanish game shows and Deli Novellas. She 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 a Tia 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 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.

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