In this episode of Clinically Awkward, I’m joined once again by friend-of-the-pod Sidrah Kahn as we unpack our shared experiences with aunthood, messy family dynamics, and what it means to be the resident child-free women holding the emotional scaffolding together. We talk about the joys and chaos of being an aunt, swap stories about our nieces and nephews, and get into the very specific kind of care child-free women end up providing. We also dig into how millennial women think about motherhood now that we’ve seen the unfiltered reality of pregnancy and postpartum. It’s honest, funny, and a little too relatable for anyone “cool aunt” who has never been cool on purpose.

00:00 Introduction to Clinically Awkward

00:58 Welcoming Sidrah Kahn: Aunthood and Family Dynamics

04:29 The Role of Aunts in Child Development

08:39 Cultural Perspectives on Aunthood

20:53 Neurodivergence in the Family

23:56 Sensory Sensitivities and Accommodations

27:34 Navigating School Cafeterias and Childhood Experiences

28:53 The Evolution of Communication: From Track Phones to Smartphones

31:34 The Role of Child-Free Women in Family Systems

33:41 Aunt Life: The Joys and Challenges

35:39 Reflections on Parenthood and Child-Free Choices

43:25 The Importance of Community and Support Systems

53:44 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections