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Original poster

Do you like your nephews and neices?

34 replies

robinpud · 09/12/2006 16:48

Are you programmed to because they are family? Or do you have to find them appealing in their own right?

OP posts:
HonorMAGIpoeia · 09/12/2006 16:50

I like and love mine but find them totally exhausting!! They are genuinely nice kids though (and still quite young 8 and 4), think I'd find it a lot harder if they were ASBO seeking nutters!

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 09/12/2006 16:50

i liek 3 out of 4.

Miaou · 09/12/2006 16:51

I'm certainly not programmed to like mine!! I have nine nephews and nieces and like ... er, two of them. It has more to do with the parenting of the kids than the kids themselves though, iyswim.

Actually, to be fair, one I haven't seen since she was about three and one I have never met, but I daresay I wouldn't like them because their mother won't speak to us

HonorMAGIpoeia · 09/12/2006 16:51

Bum, I forgot the other 3 - this in itself demonstrates what I think about them. Generally they're fine but been brainwashed by strange cult their mum and dad are in so are now just....weird.

fiiiivemadmarchhaaaares · 09/12/2006 16:54

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Original poster
robinpud · 09/12/2006 16:55

I like 4 out of 5. One bears far to much resemblance in manner to my sil ..'nuff said

OP posts:
Glitterygookwithchocsonthetree · 09/12/2006 16:55

I only have nieces on dh's side. To me they are like other people's children. I don't feel particularly linked to them just because they are family - they are family by marriage.

Yes, I like them because they are nice but if they were not I'm sure I'd dislike them, just as I would anyone else's children.

I don't know how I'll feel about my brothers' children (if they ever get round to it!!) as they will feel more related to me I think.

My SIL seems more attached to mine - she would have their photos up in the house for example, whereas I wouldn't have photos up of my nieces.

anemone · 09/12/2006 17:43

Mine are 32 and 30 years old (DH's nieces, so NILs?) and no, I don't like them much. One is odd and incredibly mean (she asked the other week, 'Do you want your xmas presents new, or from a charity shop?). The other is nice but a cold fish. Because of their age I don't feel I have to make an effort either - we'll never be friends, so why should we try just because I married their uncle?

Tanktop · 09/12/2006 18:30

Love mine to bits. They are all teenagers and really fab kids. My DD is only 2 and really wish she had some cousin nearer her own age.

Troutpout · 09/12/2006 18:35

yup...sometimes they get on my nerves and are right pains in the butt ...but so do my own and generally, i like all kids

Charleesawmummykissingsanta · 09/12/2006 18:37

I love my 3 neices and 1 nephew to peices but get them all together and they do my head in. They are 6, 3, 18 months and 1 yr. And very, very loud!!

Pinotmum · 09/12/2006 18:38

I really love to bits my sister's children. They are lovely and really play well with my 2. My brother's son is only 2 yo so what's not to love I'm not too keen on the money grabbing teenagers on dh's side though - the niece in particular thinks she is better than everyone else and never tires of talking about herself. I don't have to see her much though thankfully as she's oop north!

trice · 09/12/2006 18:51

I love mine although the oldest has become a sulky teenager at 8 and a half and won't join in or do anything anymore as it is not cool.

They are funny, cheeky and sweet. They make my two look incredibly well behaved (which is nice).

motherinfurrierfestivefrock · 09/12/2006 19:00

My sister has two boys; I don't see them much at all, because they live a long way away, but they seem absolutely charming. Her older one is spookily similar to DD1, actually.

foxtrottothefestivegrotto · 09/12/2006 19:01

All are great kids (teenagers and toddlers)

Elasticwoman · 09/12/2006 19:04

Anemone, I think your niece's question about presents really takes the biscuit! I can see why you don't like her.

octobermum · 09/12/2006 19:42

Yes and no.

DH sister has 2 girls, the eldest (8)has a snide nature don't like her behaviour, always doing things 2 get the younger in to trouble or just to spoil younger one (4) and dd (3)game.

chubbleigh · 09/12/2006 19:47

Mine are all lovely, each one different but all really great kids who all know how to behave, what is even better is that they all get on brilliantly and the big ones look after the little ones.

brimfull · 09/12/2006 19:49

Very well behaved but sooooooo shy I've hardly heard them speak.Probably caused by unbearable aggresive chavy sil

hatwoman · 09/12/2006 19:54

interesting question. I remember quite distinctly as a child the realisation that i was "more" related to my uncle (mum's brother) than my aunt (mum's sil). This really suprised me, as it was something I had never felt - as far as I was concerned the relationship was equally strong with both. hence I have been shaken a bit to realise that I love my brothers' children more than dh's sisters. I feel quite rotten but I just can't help it. (so gook - you may well find teh same). I like dh's sister's children, in fact I guess I love them. but not like I love dbs'. I completely adore them and am in awe of the idea that they share a bit of my dna. oddly enough one of them doesn;t (one db was adopted) but he shares something else, that I can't put my finger on, and which is as strong.

MKGnearlyimmaculateconception · 09/12/2006 19:57

I 30 nieces and nephews (dh was number 10 out of 11 children). I graduated from high school with one of them. I even have two great-nieces and I'm only 27. I have to say that I like them all. I do have a more special place for the two that are my sister's children though.

jampots · 09/12/2006 20:00

i dont have any which is a shame. ALthough my sister has a stepson who we see a couple of times a year. Nice enough lad but of course much like any child.

chubbleigh · 09/12/2006 20:00

On the subject of are you programmed to like them, I don't know about that but my ds looks more like my sister than I do, her dd has a bit of me too so I feel like we all belong to each other. We call each other 'your spare mummy' or 'the other mummy'. We look alike so sometimes the baby gets confused and has to do a double take to know which one she is looking at.

Marina · 09/12/2006 20:18

I'd love some, to either adore or despise...none in our family
Suspect I would love my own sister's child and have grave reservations about my barking SIL's offspring . Of course.

DonnerDasherDancerDior · 09/12/2006 20:25

Like mine but don't see them very often. Would see 4 of them more, but dh and I dislike their mother (dh's sister ). The other one has much older children, so they are often out when we do see the mother (dh's other sister), which isn't often anyway. Considering we live in the same town, we only see each other at birthdays and Christmas.

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