Holly, Jolly Winter Holiday Gifts & Traditions for Aunties

Aunties! Titis! Tias! Ciocias! Gather 'round! Improve With Auntie is the show where YOU get to shine in a season loaded with sparkle. Let's dish, brag, advise, and laugh together.

By brilliant design, the winter holidays light up some of the darkest months of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This got me thinking about the special shimmer of an auntie's love. We're not mama, daddy, or grandparent. We're unique to the family dynamic in general and the lives of the younger folk in our orbit specifically.

When we speak of "aunties" here, we mean anyone who wears the crown, regardless of whether they've received the honor by DNA designation or self-determination. Also worth noting, the term isn't constrained by the binary; if that crown fits, by all means, wear it!

For this inaugural chat, fellow aunties Ashley Lana Scott, Caren Evers, and Lisa Brown joined me to talk winter holidays––with often hilarious asides.

Between Lego dilemmas and tales of frightening mouse kings, we explored the myriad ways aunties enliven holiday traditions (those passed down as well as those they've created) and put their spin on gift exchanges (even if that means no physical gifts at all).

As aunties are internationally famous for being storehouses of knowledge, naturally we also got to talking on topics befitting the other eleven months of the year. Some of the intel we traded is actually useful. I kid; everything aunties say and do is solid gold! We set aside some of the silly (fart piano anyone?) for sage auntie insights on:

• The shifting nature of the auntie/nibling relationship (time waits for no auntie!)
• Counteracting bullies and/or toxic masculinity
• Encouraging gender expression and general play

Whether they're toddlers, teens, or full-fledged adults, this season is a special time for aunties to revel or reconnect with the children of their hearts. Here's to holiday-centered activities, lessons, and memory-making––auntie-style!

***

Join the Round Table

Share the Love in our Auntie Tip Jar Get on our Cool Auntie email list

Ask your question for "Ask Aunties", share a "Proud Auntie" moment, tell a "How NOT to Auntie" tale, or send us some photos of your fave holiday gifts for our IG. Upload photos or audio files here.

Or email your story or pics to Andrea: andrea [at] thecreativeimpostor.com

@improvewithauntie - Instagram

Mentioned in This Episode

Ninja Nutz & Bolts

The House Theatre of Chicago

Bookshop.org (gift shopping that supports indie bookstores AND Improve With Auntie)

***

Produced by The Creative...