Sound of Surviving Blog

Dear Easton,

     I’m so sorry that you have to have an aunt with a chronic illness.  I’ll probably never be the fun aunt who always gives you piggyback rides or takes you for drives in the car to different stores or fun places like museums, the zoo, or the park. I’m sorry, I’ll most likely be the aunt who you might see cry sometimes, even if she doesn’t want you to see her like that. I’m sorry that I can’t always run around with you and that I get tired easily. None of this means that I love you any less. It honestly kills me that I can’t do a lot of things with you.

     It’s just the way things are, and one day, you’ll be old enough to understand why. But just because I can’t do all those fun things with you by myself does not, in any way, mean I won’t be around to come along when you go do them with Granny and Pop. I will always be there for you, little man.

Just because I’m exhausted sometimes, this doesn’t mean I don’t want to spend time with you. It might mean that instead of going to the park with you, you and I will do a craft together or paint a picture together instead. And I get to see how excited you get, when Granny and I hang up your crafts and pictures on the fridge. And seeing how proud of yourself you are when you see your work up on display, makes me feel like I’m doing a good job as your auntie, even if our relationship doesn’t always look like other aunties and nephews relationships do.

     I hope you know that I love you so much and that you know how special of a little boy you are. You make me laugh and smile so much; you help remind me that the little things in life are really the big and important things. You remind me that it’s good to be silly and to dance, even when everyone is watching.

     I am so grateful and blessed that God chose me to be your aunt, and to be part of your journey. I love you, my sweet and amazing little love bug.

Love,

Auntie ‘Lise