My Sister's Kids

Before going to bed, I'd like to share with you all something that made me feel kinda meh today. It's about my niece and nephew, both are my sister's kids. And I am also hoping that you could somehow give me any advice about this matter. It's not a life and death situation, but it's killing me inside.

So my 12-year-old nephew and 9-year-old niece have been living with us for years now. Not that they were abandoned, but their parents got separated for 9 years. My niece has never seen her father (ever) in person, only through video calls.

When she was a little, she would sometimes cry because she felt incomplete. No father to call papa, and her mom was busy with work and other stuff. Every time she would tell me stuff like she doesn't have a family because theirs are incomplete, it would break me into pieces. And to make her smile, I'd always told her that I could be a father to her. I even cut my hair short for her and told her to call me papa. Upon hearing that, she would immediately smile and stop crying.

Every family day, she'd get jealous of the fact that most of her classmates have both parents while she, she only has us (me, my mom, my other sister, her brother, and the cousins). So I guess that explains why she is quite an attention-seeker, and so is her brother.

They are quite an attention-seeker themselves, as well as pretty sensitive in almost everything. Plus, they also lie sometimes, make a lot of excuses when being asked to do some errands, and a few more things. And because of that, they are always on the top list of the most scolded kids in the house. We have 4 kids and a baby; and it's hard to keep a harmonious home if you have several kids doing all the talking, screaming, shouting, plus a baby crying nonstop.

So my mom is always in her bad temper most of the time, and so is my sister and me. And whenever the two have done something wrong, our immediate reaction is sudden anger because they keep doing the same issue over and over again.

Now, the two feel like they don't belong here. That they are not welcome and loved, especially my niece. And the sad part here is, I'm as worst as my mom. I'd usually tell them that if they keep misbehaving, I would send them to their mom's boyfriend who's just a house away from here. I also told them that if they don't sleep early tonight or wake up early tomorrow, they should leave the house as soon as possible.

I only said that so they would try to do their best to sleep early and wake up early. They'd usually sleep pretty late, especially my nephew. And what makes me mad is the thought that they don't even take a nap in the afternoon even if we already told them to. Whenever they don't like the food, they also make excuses not to eat. When it comes to their modules, they'd be so lazy to study too.

And then, mom told me after she fell asleep that she was really sad coz she doesn't want to live with her mom's boyfriend. She even told mom that she will just hide under the bed tomorrow so I won't see her. I felt really bad, especially when mom told me that she felt so sad coz I'm always mad at her and that when it comes to my other nieces, I don't react like that a lot.

I guess I should try my very best to explain to them further why I am being so strict to them. And maybe to try to tone down my voice, too, and be more understanding towards them. This home shouldn't be a torture place for them but rather a place they can call home.

**All photos are free images from Pixabay.