A healthy sibling relationship always consists of a healthy mix of mockery and unassuming compliments. My brother and I often say "your face" as a retort to whatever the other has said. It's our way of saying "I love you" without actually having to say it.

So the best uncle is going to be there in person if he can, and call you if he can't, to congratulate you, tell you how proud of you he is, and definitely poke a little fun at you. What are brothers for, right?

My brother didn't wait a second to tell the world (read: social media) that he had a niece. A great uncle is always eager to spread the word, and let everyone know that his fabulous sister is either expecting and/or rocked labor and delivery like a damn boss.

And, of course, they're not going to break the news until they have your explicit permission.

I don't remember if my little brother sent any gifts right after my babies were born, but when he came back to the states he personally took each of my kids shopping. In my opinion, that's better than sending some plant I'm going to ignore.

I've never been big on "things" but, instead, love sincere gestures. So when my brother knew I was having a baby, his enthusiasm and excitement were all the "gift" I need.

Again, when you have a sibling who lives far away it's not always reasonable to expect they'll be physically present during your pregnancy, labor, or delivery. I knew my brother wasn't going to physically be there for me when I was pregnant, but that didn't matter. When he reached out to me over, and over, and over again, to remind me that he was there and supportive, it felt like he was physically there, too.

This should be required of anyone who claims to love and support a pregnant woman, and a great uncle is going to let his sister know he has her back. Personally, I was terrified when I took my daughter home for the first time, so knowing my brother was a call away helped. Big time.

My little brother used to be a United States Marine and, as a result, still has every bit of soldier in him. He's not afraid to tell people to back off, especially when they're causing those he loves stress.

I had undiagnosed postpartum depression (PPD) after my daughter was born, and when my brother came home for a visit, I was at a point where it was impossible for me to speak up and advocate for myself. Thankfully, my brother made sure the people around me knew they couldn't back to me. That's what the best uncles (and partners, friends, and other family members) do. They know what you need and make sure you get it.

My brother has so many pictures of my kids, you would think they were his own. Only the best uncles take a billion pictures of their nieces and nephews to show off to everyone. Fact.

My brother and I rarely give one another compliments that aren't at least laced with some sort of joke. But here's the thing: we don't need to. I already know that my brother thinks the world of me, and he already knows I feel the same way about him.

And on those two beautiful occasions after I held my new babies in my arms, my brother — the one who calls me out on everything I've ever done or said — commended me. He offered me all the damn praise in the world. He told me he was proud of me. And in those moments, I remembered why I sort of like him sometimes, too. Besides, there's no other uncle like him in the world.

Check out Romper's new video series, Bearing The Motherload, where disagreeing parents from different sides of an issue sit down with a mediator and talk about how to support (and not judge) each other’s parenting perspectives. New episodes air Mondays on Facebook.