When our niece was turning 5, she told me she wanted a Lalaloopsy treehouse for her birthday.
It cost much more than our usual birthday gift, but what are aunts and uncles for? Her Uncle John came through, and he and I delivered it to her party at her home in New York. She loved it as much as we knew she would.
I could have sworn that was just the other day.
But time has a funny way of speeding by, and earlier this week, that same niece moved into her residence hall to start her first year at college. She considered many colleges, and in the end she chose Loyola University Maryland, where I also happen to work.
I never got the sense that, from her perspective, having an aunt on campus was a factor in her college decision, but I am over the moon to have her here. I marked my calendar for her arrival as soon as we knew the move-in date. I couldn’t wait to welcome her to campus.
And I love move-in day.
The truth is that whichever college she chose, I would have planned to be there to help. After all, I did the same for her two older siblings, and as a third child myself, I definitely wanted to show up for her in the same way.
Her mom, my oldest sister Maureen, has four children. I helped move her oldest into Mount Holyoke in a pandemicky 2021, and I was there for her second child’s move when he started at my alma mater, Franklin & Marshall, in 2023. I’ve since been back to help that same child—our nephew—move in for his sophomore and junior years, too.
I don’t want to say I’ve become a college move-in enthusiast, but I love our nieces and nephews, I love visiting college campuses, I will look for any excuse for spending time with Maureen, and I like feeling helpful.
Besides, I’m an aunt. No one gives you a guidebook on aunting when you first meet that tiny, adorable baby who will come to call you “Aunt Rita.” But my general approach to aunting is to show up when you can, bring a treat and maybe a quirky gift, and take photos. If that means volunteering to help with college move-in day, let’s do it.
Luckily, the third time’s the charm, and Maureen is an expert. She has color-coordinated bags for each child, all the right sticky things and hooks for the walls, bags of inflatable pillows, and all the tools you need for room set-up. I mostly carry things, follow directions, and stand back and take pictures of the room coming together.
I’ve now helped my sister make beds for her children in college dorm rooms in three states. I’ve filled Brita pitchers, arranged stuffed animals on the beds, assembled a hamper, organized books on shelves, run errands, moved furniture (and moved it back again when it didn’t fit), and taken more photos than anyone probably needs.
Typically on a college move-in day, I would arrive carrying Berger cookies, but this time around, my father was sending a bag of chocolate chip cookies for his granddaughter. So, Maureen said I didn’t need to bring cookies.
Apparently, you don’t want to start college with too many cookies in the dorm room. That’s one lesson I never learned in college.
Still, I know a helpful aunt is one who listens to instructions. So, I complied. It’s what aunts do. And I’ll see our niece soon.
So, I didn’t say goodbye to her. Instead, I gave an extra hug to her mom before she headed home.
I couldn’t help thinking, though, that next year we’ll be moving our oldest son into his college dorm room for the first time.
Slow down, time—and not because I don’t know a thing about sticky things for college dorm room walls. I want to soak in every minute of the year ahead.
And I hope our niece has the most wonderful year, a year that’s even more fun than getting a Lalaloopsy tree house on your fifth birthday. College is such an amazing time, and you are in for a treat. Welcome home!
Copyright © 2025 Catholic Review Media
