Having relatives is unavoidable, something most people would rather do without if they could. But, those familial ties come in handy every time; knowing you are loved and are amongst people who’ve known you forever, having no choice but to put up with your shenanigans, can give you a good night’s rest.
However, Nigerians know that dealing with difficult relatives is an expected menace that nobody really wants to have but has to learn any way. So, it becomes a necessary evil that dictates family harmony. We all have that troublesome uncle that comes to our house uninvited, and the aunties who like to tell us of the old days while peppering us with questions about when we will get married, get a job or go back to school.
It can be really hard trying to figure out how to deal with them, but here are 4 ways to do so:
Be quiet:
Never argue with them, always nod yes to whatever they say even if they just lied through their teeth and told your mother that you misspent money they NEVER gave you.
Run away:
Know when to quietly sneak out of the room so they won’t notice, then proceed to pretend to be asleep when they call–because that’s the only way you can get away with doing so without having your ears ring from the insults they will rain on you if they realize you were ignoring them.
Do not succumb to their traps:
This usually starts with them asking you simple questions that you think have no meaning. Ha, do not answer o! Because, if you do, you’ll create a big hole you can’t crawl out of.
Get everything ready for their arrival:
…even the adverts on TV that you can’t control. Oh, and be prepared for constant legwork–no, not the dance; the number of times you will be on your feet, serving them and adhering to their every whim. Because they will nearly kill you with their requests.
What is your best way of dealing with your difficult relatives?
