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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that I am far too young......

37 replies

TheRhubarb · 14/07/2011 12:04

to be a great aunt!

Just had the news that my young niece is expecting Grin
But it's all hush hush for now, so don't tell anyone!

My brother is delighted to be a grandad but I have mixed feelings about being a great aunt - mainly because my own great aunt was very very very old, looked scary (to me) and smelt. Blush

I am so very pleased for her though! I did say YOUNG niece didn't I? As in, I really will be a YOUNG great aunt!

OP posts:
caramelwaffle · 14/07/2011 12:07

Budge up gramps.

Pull ya' skirt down; I can see y'support stockings Grin

Congratulations.

LadyThumb · 14/07/2011 12:09

YABU - I have been a Great Aunt for years and am currently listening (loudly) to UB40 and dancing around the kitchen. And I don't THINK I smell!!

LDNmummy · 14/07/2011 12:11

Aww its so nice to see someone supporting a young pregnant relative for a change.

CONGRATS!

FoundWanting · 14/07/2011 12:11

My best friend's daughter is having a baby, so I will be "Nana's friend" Shock My Nana's friend was a very, very old lady indeed.

I went to her baby shower last night. Nana and I got very drunk. This is not appropriate behaviour for a Nana and a Nana's friend, is it?

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 14/07/2011 12:12

UB40? You sad git! Grin

Only the other head I was head bopping away to Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit whilst the kids pleaded with me to stop in the car. Grin

I became an aunt at the tender age of 15 and now a great aunt by that very first niece Smile

dh just said he knew it would be one of our lot because we're so working class compared to his family Hmm Methinks he's gonna get thumped when he comes home.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheRhubarb · 14/07/2011 12:13

head? day that's the senility starting already. I can already feel an urge to have some knitting in a bag.

OP posts:
spookshowangel · 14/07/2011 12:13

ub40 Hmm

matilda10 · 14/07/2011 13:06

I nearly was a great aunt too. I was also quite shocked. Sadly dn lost the baby.

allhailtheaubergine · 14/07/2011 13:39

Oh this could happen to me. I became an aunt aged 8.

I shall work on my powdery, whiskery kisses with wonky lipstick.

cheesesarnie · 14/07/2011 13:43

congratulations!my great nephew is 17,im 33.he asks if it makes me feel old,i say no,it makes me feel great!Grin

ImperialBlether · 14/07/2011 13:50

Oh god, I've just realised I'm one!

My sister has three children with children, so I'm their great aunt, aren't I?

izzywhizzyletsgetbusy · 14/07/2011 13:52

As long as you adhere to the dress code FoundWanting it's entirely appropriate behaviour:

'When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple

with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves'

(extract from Warning by Jenny Joseph)

thefirstMrsDeVere · 14/07/2011 13:53

Congratulations Smile

I have been one for ages.

OH is the youngest of of 12 kids and they all have kids so I was a GA when I was about 30.

Got loads of the little bleeders now! Some are the same age as my DCs and I am sure my neices find that a bit icky Grin

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 14/07/2011 16:20

Isn't it funny though, I wouldn't really count myself as the great aunt of any of dh's nieces/nephews. They don't call me aunt or anything.

I shall have to put mothballs in all my clothing, smother my face in talc with bright red lipstick, have knitting in a large canvas knitting bag and offer half chewed/melted toffees to children.

OP posts:
thefirstMrsDeVere · 14/07/2011 16:25

All mine call me auntie. They wouldnt dream of doing otherwise!

Course I am their auntie, what else would I be? Smile

Didnt you call your (this is going to get complicated) mum's brother's/sister's wive's/husband's auntie and uncle (ditto for you dad, I cant write all that out again)?

Quenelle · 14/07/2011 16:27

80 Charing Cross Road is a 'nice' read. I just googled it to find out the author and couldn't find it. But 80 Charing Cross Road in London is actually a bookshop. Mysterious...

JanMorrow · 14/07/2011 16:28

I find it difficult enough being an auntie and a MUMMY.. I had a sudden realisation that I WAS AN ADULT. Gulp.

Quenelle · 14/07/2011 16:29

Whoops sorry, wrong thread Blush

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 14/07/2011 16:30

Only from my mother's side, she had one brother and one sister and we didn't get to see much of them. My dad was an only child.

As my nieces got older I asked them to drop the aunt as it just didn't sound right. I was uncomfortable with my own images of aunties I suppose and I was pretty young at the time. I don't think I particularly want to be called Great Aunt Rhubarb, Rhubarb will do just nicely Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
TheRhubarb · 14/07/2011 16:30

Quenelle - is the book all about aunties?

OP posts:
Quenelle · 14/07/2011 16:32

Sorry Rhubarb no it's not! I did post on here intentionally but something obviously went awry...

I became a great auntie two months after becoming a mum.

My DH is 43 and has an aunt and an uncle in their 20s.

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 14/07/2011 16:33

I love it when that happens Quenelle! The wrong post and the young aunt thing!

OP posts:
SortingHardHat · 14/07/2011 16:35

Congratulations! If it's any consolation my mum became a Great Aunt before she'd even had her own children :o so in my mind you are as young as she is :o

NearlyHeadlessnickelbabe · 14/07/2011 16:37

DH is a great uncle - he's 50, and has quit a lot of great nieces.

his oldest great-niece is 16.

worraliberty · 14/07/2011 16:41

I became a Great Aunt at the age of 31 Shock

Then again, I became an Aunt at the age of 10 Grin