How to deal with inconsiderate family members?

Question

So my parents are out for a couple weeks, but some family is coming over. So it'll be me (highschool), my brother (10 years old), and my grandma, plus visitors. Honestly I feel like I'm the only one who can keep everything together, nobody else is responsible.

The family coming over is my aunt and uncle and their 2 kids (5 and 1). They're pretty nice people, but they've also been fairly inconsiderate. Small example, the parents (not the kids) ate almost all of my 10 year old brother's halloween chips, and he's quite upset about that, but is too afraid to tell them so. I know this may seem silly, but he says that he'd have let them have some if they just asked, but they didn't even bother to ask. 

So how should I deal with them? I don't want to be rude, but I also don't want to be used just because my parents aren't home. Thanks

Dawn · Accepted Answer

1. Take all the food/treats that you don't want them to eat and put them away in a bedroom closet or something. Hopefully they won't go looking around in the closets etc. (although I have a sister that would do that). 

2. Don't go to the store and get expensive stuff or stock up before they come. Let them go to the store if they want something. 

If/when they complain, just look innocent and remind them you're not the adult. As for keeping everything together, you might have to just let the whole thing go while they're there and clean up later. It's very hard for someone who's organized, but constantly picking up after them while they're there doesn't help--it just encourages them to make messes because someone else will fix it. Yes, it's like you have children.

ịcąгυѕ · Answer

Like the other person said. 

Don't bother stocking up on anything worth eating. Have the same issue with the in laws. 
And as for cleaning up. As long as you and your brother wash up after yourself, your aunt and uncle will soon have no option but to pick up after themselves when things become too messy to deal with. 
If you keep running around after them and there children, they will have no reason to pick up for themselves.

The whole point of them being there, are to help keep the household running.

Tiger · Answer

Try keeping your and your 10 year old brothers belongings in a secure spot where no one can get a hand on it. Some relatives are like that. They were raised differently, so eating your brothers chips without asking is normal for them. They might be greedy or never had much as a kid. Don't take it personally though. If you see them touching, or eating any food that belongs to your brother just simply say "you may have some but please do ask next time".

How to deal with inconsiderate family members?

3 Answers