crushes.......

my 12 year old niece and I have a standing sleepover on Fridays.

the past two Fridays she has asked me...."do you have any crushes?"

and I know that means she wants me to ask who hers are. so last week, I asked, and she told me.

and then she asked me again this week...

for the first time in a long time, I have zero crushes. zero interests. zero everything.

she asked me why Im "boring".

I'd like to say, "trauma, kid.....trauma."

it hurts.

but we laughed it off.

I grew up with my mom treating me like an adult at 12. including moods and finances and I worried as much as an adult would. I grew up too fast and it affected me long term.

My niece deserves the childhood I didnt have. so I am just here to listen to her.

she is 12. my mom is 66. my nieces mom is AWOL. and then theres me, the 32 year old childless aunt.

a friday is the least I can do.