To my new-born niece

I have always asked my friends - those who became aunts at a young age, how they felt? Each time after I realise how happy they are and how much they get attached to their nieces and/or nephews, I wish I could have mine soon.

Luckily for me this wish didn't take long to come true. Last week, my brother's wife delivered a young, beautiful angel, whom they named Cerin.

Because, of reasons that certain other circumstances have imposed, I was not able to be there during the delivery or even after it. It broke my heart to be so distant from her and not to be able to give her a kiss.

Curious, excited and anxious to see what my niece looks like, I constantly asked my parents to send me her pictures. I thought she would look like me, that is because in our culture they say girls look like their aunts, and since I am her only aunt from her dad's side, I expected her to look like me.

However, when I received her pictures, I was stunned by the fact that she is a photocopy of my brother, that for a second I thought it is my brother's picture when he was young.

However, each time I look at her face I get an odd feeling, a combination of longing for my brother and my new-born niece and an instinctive feeling urging me to go and see her.

I have to say now that it is really a very pleasant feeling to be an aunt. So I will try my best to be a very sweet aunt and it might be the first step in getting ready for motherhood.

Rania Al Hussaini
Notes Deputy Editor
education@gulfnews.com