Cousin Rivalry

Updated on January 13, 2015
N.*. asks from New Baltimore, MI
17 answers

My son is 7 and his cousin is 10, both boys. It is obvious that the issues they are having stem from jealousy from my nephew onto my son. But my question is, how do I attempt to fix this? My sister and I love doing things together with the kids but almost every event ends in my son crying because his cousin is being "mean" to him. For example, he questions me with everything my son tells him, as if my son is lying. He continually asks my son "can you watch this, can you do this?" knowing full well that he cannot. Dirty looks are non-stop, rolling of the eyes and just trying to out smart him on every front. Its even gone as far as my sons arm getting broken by him. I am fully aware that my son being an only child he is slightly spoiled with attention but why should he suffer EVERYTIME we all interact?? I would hate to stop doing things together but that where I am right now unless things change. To make matters worse, my sister is super defensive of this child and thinks he does no wrong whatsoever. I want to try and teach my son thicker skin but I don't know how. I think at the age of 10 he should know better, but he obviously doesn't. Please help!!

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So What Happened?

So what I feared is what I must do. I guess I just had this idea in my head of them being so close because I grew up so close with my cousins going to the beach, movies, zoo, camping and just being together always. But I realize I was very compatible with my cousins and obviously these two aren't. Thank you for all your respones, reading these have given me the push I needed to do what I know is right for my son.

Just a clarification: I was not saying my son is spoiled because he is an only child, I simply meant he receives a lot of attention because me and my husband are super involved and he is all we have to do for. That can be true of multiple child families as well. He is an exceptional child with great sharing abilities and I have analyzed this situation extensively, looking at the behaviors of both children. I am confident my son is not doing anything wrong in the relationship. He has many friends and relationships with many children of ALL ages with no incident. It isn't as if my sister and I are forcing them to do things inappropriate for their respective age groups. We are going to the beach (ageless/timeless), zoo, movies, bounce houses, parks. The 10 year old is simply not a nice child and my son is getting the brunt of it.
I truly appreciate everyones advice and comments, thank you again for your help in clearing my mind.

ADD ON: The breaking of the arm was the 10 year old "tossing" my son to the ground in a rough matter. No intentinal maliciousness but shouldn't have placed his hands on him for ANY reason. And trust me I was livid but the parents did nothing and I did stay away for about 3 monhts. I waited it out to see if my sister would do anything but she didn't. But we are family and we are a close family that interacts A LOT. I would hate for his behavior to ruin our relationships. Secondly, the questioning is things like my son will say: "I went to a restaurant where I could eat peanuts and throw the shells on the floor." 10 year old: "Auntie is that true?" 7 year old: " I stayed up till midnight on new years eve." 10 year old: "Auntie did he really stay up till midnight?" 10 year old: "O can you watch The hobbit? Can you play M for mature video games?" Incessantly. He knows he cannot watch pg13 movies or play those sort of games because we've talked about it endlessly! Its not a matter of arguement, I am just trying to do inner soul searching as to whether I should continue to attempt to harvest a relationship.

More Answers

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I'm sorry but I would have stopped getting the kids together way before anyone got their arm broke.
They are just incompatible - the reasons are not important.
Your sister and you can get together for coffee while the kids are in school.
The kids should be in their own activities with their own peer groups.
Quit subjecting your son to a bully just because he's related to him.

Get over feeling there's anything wrong with being an only child.
Many people are and they are happy, popular, well adjusted.

If your child is suffering - put a stop to it.
No more visiting with this cousin - period.
And if your sister is being a jerk - you can quit seeing her too.

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S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

Maybe the ten year old doesn't love doing things with his seven year old cousin? My kids are three years apart, and there are times when they do need to do things together, but for the most part the goal is for them to not have to do things together. I honestly wouldn't make a ten year old be a playmate for a seven year old. Perhaps when you and your sister want to spend time together you do it when the kids are busy doing something else, or you allow each of the kids to bring a buddy along. Of course cousins should be able to manage to get through the occasional family celebration together without hurting one another, but they shouldn't be forced to be friends.

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S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

sounds like an incompatible pair of kids who shouldn't be shunted together so often. and the 3 year age gap is very significant at this stage of life.
i think you and your sister should refocus on 'doing things together' but not with your kids.
khairete
S.

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D.B.

answers from Boston on

Why are they together so much to begin with, when it's not positive?

I'm not sure why you say your son is spoiled - that's not a "given" with single children. They can learn to share and take turns just like kids with siblings. You son CAN learn to admire and compliment someone else on what they can do even if he can't do it, and he can admire someone who is smarter or more experienced. Sometimes an admiring "Cool!" can help a 10 year old's ego. But if the cousin is taunting him and certainly if there are broken bones, then stop the visits.

