I've bounced back and forth between being CF and being a fence sitter. I know a lot of posters here don't want anything to do with kids, but I don't mind kids that much and think they can be fun. I've worked with kids as an educator and enjoyed it. I'd like to have a long lasting/family relationship with a child as they grow up, but I don't want the responsibility of being a parent to one 24/7. But I'm starting to think having or adopting a kid, and taking on that 24/7 parent responsibility is the only way I can have any sort of relationship like that with someone from the younger generation.

I'd love to be an aunt, babysit sometimes, take a kid or two out to do things, see them during holidays and birthdays, etc. but that's never going to happen for me. I have some cousins with children but they either live far away from me, or I'm borderline estranged from them (my mom's always been a black sheep in the family, so its not like myself or my sibling ever fit in either), so they're out. My partner and I have friends with a 4 year old son, but they moved half way across the country for work and there's no way we'll be seeing them enough to form any sort of real relationship with their kid. My partner also has some kids in his extended family, but again, they live very far away from us so we hardly ever see them.

I feel like it's too late for me to form new close friendships with people that have kids either now. I'm 32, an introvert, and have never had an easy time making friends.

Does anyone have suggestions on mentorship programs or organizations or any other way I can form a close, long term, family type relationship with a kid without having or adopting one?

Please no comments about how much you love having nieces/nephews if that's the case for you. I also completely understand and empathize with those of you that hate having the role of aunt or uncle and having your toxic families pressure you to take on a responsibility you had no responsibility for.