Aha moment

I read Aha moments in my Oprah Magazine every month therefore, I'll share one of mine.
It was December1987. My oldest niece was born and I became an aunt at age 12. The summer before my oldest sister graduated college with honors and then got married. I was a junior bridesmaid. Like all relatives do, I dreamed what she would be like, what our relationship would be like, etc. I desired a strong soul to follow her dreams, full of confidence because she will always be surrounded by love.
Time went on and I once commented to my sister that she is Just Like Mom, distant when her girl eagerly wants her to play and snaps into rage quickly. Naturally she was insulted and I gave all the similarities I could think of to back up my statement. I went to visit the next two summers for a week to spend time with the now toddler. Trust me when I say toddlers obey as often as teenagers, only toddlers can not understand why they must not stick their fingers into a running fan.
Then it happened, I was watching TV as my niece played on floor (Just Like Mom). I looked down when she suddenly became quiet. She was gone. I searched the house to see the back sliding door opened. That brat. I went outside and cried her name. No answer. I then went to the front of the place (townhouse) and still no niece. Panic erupted and I made my few pleas to God to help me find her. I will pay more attention to her and love her forever I promised. After a few minutes screaming her name at the top of my lungs and asking a boy walking a dog if he saw a little girl, she came around the bushes pushing a stroller with her dolls in it.
Of course she did not understand why I grabbed her and covered her face with kisses, but did not reject them. I explained to her age 2 mind that she scared me when she went outside. She said she heard me yelling her name, but I did not hear her tiny voice responding to it. I tried to further explain she can get hurt outside and I can not help her sitting inside.
I did pay more attention to her and somehow realized that I would have to start behaving like the person I wanted her to be. I even passed a test of my love when her sister was born. Unlike everyone else who fussed over the baby, I never ignored the first one. When her younger sister started tailing me too, I realized that I may not have a choice whether I am my nieces' role model or not, but I can choose what type of role model I will be. My Mother observed last summer that my oldest niece's personality is so much like mine. My response: Gee, I wonder how that happened? The End
P.S. I want my nieces to follow their own dreams so I am fulfilling my own by writing stories for them.