I Love my Nieces and Nephews

When I was younger we used to get catalogs from places like Spencer's Gifts and Miles Kimball. One of the things they used to carry was funny bumper stickers. One of the bumper stickers said, "If I'd have known being a grandparent was so much fun, I'd have done it first."

Well, I'll never be a grandparent (because I have no children) but, as an aunt, I feel as though I get to be like a grandparent without having had to go through the being a parent. Granted, I changed my share of diapers, cleaned up my share of strained veggies, read my share of stories and sung my share of lullabies, I watched my sister's four oldest girls when they came home from school, having picked them up from day care years earlier, made snacks for them after homework. But it's mostly the fun stuff that I get while their parents take the tough stuff (I guess that's why I'm not terribly good at discipline).

Unfortunately, while most of my nieces and nephews lived near me when they were younger, all my siblings have moved to places that are airplane rides away. I miss my nieces and nephews (and my great-nephew, who I do get to skype with, which is better than just using the phone, but I still miss spending time with him) terribly and I wish I saw them a bit more.

I have a different relationship with each of my nieces and nephews. This is because each of them reminds me of a different aspect of my personality.

A number of years ago, I was talking to my high school classmates (after a recent reunion, we started communicating on line) and I wrote a piece about how each of them reminds me of one aspect of myself.

When I look at my nieces and nephews, it's like looking into a very special mirror - they each mirror back a different aspect of myself:

• Gideon reflects my determination
• Batsheva reflects my vegetarianism and concern for people and animals
• Michael reflects my thirst for Tora knowledge
• Toby reflects my rush to "grow up" (though she does it so much better than I)
• Lara reflects my love of designing and clothing
• Adina reflects my "sporty" side
• Ayala reflects my perception and my standing up for myself
• Zoey reflects my tutoring and love of children
• Tara reflects my "night owl" personality
• Martina reflects my independence
• Moshie reflects my playfulness
• Chaya Sara reflects my love of learning
• Shmueli reflects my serious side (yes, I do have one), but serious with love and a desire to help
• Michael reflects my joie de vivre
• Baruch Yehuda reflects my naiveté, in a good way, the fresh eyes of youth
• Yossi reflects my delight at meeting new people and learning new things.
• Last of all, my little Munchkin, my great-nephew, reflects my precocious nature

Together, they are my joy, my life, my light.

Spoonflower is a place where a designer can design his/her own fabric. I have some designs on fabric there -- click on the picture to see all the fabric designs.

Spoonflower also has a weekly contest where you can vote for your favorite design.

"Arts Now" is another "Print on Demand" site. They have a nice collection of clocks and watches, including the one pictured here (with the Jerusalem skyline on it). Click on the picture to see the entire site.