The joy on the faces of my great-nieces when I told them I was bringing them to Disney World was only exceeded by their excitement on our four-day Disney-sponsored trip. As a childless couple, my husband is my immediate family, so when asked to bring more relatives on the trip, we immediately knew that my nephew and his two middle daughters, Myla and Menzi, would be the perfect guests. Little did we know how valuable and beautiful this extended-family trip would be for us all.
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I became an aunt at age 7. The thing about being 7 is that everything, especially a new baby in the family, brings about a sense of wonderment. I have always taken my auntie role very seriously. I can vividly remember the first time my nephew fell asleep in my little arms, my first diaper change experience, and my debut as a young photographer snapping a photo of him sitting in my hand-me-down stroller.
Over time, that less-than-a-decade age gap has seemed to tighten up tremendously. My nephew, now 33, is a married father of four daughters: ages 14, 7, 6, and 7 months. And I see the girls as a huge part of my legacy.
They light up my life in unimaginable ways, and we share a deep mutual admiration for each other. I’m honored to be their “TiTi Angel” and offer them matriarchal support on behalf of my nephew’s family as the only surviving woman following the deaths of my mother, his mother, and his grandmother, only one of whom the girls have ever had the privilege to meet.
While I've kept the girls at my house for extended visits and showed them all around my city and had a great time, it wasn't until we visited Disney World that we were able to create magical memories.
Disney treated us to a suite at its Art of Animation resort, with curated experiences and free time at all four parks. We began our trip at Epcot Center, meeting Elsa, Anna, and Olaf. Then, we were off to the Frozen Ever After ride, where my nieces and I belted out “Let It Go.” We ended our night with a dessert party, which Menzi and I were thrilled about, while watching fireworks.
On day two, we explored Magic Kingdom, where one of our first experiences was meeting “the real Princess Tiana,” who, much to my fascination, was the same “Princess Tiana” from a previous media trip I’d taken when I had her film a video message for Myla and Menzi. It was a perfect full-circle moment, complete with Mardi Gras masks I bought for the girls on my last visit to New Orleans.
While at Magic Kingdom, we separated for a bit because Menzi is 4 inches too short to ride some things her dad and Myla wanted to enjoy. It’s important to note that Menzi has been admittedly having a bit of an issue no longer being the baby of the family, so personalized attention, while necessary for all children, has been increasingly essential for her. And because we live about three hours away from each other, our time together was super special.
“Come on, Titi Angel, let’s have girl time!” Menzi said, grabbing my hand.
And girl time we had. She and I took the train to Main Street (Magic Kingdom) for window shopping, rode the Mad Tea Party, had a little snack, and then up-up-and-away on my favorite character, Dumbo. All the while, my nephew was able to give Myla, a daddy’s girl, some personalized time.
There were so many moments that will spark joy for many years to come – things as small as Menzi and I giving a crooked high-five after horribly piloting the Millennium Falcon on the Smuggler’s Run ride and Myla grabbing my hand as we walked through the parks – to excitingly grouping for an exclusive Cinderella’s castle photo opportunity.
The girls are the children of my life, and being a big kid in a land of wonderment with them filled my heart with more gratitude than I had expected. Our joy was evident, showcasing how vital my role as an aunt is to the girls and their dad. He might be a grown man now, but the fact that he slapped those Mickey ears right on his head, screamed in jubilation, laughed, and enjoyed our uninterrupted family experience was a necessary reminder that making magical memories with your family is a forever opportunity. And I am honored to have facilitated the moments we won’t soon forget.
