Aunting

Whether related by biology, marriage, circumstance, or choice, aunts embody a uniquely flexible familial role. The aunt-niece/nephew relationship--though often overlooked--is critical and complex, one that appears at the core of a resilient, healthy family life.In this engaging book, Laura Ellingson and Patricia Sotirin construct a consideration of "e;aunts"e; that moves from noun to verb. "e;Aunts"e; is more than a group of people or a role; instead, "e;to aunt"e; is a practice, something people "e;do."e; Some women "e;aunt"e; as second mothers, friends, or mentors, while others play more peripheral roles. In either case, aunts nonetheless significantly impact their nieces and nephews' life choices.Drawing on personal narratives that represent a rich cross section of society, Ellingson and Sotirin construct a cohesive story of the diversity of aunting experiences in the contemporary United States. Skillfully written, Aunting recovers the enormous potential of this dynamic kinship relationship and offers a model for understanding and supporting the variety of families in society today.