Whatever the 10 year old's issues are, he's too rough for a little kid, so stop the visits. "I think the boys have such different personalities and interests, it's hard to find something that's good for both of them" is all you have to say. They can see each other at holidays and family gatherings now and then, but not for play dates.

The thing you teach your child is how to walk away. You teach him what to say to aggressive or show-off kids, without stripping them of their dignity and escalating the situation. You have to let your kid cry now and then, but you also teach him that people who try to put others down (as big cousin is doing) are really not feeling good about themselves. They may deserve some sympathy or pity, but that doesn't mean you remain their punching bag.

You can't address your sister's parenting or her child's social inadequacies. You just say that 3 years is a huge difference at this stage of their lives, and you know they'll be friends when they are 20 and 23.

You say you love doing things with the kids - but you don't. So stop. It will be much more fun when you do see each other after a break. Help your son develop other interests. There is no rule that you have to like the activities of someone in your family.

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

He broke your son's arm? And you still allow your son to be alone with him? If you still want to do things with your sister, do girls only things, or make sure that your son can be by your side at all times. There is no excuse for you to let your son be continually hurt by this boy, no matter how they are related.

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T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Seven and ten is a big age difference. Sure, some cousins of different ages get along fine, but think about a school playground. Kids this age do not usually play together because of the developmental differences.
Do some things with your sister without including the boys every time. There's no need to force your little guy to spend time with a bigger, older cousin who clearly doesn't want to hang out with a little kid, cousin or not.

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J.K.

answers from Wausau on

You don't. Just like siblings don't always get along and maybe never do, and same goes for cousins. You and your sister just do things together and leave the kids out of it.

Honestly though, since your nephew broke my kid's arm that would be the end of the interaction for a very, very long time. It is past time to stop being together.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Sounds like you need to cultivate some friends for your son that does not include his cousin. My kid gets his arm broken by my sister's kid and my sister gets her face screamed at and she better know her son touches my kid again and I'm going to beat his butt if he gets out of line.

My friends and I manage all the kids. We do NOT allow any kid to misbehave. If we see them do something we discipline them. If anyone doesn't like the way we treat all our kids they don't have to be friends with us.

If my friends see my kiddos do something wrong I expect them to correct them and they expect me to do that too.

We trust each other to teach our kids to mind and make the right choices.

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M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

You know, 10 is still really young, and so is 7. But to a 10 year old, they don't want to hang out with a 7 year old, that's a baby. I have to explain this to my sister sometimes. Her daughter is two years younger than my youngest, and they don't always get along very well. Partly because my niece is an only child and has been raised very differently than my children, and partly because a 7 and 5 year old that don't live together just don't always see eye to eye on things.

My sister and I are both very honest with each other when there is an issue and try to make them at least get along, but it doesn't always work.

I think if you teach your son to handle the situations differently you will not only see a change, but you'll be teaching your son an invaluable lesson.

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O.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

Stop getting them together. Seriously, this is torment for your kid.
Get together with your sister--just you & her...evenings, weekends, etc. leave the kids home.

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C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I see that both boys do the same thing. YOUR son says he went to a restaurant and threw peanut shells on the floor and he stayed up until midnight. The other boy asks can you watch/do this. They are both doing the same thing. Your son is saying what he did that he thought was cool and your nephew is also saying what he did that he thought was cool. I also see no meanness in your nephew. Asking him if he saw/can do something, is not mean. Perhaps you should shut down all of your nephew's questioning of what your son said to him by simply telling him that's it's irritating to you and to stop.

Again, I don't see anything mean here on either boy's part. I agree with the rest of the posters, if your son ends up crying and you end up irritated, it's not worth it and curtail your outings with them.

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M.R.

answers from Washington DC on

At seven, your son is old enough for whatever level of Boy Scouting (not sure what it's called for his age group). He's old enough for a class at the local community center or recreation center in whatever he enjoys most -- they have everything from art to kid drama to sports to simple "create your own game" programming these days.

I'm saying: If he is spending SO much time with this cousin that they are this into each others' faces, it's time to get your son doing things with kids his own age and to spend less time with his cousin. Period.

You and your sister should be doing things together as adults. Let the dads (if both dads are in the picture) have their own boys (not both boys together!) on a weekend morning so you and sister can do something-- whatever you like, going for coffee, having breakfast out together, attending an exercise class or anything.

You and your sister have a relationship that does not HAVE to include your children. Certainly not as frequently as you seem to include them now. So stop. You can legitimately and honestly say to her, "Jimmy's in Scouts now and also is doing a class in X at the rec center on weekends with his dad -- it's great for them to do things just the two of them. So he can't make it this weekend to (fill in the blank--whatever she thinks the boys should do together.)." Then propose that you and she go do something "just us girls" style. You can keep your sister without letting your sons come between you. If she insists that the boys must interact or has some idea that they must be friends or playmates since they are cousins - keep your son busy and keep offering one on one adult outings.

