Why Does She Always Want to Be Around Me?

I have a 7 year old daughter and a 13 year old son. It sounds like your cousin thinks you are amazing and looks up to you. My 7 year old does this with older girls. She wants to hug them and follow them around. She does it because she is in awe and just loves them...but, yes, I can see how it can be annoying. I think you should be kind to your little cousin, but tell her how you would like her to act. Say things like, I've had enough hugs now. One hug is enough, I'm sorry but you are making me feel smothered. Please don't follow me around when I am on the phone. Go back to the other room and when I am done I will come play with you. You could give her a job to do to keep her busy...ask her to draw you something. You could say ok, I will play one game with you and then we older girls want some time to ourselves. Can you do that with me? Also, try to include her when you can. It's hard bc 7 year olds have a hard time listening. Try to be patient with her and remember that she will get more mature as she gets older.

Very typical. Many younger girls look up to older girls as role models and also because older kids have more privileges. You and her older sister probably did something similar - you just don't remember it as being annoying!

Try to see it as a compliment.

You can't stop it, but you can try to manage it. Give her some of your time and attention, and do it whole-heartedly. Then at other times, let her know (kindly but firmly) that it is older kid time and you'll spend time with her on _____ (fill in the day when you will do this). Get what you want by giving her something that she wants: "Give me some space now, and you can go with us for ice cream on Saturday." If she persists, do what all mature people do, which is to tell her firmly that there will be no payoff for listening in on your phone conversations or following you around. If you are talking on the phone with other people in the room, though, that could be a bit rude unless you are making plans that involve those people. Excuse yourself to another room while you take or make a call. If the child follows you, look her in the eye and tell her this is private time and she cannot be rude by listening in.

My older sister and my cousin where closer in age to each other then I was, I was a couple of years younger and they treated me like I was a baby. I wanted to be friends with my cousin as well, but they excluded me and made me feel lonely and unloved. It hurt. Even as an adult I look back and, while I am not mad at them for their poor behavior as children, it hurts to think about the times I cried alone while they talked and giggled with each other. It doesn't take anything away from you to be kind to your young cousin, and it could make all the difference to her. She looks up to you, act like a role model.

You need to talk to her parents and let them know you're uncomfortable with her doing this. I know that you don't want to hurt her feelings but she is invading your space.

Give her side by side hugs when she comes up then step back. Please don't encourage her to "cuddle" because that is really not something she should be doing with anyone that isn't her parent or a sibling.

Can you speak to your cousin that you are around a lot? Tell her that you don't plan on coming over as much because of how uncomfortable you are around her little sister? You need to be able to stand up for yourself, tell how you feel, without it hurting this little sister. I would probably only want to spend time with my cousin, the one your age, outside of her home so that I wasn't around the little sister so much.

Sounds like hero worship.
Try to be kind but also tell her that sometimes you have stuff to do that's for older kids that 7 yr olds can't do.
Doesn't she have friends her own age to play with?

She adores you. You are her hero.
I agree with the advice below to lovingly set limits. Here are some examples to help you find the words. "Yes Minime, I'd love to play with you. But first I am going to finish my phone conversation with my friend in my room by myself. I'll play with you at 3:00 (some suitable time in the next hour or so)." Or "I can be with you for the next 10 minutes, and then I'm going to have some teenager time with just your sister. (and then, after 10 minutes), ok it's teenager time now so I'm going to be with Jane while you find something else to do."

I will just say to take this feeling of having no personal space and multiple it by 24/7 for about 10 years, and that's what it's like when you become a mom. Think about that when you are making decisions about your own personal life and relationships with boys/men.