Will it make all the suffering in life just fade away?

[sovay]

Tonight my godchild called (and then texted, because the actual call kept dropping) to find out how I felt about being their "unty . . . a mix of uncle and auntie" because they had decided that my significance in their life warranted a more directly familial title than "godparent." I have no idea how often I will be actually be addressed as such, but I am informed the nomenclature has made it into my contact information on their phone. I am honored and delighted. Later in the night they reached out again through their mother to make sure I knew about mac and cheese on toast. I do now.

Comments

[rydra_wong]

Yes, "niblings" is in use in my family as a plural for practical reasons, because referring to my "nieces and nephew" is a pain to say.

[sovay]

Yes, "niblings" is in use in my family as a plural for practical reasons, because referring to my "nieces and nephew" is a pain to say.

"Niblings" is the term I'm familiar with.

[rydra_wong]

It's a useful one. But it occurs to me that, having put thought into "unty", maybe the godchild already has thoughts on what term they'd like applied to themself?

[sovay]

But it occurs to me that, having put thought into "unty", maybe the godchild already has thoughts on what term they'd like applied to themself?

I wondered if they wanted a reciprocal new term, but it didn't come up! Whereas the status change on my part seemed imperative to them, in that I am told they spent most of the day brainstorming an appropriate designation. I figure I can always ask just to make sure.

[selkie]

The group chat of unicorn tweens was inconclusive on what they'd want to be called. They often wake up with Big Massive Ideas and carry them through the day like intellectual chew toys, and yesterday's Big Massive Idea was that S. is incredibly important (which, true) and ought to be familially roped in, and what was the perfect title.
[It isn't always people; sometimes it's business plans or Rube Goldberg machines or training the turtle to play the thumb piano.] If I ask them, they will probably say "I dunno, nephew," because if they aren't a boy I will eat my fountain pen without ketchup.

[sovay]

and yesterday's Big Massive Idea was that S. is incredibly important (which, true) and ought to be familially roped in, and what was the perfect title.

It's still rather marvelous to me.

If I ask them, they will probably say "I dunno, nephew," because if they aren't a boy I will eat my fountain pen without ketchup.

They filled out "demi-boy" on the questionnaire for Pride, which I have been assuming they know whereof.