Sometimes they will end up together but be sure that they have something besides each other to focus on and do. Here's what I mean: Instead of saying "Why don't you guys go play" which will not end well, take them to a movie (that is age-appropriate for both) so they are watching that, not messing with each other. Take them to events where they are focused on the event or activity, not each other. Put an adult between them when you sit together. Don't make a huge deal of it with your sister; just sit yourself down between the boys or call the boys' attention to something when they start to pick at each other.

Ten and seven can be very different ages in terms of interests, maturity, etc. A 10-year-old, especially one with a "he can do no wrong" parent, is going to be potentially much more "attitudinal" than a seven-year-old, hence the eye rolls and constant attempts to make your younger child feel and know he's the baby and cousin is the big kid.

They may be the best pals on earth in years to come but do not place them in the position now of being around each other unless there is a very specific thing to engage their attention.

I am not sure about the deal with your son's arm. If the cousin actually laid hands on your son and broke it, or shoved him and caused it, or dared him to do something dangerous -- that alone would end any visits with cousin for a long, long time to come. If this was a matter of a hit or a shove or a twist of the arm, why is cousin still around your son at all?

Or was this a case of shades of gray instead of black and white? The context and specific events do matter in that case. If your own son was goofing off or showing off or otherwise broke his own arm and cousin was there egging him on or being mean but did not lay hands on him or truly cause it -- well, that's a bit different, but still reason to keep them apart since they aren't good for each other.

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

It sounds like your nephew is a bully and that your sister is helping him develop his "superiority feeling" by not correcting him. It could be that nephew is just targeting your son, or perhaps he is a bully to all his peers and younger kids. Perhaps you need to plan activities with your sister and leave the kids at their respective homes for awhile. Your sister might even open us about child rearing challenges she is having with her son. Does your son have lots of friends, does he manage his other friendships in a positive manner or does he have problems when he is around other kids? Is his behavior appropriate for a seven year old or is he very whiny and needy?You can help him develop "thicker skin" by role playing with him, so that he can be prepared with responses. Good luck!

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C.V.

answers from Columbia on

I think you're kind of being unfair here. To a 10 year old, 7 is practically a baby. And developmentally, that's a HUGE difference, both physically and mentally.

Also keep in mind that some kids just don't get along. Their personalities are different. That's okay. Your 7 year old isn't a rough and tumble "look what I can do, can you do this" kind of kid, but the 10 year old is. That doesn't mean the 10 year old isn't as good, he's just different. Kids come in all kinds of personalities. Neither child is doing anything wrong...they just aren't well-matched.

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S.B.

answers from Houston on

Okay I see a lot going on here in the post.

First, how did the cousin break your son's arm? Were they rough housing? I would like to understand that a little bit more. The reason why is you are saying this kid is jealous of your son. If he outright broke your son's arm, I would have been furious and I would not have forced my kids to spend one more moment with his cousin. However, I'm not so sure that was what happened.

Three years at this age is a big difference. So he is questioning your son and asking you questions. Maybe he has gotten into trouble before and now wants to be sure he doesn't. Also, how does your son act with his cousin? Does he act like a "know it all". I had a cousin like that. I couldn't stand her. She was such a brat. That could also contribute to some of this as well. OR I could be completely off.

I would limit the time with the cousins. You and your sister can do things together but I would not include the boys. It sounds like their personalities are very different and they just don't gel.

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S.D.

answers from Davenport on

I didn't read any of the other responses so sorry if I repeat & i'm sure everyone gave good advice.
One thing that helps around here when my kiddos get super competitive like this with each other is to remind them that we are all on the same team.
I'll tell them, "We're on the same team! We cheer each other on - not tear each other down." Sometimes, that is on repeat but it works for the most part & continually promotes the idea of being there for each other & celebrating rather than competing.
I also often remind them about the age difference & that people do different things at different times.
Hope it all works out for you guys!

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S.W.

answers from Amarillo on

Family is nice but since you have put out examples of your nephew and your son, I would distance myself from my sister.

Just because you two grew up "tight" does not mean that the cousins will grow up that way as each has his own personality. These two boys do not gel well and should spend more time apart than together. We had a friend who had a daughter the same age as our son and when they spent too much time together they would scream at each other. So we learned to spend part of a day together and not the whole weekend. We did things together as adults and not with kids a whole lot and enjoyed our friendship.

Blood is not always thicker than water. In this case I would think long and hard about my relationship with sis. It might be time to expand your friends list and let sis do her thing without you for longer than three months.

the other S.

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