I was the 'fun aunt' who cared for my seven nieces and nephews for many years.I thought my extensive experience with kids had prepared me for motherhood, but I was wrong. Babysitting let me love and nurture these children without the weight of long-term responsibility.I have three nephews and four nieces, and I babysat them from the time they were newborns until they started school. My sisters dropped them off at our home every morning, and my mother and I cared for them until their mothers returned from work. It may have looked like we were running a daycare, but to me, it was pure joy. I was in my late teens at the time and I adored those kids, had endless fun with them, and still think of them as my own, even though they're all in their late teens now.But being a fun auntie is quite different from the 24/7 demands of motherhood. Something that surprised me as my own family grew.The shock of constant responsibilityFast forward a few years, and everything looked very, very different. Whether it was the chaos of first-time motherhood or the haze of postpartum exhaustion, I found myself wondering, "Wait, did I ever handle babies this small?" I couldn't understand why it had felt so much easier to be the favorite aunt of multiple kids than to care for just one. For months, I convinced myself that my son was simply more demanding than all of them combined. But eventually, I realized he was just like any other baby, except I was his mother. And to him, that made all the difference.I thought I understood tantrums. I had witnessed a few epic meltdowns while babysitting, so I assumed I was prepared. Turns out, those were just trailers. What my child has offered up in the subsequent years is the full feature presentation!What I've since realized, is babysitting is like test-driving a car. You get to enjoy the shiny new features, maybe push the limits a little, and then hand the keys back. Parenting is owning the car. You're responsible for the maintenance, the insurance, and figuring out why there's a half-eaten granola bar stuck to the upholstery. I knew how to change a diaper. But nothing prepared me for the sheer volume of diapers a tiny human can produce in just one day. The myth of control I had as an aunt busted when I became a motherI used to laugh when people said sleep deprivation was torture. Now, I understand. I've negotiated with a 2-year-old over pajama colors at 3 a.m., and I've lost arguments with a 4-year-old about whether only ketchup on toast qualifies as breakfast. I've learned that "mommy brain" is real, my tolerance for noise is superhuman, and I can function on minimal sleep. None of which, I'll now admit, I ever had to endure as an aunt.When I babysat my nieces and nephews, all I cared about was being the fun aunt. There was no pressure to parent the right way. I made their favorite snacks, curated their YouTube playlists, dressed them up in adorable outfits, and styled their hair. The stakes were low, and the joy was abundant.So why, after babysitting for years, was I still unprepared for motherhood?Babysitting let me love and nurture these children without the weight of long-term responsibility. I fed them, bathed them, and even had a hand in helping them learn to walk and talk. But I never had to worry about their education, doctor's appointments, or health concerns. I didn't have to make the big decisions. That, I've learned, is the difference between being a fun aunt and being a mother.Sometimes, I feel guilty that I don't fulfill my kids' every little wish like I did for my nieces and nephews. But I've realized that motherhood isn't about always saying yes. It's about showing up in ways that matter. I may not have the time to make French toast every morning, but I am fighting battles for them that I never had to as an aunt. And in the beautiful balance of life, my kids now get their share of extra love from their grandmothers, aunts, uncles, and even their older cousinsthe very ones I once babysat.The other day, my niece was making pancakes for my kids, and I was hit with nostalgia, remembering the times I stood in that kitchen, just as she was.Life comes full circleNow I know that no amount of aunthood can ever truly prepare you for motherhood. I started this journey thinking I knew what it meant to care for a child. I was wrong. Being a mother isn't about being ready it's about showing up day after day for your children. And that, I realize now, is the most important lesson of all.