As the first grandchild, I would hear my friends talking about their cousins that were in their thirties and having their own children and I would be so confused considering for the first half of my life the difference between me and my youngest cousin was ten years. Now, I am one of (soon-to-be) nine grandchildren on my dad’s side, and when my newest cousin comes along I will be 21 years older than her.
1. When my cousin is ten years old, I will already be thirty and possibly have my own child by then.
When I realized the fact that when she's ten years old I will already be thirty and possibly have my own child by then, I felt so old! Ever since my 6-year-old cousin was born, my sister and I have been joking that we never want to be the “old cousins.” We felt that being the "old cousins" is boring. We still do not want to be looked at as the adults who sit at the table at family gatherings and just talk the whole time. Because of this, we try to fit in with the kids, but sometimes they have way too much energy for us and we cannot keep up.
2. This is totally acceptable if I have a 2-year-old with me. Right?
I try to play their games because sometimes sitting around at family parties with the adults is boring. Instead, I like to try to participate in what the little kids are doing even if that means I have to run around a lot. Doing this really makes me feel like a kid again and that's never a bad thing. Sometimes I can find myself climbing up the ladder to a playground or blowing bubbles for my own entertainment and think, "This is totally acceptable if I have a 6, 3, and 2-year-old with me. Right?"
3. I've been accidentally called my cousin's aunt.
I'm almost exactly twenty years older than my current youngest cousin. My aunt and uncle even made me his godmother, which is such an honor. Over the course of the last few years, my grandma, aunts, and uncles have accidentally called me my cousins' aunt. Having to correct them is a little awkward because in a way, I sometimes feel like more of an aunt than a cousin even though I'm not.
4. Strangers think my cousin could be my son.
Recently I went on vacation with the whole entire family. One day my dad, aunt, 6-year-old cousin and I went food shopping. My dad and aunt walked away and I was with my cousin and I sort of wondered if the strangers in the store thought he could be my son. Although I would not want a child right now, never mind have had a child at 15, it could be possible to an outsider.
5. I would rather be around cousins a fraction of my age.
I have so much fun when I'm around them, even if they do make me question my maturity level. I can't imagine family parties without them running around and going crazy. Family gatherings would be so boring if they weren't there because, let’s face it, adults are boring sometimes, and children say and do the funniest things ever!
