When I was young, I just wanted to be an Uncle.  I did not want the 2 am feedings or any of the other headaches.

So what happened?  I had 4!

I am glad you can be the Uncle I never became (I still am an uncle - but a daddy uncle)

I'm having trouble posting today so hopefully this will post.

I wondered where you'ld gone, glad to see it was being busy with family. Hey, it's great that you'll be able to be there for your neices and nephews. Kids always need somene to talk to and it's good that you and your wife can offer them that.

Ahh well Maso, I think you make a wonderful Uncle, and I hope that one day my 'lil niece looks at me in the same light that your nephew seems to look at you in.  I know that even if I never have children (early days yet for that one) that my darling sister will provide me with plenty of nieces and nephews for me to show my affections to.  Kids are great, but I have to agree with you, that though I love my niece more than anything on this earth, it is nice giving her back

Ahh well Maso, I think you make a wonderful Uncle

I agree! I wished I had of had one like you!

Funny thing I remember- what do couples WITH kids and couples WITHOUT have in common? They both feel sorry for each other!

Doc,

When I was young, I think I would have benefitted from having an uncle close by (my parent's siblings all lived a long way away and we rarely got to see them). Having another adult ear would have done me a lot of good back then. I mean, look how I turned out

Serenity,

it's great that you'll be able to be there for your neices and nephews.

We want to be the 'cool' uncle and aunt who the kids can turn to when they need sage advice. So far, so good... I got your email the other day. I hope you got my reply too. Thanks so much again for it. You're a darling...

Sally,

I think you make a wonderful Uncle

Thanks. As I said to Serenity, so far, so good...

I hope that one day my 'lil niece looks at me in the same light that your nephew seems to look at you in.

I'm sure she will. Some of the things you've written about, it sounds like she absolutely adores you.

it is nice giving her back

Aint it just... I had no idea the amount of energy required to look after two 14 year olds, even given they're just about old enough to look after themselves.

Shovel,

I wished I had of had one like you

Thanks, mate. So do I....

They both feel sorry for each other!

I don't feel sorry for me, though. After the boys left, Toni and I both agreed we'd made the right decision.

hahahhaahah this reminds me of the times my husband and I would look at each other and say.."remind me again, why did we have kids?"

They ARE alot of work from the day they are born all the way to adulthood....but overall it's been worth it. I wouldn't change it. As a matter of fact, I think I would have had at least one more.

You sound like a great uncle.....I'm sure they don't have a clue how lucky they are right now but someday, they will thank you for being there....if not in words in actions.

Have you ever thought of having a Cousin Camp? This would be a time where all the cousins get together for a day, weekend or week and do fun things with their Aunt & Uncle and get to visit with each other for that period of time. This could be done once or twice a year and be a tradition that all would look forward to.

KFC,

All my nephews and neices live close to each other and see each other regularly as my brothers and sister all live in the same area. I, however, live about 3 hours away from them and my wife and I lead busy lives. While I appreciate the idea of a 'Cousin Camp', we would not have the space nor the ability to look after 12 kids. To be honest with you, the very idea scares the heck out of me But thanks for the suggestion anyway.

While I appreciate the idea of a 'Cousin Camp', we would not have the space nor the ability to look after 12 kids. To be honest with you, the very idea scares the heck out of me But thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Camp CousinMaso - opening soon at a sanitarium near you.

opening soon at a sanitarium near you

Exactly... While I know the teenagers would be no problem, it is the 5 to 9 year olds that would wear me down very quickly.