Hoping some of you help me manage this situation.
Context - been together five years, not married (and no plans to do so), no kids, live together in London, busy jobs. I have a v small family I don't see often spread around country (but I love them). He has a massive family (20 plus, loads of siblings, 10 nieces/nephews etc) who live five hours drive away. He's not close to his family and never really has been, but we visit a few times a year.
Recently I've felt increasing pressure to 'bring him closer to the family' and make more effort with them. He doesn't feel it - it's all on me. He's not a great uncle, that's true. He's just not really a kids person. But I'm now told that I'm his nieces and nephews' auntie, and I get the messages asking me to go to their events, saying how much they'd love it. Told that I'm now family and I'm told he's 'very protective' of his sisters (comments like this out of the blue that just feel a bit pressured) and obvious grumpiness when I show them pictures of my nieces or talk about my family at all (I am close to mine, and I don't expect him to be their uncle). All I get is 'oh, girly', and I don't understand. It's all making me feel a bit uneasy...I am a very different person and what I'm comfortable with is very different to them - but how to handle it? I want them to like me but I also don't want to feel this pressure as it makes me feel urgh.
What is going on here and how can I handle it please??