Uncles: our unforgettable second parents

When as children they told us that we were going to spend the afternoon with our uncles, our hearts lit up.. Were –and they are still– our confidants, those second parents who have helped us grow and who build in us an indispensable emotional legacy.

Although the role of grandparents is always highlighted in raising children, studies such as the one carried out at the University of Maine, United States, remind us of the important role that uncles usually have in the family nucleus and in the growth of the little ones.

There are many types of love, but the affection of an uncle for his nephew goes beyond genes or a last name: they hug like fathers, share like friends, play like children and care like mothers.

Something common in many cultures is having those family units in which harmony between siblings allows them to share care and educational responsibilities with children. Uncles are and will always be those “providers” of happiness, complicity and unforgettable details that marked our childhood.

Uncles and aunts, significant figures in the education of children

Experts in family psychology tell us that The most resilient families are almost always characterized by a strong bond between siblings. They provide “equal to equal” support based on an emotional connection so close that it enriches the rest of the ties, such as that of uncles and nephews.

We must also take into account that we live in a society characterized by “lack of time.” Work responsibilities often force us to rely on family members when taking care of the little ones, where Our siblings, perhaps after grandparents, always become that indispensable reference figure.

They are an example to follow

Within the anthropology of kinship, the role of the wife’s or husband’s brothers in the identity of the family unit itself is always highlighted. For many ancient societies, uncles also had responsibilities for raising children and economic survival.

Today we could say that many of these aspects continue to be maintained. Support between siblings thus becomes an example of harmony, affection and respect that serves as a model for the child. Something to also keep in mind is that our children are exposed to different “models of uncles and aunts”. Some will be more unsociable, others more accessible, carefree, wonderful or irresponsible.Depending on the type of education received, the child himself will differentiate between models to follow and avoid.. Thus, It is important to promote good habits and customs in our children. so that, regardless of who they have around them, children know how to make this discrimination with criteria.

The multiple roles that uncles and aunts play

Something that we must be clear about in educational matters is that No uncle, aunt, grandparent or other figure should disavow the role of parents or unnecessary conflict will be created for the child.. In matters of discipline, it is necessary to be consistent at all times and maintain a respectful balance between all members.

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Perhaps for this reason, because they know that they do not have the authority nor do they have the obligation to order or reprimand, The role of uncles is always more relaxed and playful.Uncles and aunts are, in many moments, like “that equal” with whom they can play more actively than with grandparents, they are accessible and offer them relaxed moments, marked by closeness and confidences.One aspect that most nephews value compared to their uncles is that they are able to listen without judging. This nuance is something that is valued when talking about certain more intimate things that they may not dare to share with their parents.

Uncles are often seen as those adults, loving and with a neutral identity, that every child or adolescent will assume as a second father figure. as it grows and matures. In turn, uncles tend to love them like true sons, since as the old saying goes: “To whom God does not give children, the devil offers nephews.”

We cannot forget either that the child’s experiences in childhood provide the foundations for his development in adult life. So that, It is worth having the support of our brothers When it comes to taking care of our children, promoting, in turn, that significant and wonderful relationship between uncles and nephews.