V.T.
My best friend of 17 years has 4 children and they all call me "Aunt." I never really thought about calling them nieces and nephews but when you are introducing them to others it just sounded too long to say "This is my best friend of 17 years' daughter and we are so close she calls me 'aunt'...." It's easier to say "This is my niece.." Maybe it happened like that? For me no one could replace my flesh and blood niece (although she doesn't come running up to me and jumping in my arms like my friend's children do which I hope will change as she gets older) This is an interesting enough question that I'm prompted to want to ask MY SIL how SHE feels about it!! (though I think she's okay with it because I've known them so much longer.)