My cousins' kids don't respect my authority [View All]

[Merrick]

Just got back from a trip to Tennessee for a memorial for an aunt of mine who died a few months ago. Lots of family were there, including my cousin from London and her 2 girls (ages 8 and 10) and another cousin and her 8 yr old girl. All really good kids who I really like, but Christ, could they give any less of a crap about me as an older authority figure. On the contrary, undoubtedly because I'm youngish (28) and do enjoy playing around with them some, when they do start going completely off the apeshit dial and I say no, its completely worthless.

Case in point: One day the ladies asked me if I wanted to go with them into town on an underwear shopping expedition. Without thinking, I allowed my natural instinct (which is quite averse to 2 hr knicker shopping trips) to have my mouth say 'no thanks'. Big mistake. This left me alone in a house with these three hellians and my uncle (who besides being busy with something is 80 yrs old). Within 30 minutes of minding my own business reading a book on the couch, the first of the three demonspawn comes in, jumps on me and commences pummeling me, calling me an "Evil Old Toad". This then attracts the others, who, amongst other things, start trying to pull my pants down while screaming at the top of their lungs as I fight my way to the bathroom where I spent 30 minutes locked in as their hostage (the older, smarter one didnt let the others fall for my ruse that I was going to escape through the window which was much to small for me to fit through) before bolting for the outdoors, where I spent the next 20 minutes riding a bike in circles around my uncle's blueberry patch with these three little munchikins nipping at my heels until their mom returned to rescue me.

Then MY mother (their great aunt) gives me the whole "If you were just more firm with them they'd obey you" rap. What a load. Personally, considering my relation to them, I think I have the choice of being cold and strict with them all the time or tolerating these kinds of ordeals from time to time until they grow up a bit.

And it WAS the best exercise I got during the trip.