Brown-eyed Girl

I talk to my niece last night for a while.  She asked me lots of questions about college (she's 16) and about what courses she should take during her senior year.  I got the sense that she just wanted an adult to talk to, and since her mom, who is usually good at that sort of thing, has been dealing with her illness for the past few weeks, she hasn't had anyone to talk to.  She also asked if Archer and I could take her to visit some colleges during her spring break.  She is assuming that her mom won't be up to it.  I told her we would work something out.

She is such a great kid that I want to take care of her--as is Brown-eyed Boy, her younger brother.  But I don't want to overstep my boundaries as their aunt.  I tried to reassure her last night that Archer and I are always here for her, no matter what, no questions asked.  But I reminded her that we have to check with her mom before we make any definite plans about touring colleges without her.  I always thought being an aunt was supposed to be easy.