For as long as I’ve had this blog, I’ve written about my niblings – a gender neutral term to describe the children of our siblings, often referenced as nieces and nephews. We have six, ranging in age from 11 to 17. Two live in Philadelphia, four here in Pittsburgh.
A few months ago, the youngest nibling told me in no uncertain terms that he does not like being called or described or referenced as a nibling. It sounds like corn, according to him. The three other local nibs had previously shared similar sentiments, but I clung to his sweet young self as my last hold-out. He indulges me on so many things.
I actually think nibling is a weird word. But it works. It is gender neutral, easy to spell, and gets people to stop and think about all these issues at one time. They act excited to learn a new way to describe our existing reality. What’s not to love?
But I’m here to support them, not my Facebook friends. And the consensus is that nibling term has got to go. I have given zero thought to how I will make this change. But I’m gonna try. I wonder if I can get away with “the kiddos?” “the used-to-be-littles?”
They are growing up. The 11 year old is as tall as me. I’m a little nostalgic for their younger days, but I am more excited to see how they rock the adulting that lies ahead. They have never ceased to amaze me. I don’t want to slow them down or roll back time or anything sappy like that, I just want to savor that they still want me to come along for the ride.
Today is LGBTQ Families Day, a time to celebrate the many families in every state and almost every county of the U.S. that have LGBTQ people in them! Please join in by sharing a family photo or another image or message of support and celebration, using the #LGBTQFamiliesDay hashtag!
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If you would like to read our previous years’ contributions to #LGBTQfamiliesDay:
2022 – #LGBTQFamiliesDay – Being the Adult I Needed in My Own Childhood
2021 – Remember the Aunties on #LGBTQFamiliesDay
2020 – #MasQUeUp to protect your family on this 15th Annual #LGBTQFamiliesDay
2019 – We #AMPLIFY Stories from 50+ LGBTQ Parents in Western Pennsylvania on #LGBTQFamiliesDay
2018 – 50 LGBTQ Parents #AMPLIFY Their Experiences for #LGBTQFamiliesDay 2018
2017 – #AMPLIFY LGBTQ Families, 40 Parents Share Their Experiences
2016 – #AMPLIFY LGBTQ Families, 29 Parents Share Their Experiences
2014 – Summertime Traditions For Our LGBTQ Family
2013 – Blogging Because We Are Family!
2012 – Being an Advocate: 7th Annual Blogging for LGBT Families
2011 – Blogging for LGBT Families 2011 – Don’t Devalue the Aunties
2010 – Pittsburgh LGBTQ Families – a Blog Post
2009 – Blogging for LGBT Families in Pennsylvania
I think “niblings” is a funny sounding word, too. If it’s been invented by adults and sounds awkward to kids it’s probably not going to catch on with gen Z. I’d love to see folks under 25 come up with a word that they’d like us aunts and uncles and kin to use instead!