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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To get fed up with my 11 year old cousin constantly texting me?

116 replies

HarlowTulip · 02/10/2014 22:07

About 2 year ago my 11 year old cousin and her mother asked for my mobile number. She had just got her first phone and it was a novelty.

She has recently got a more advanced phone and the text of "hi" every other day is starting to get on my nerves so much. Once I replied hi and have a good weekend and she said you too - 10 minutes later she texts me hi but on whatsapp!

Aibu I'm 25 and have nothing in common with a 12 year old and I'm getting pretty annoyed now with how constant it is, aibu?

OP posts:
SlatsandFlaps · 07/06/2022 10:14

ZOMBIE THREAD ZOMBIE THREAD ZOMBIE THREAD ZOMBIE THREAD ZOMBIE THREAD

SlatsandFlaps · 07/06/2022 10:14

AllyBama · 07/06/2022 10:03

It’s every couple of days, not every hour! Yeah that does make you mean, she’s a kid! Just put her on mute if you’re so bothered by the inconvenience of someone thinking of you and saying hello every now and then. God help you if you have any real problems one day.

This is a zombie thread from EIGHT years ago!!!!!

StationaryMagpie · 07/06/2022 10:19

i have my neice who does this, i send her silly jokes, memes my kids send me and just check in with her. its good to have a good rapport, even if you dont get on.
you never know when they might need that connection to reach out for help.

StationaryMagpie · 07/06/2022 10:20

ugh, zombie. sorry!

💀💀💀

grapewines · 07/06/2022 10:26

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 02/10/2014 22:46

The OP is allowed to be frustrated by this, you know.

Mean would be if she actually said or did anything to DN about it and made her feel bad.

You lot are so holier than thou.

Exactly.

OP, it would annoy me as well.

ChristinaXYZ · 07/06/2022 10:31

It is irritating. And you are allowed to be irritated. But to try and stop it would be mean. It won't last forever. You were probably a boring kid once too! She will grow up and give you more interesting conversation one day and by being nice now you'll have a relationship with her. How lovely.

Branleuse · 07/06/2022 10:34

i dont think its weird. She probably thinks youre really cool.
You dont have to respond obviously, but I think its nice if you would.
Id say nice things to her. She might be lonely and not have lots of friends.
Things you could ask her about as well as school might be stuff like her pets, sports, what her fave subjects are. What music she likes right now. Films that are on at the cinema. Maybe you could take her to see a film and get an icecream?
youre not expected to be her friend who you have tonnes in common with, but its really good for kids this age to have adults who they can look up to who arent ancient yet.

floralarrangement · 07/06/2022 10:38

HarlowTulip · 02/10/2014 22:20

I'm not mean. It's literally every 2-3 days saying -

Hi - I like being random

Am I suppose to ask how school is 3 times a week?

Can't you just google some of would you rather questions and send one every week or so

Like "would you rather be chased by one dog sized spider or ten spider sized dogs" etc. Add some emojis and jobs a good un.

Just set an alarm to reply every Friday or whatever and ignore the rest of time.

She probably really looks up to you and you might regret it when she's a cool young adult and you're yesterdays news Grin

Sunnytwobridges · 07/06/2022 10:41

I’m gonna go against the grain and say this would annoy the hell outta me. I’d prob only reply one day out of the 3 days she texts. I’m so glad my nephew doesn’t do this I would probably cry 😂 but I find making convo with kids boring and annoying 😂

MarvelMrs · 07/06/2022 10:46

I can see how it would be annoying but honestly you should be prioritising her and making her feel loved and valued. It doesn’t actually hurt to reply a couple of times or send her a smile gif. To just make her smile.
It is hard being a teenager in the age of online life. Your hi could make her feel 100 times better than you realise.

beachcitygirl · 07/06/2022 10:56

What about having an actual conversation with her. You were 12 once.
Get to know her.
What music you listening to just now?
Did you see the met ball? What dresses did your like.
So you think zendaya is cool?
What joy & your pals up to?
What show are you watching on Netflix ?
Do you like any boys/or girls?

It's boring because you're being boring. You're the adult. She's starting a conversation with you, she's reaching out & learning to communicate & socialise.

So Yes yabu & a bit of a bitch tbh

BanditBluey · 07/06/2022 11:12

This thread is from 2014!! The kid isn't 12 anymore she's an adult

Branleuse · 07/06/2022 11:19

has she got any summer holidays booked? Does she like swimming? Does she like Billie Eilish? How is she feeling about starting secondary school?

CruCru · 07/06/2022 11:23

This is an old thread but I don't think the OP was being particularly unreasonable. It takes a while to learn text / social media etiquette and I'm sure I got it wrong sometimes when I first got a phone (I was much older than 12).

Rightly or wrongly, sending the OP multiple messages saying hi is irritating her.

AWOL66 · 07/06/2022 11:37

I'd love that. Send her screenshots of jokes or memes with hello on it now and then before she even texts. That way you don't have to reply but she knows you are thinking of her too

Alb0 · 07/06/2022 12:01

Why don't you have a talk to her mother? Maybe her mother can discourage her/explain you care about her but you're a busy adult.

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