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I like my friend, I don't like his uncle tagging along

Tagged as: Family, Friends, Troubled relationships<< Previous question   Next question >>
Question - (27 September 2012) 5 Answers - (Newest, 29 September 2012)
A female United States age , anonymous writes:

Ok, so I have a male neighbor, younger than me, that I have been spending a lot of time with since I moved up the street 6 months ago. Before I became a neighbor, we were casual friends, as he brings his grandmother into the beauty shop where I work. So far we are just really good friends and hang out every week and spend a lot of happy time together. He lives with his grandmother because she is 85 and he has to do her shopping, take her to doctors, etc. His grandmother's son, who is his his Uncle, let's just call him J, comes down from another state to visit here and there for a couple weeks at a time. Uncle J is unemployed, is on several anti-depressant and sedative drugs, and talks constantly and loudly. Grandma has the same problem. When I go to my friend's home to visit, (let's call him W), the grandma and Uncle argue over who ate the last donut, who owes who money, etc. I can deal with this, as he is only here once in a while. But now, the Uncle has moved in with his Ma (Grandma) for good, and everytime W and I go to hang out, take a walk, go to the store, etc., the Uncle tags along. He just makes me cringe as he is so loud and never stops talking. Last week W and I had to sneak away so that he could come up to my place and help me take out my window a/c and put it up, and when we went back to W's, the uncle pouted because we left him behind. My apartment is not even big enough for 2, let alone 3. Uncle J went and bought an old truck and expects W to spend all of his off days every week helping him work on it, even though Uncle has no driver's license due to 2 DUI's. The straw that broke was last night when I asked W if I could go to the store with him because I was having an allergy attack and took a benadryl and was afraid to drive, and when W pulled up, Uncle was in the car too, and made me climb into the back of the car, followed me all over the store asking me to give him guitar lessons and talking about what happened to him in 5th grade, etc, and basically never shutting up. W and I never get to have a private conversation any more, and I have been patient about not being demanding. when W told me last night that he could only come up in the morning to help me fix something, because he was spending the 3rd day in a row helping his Uncle work on a truck he can't even drive, I just told him not to worry about it, because that was my only day off and I wanted to sleep in because I was very tired, and I knew Uncle would be with him also. And last night W did not even help me tote my groceries in and make sure I was in safe like he normally does. I understand that he needs to help family, but on top of helping his grandma, now his Uncle is monopolizing his time and he seems unable to set any boundaries with them. Do I just throw up my hands and walk away, or how do I tell him I enjoy just me and him spending time, without his Uncle? His Uncle just frays my nerves.

View related questions: drugs, grandmother, money, moved in

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A reader, anonymous, writes (29 September 2012):

This is verified as being by the original poster of the question

There is a 20 year age diff, but we are just friends at this time.

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A female reader, eyeswideopen United States +, writes (28 September 2012):

eyeswideopen agony auntBut we are talking about a very large age difference, right?

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A reader, anonymous, writes (28 September 2012):

This is verified as being by the original poster of the question

Yes, so far, neighbor W is "just" my friend, but I enjoy spending time with him more than anyone else I know. And, Sage, one problem I have with him is that he is not as assertive as he should be, and lets his grandma and Uncle and everyone wear him out. I do my best not to ask too much of him for that reason, and I do like that he has such a giving and caring heart. But boundaries are important, and Sage, if only he would step up and say all that, sigh..... Maybe he does not enjoy being alone with me like I do with him. But we were getting along great until Unc came along. Uncle has apparently no friends here and nothing to do, and I am sympathetic, to a point. But I don't want to turn W away from me by being rude to his Uncle. But I do miss him a lot these past few days. I am afraid that I will eventually go off on the Uncle unless I stay away. I deal with the public all day at my job, and just can't handle the Uncle except in very tiny doses. How do I say something without being critical of his Uncle? thx.

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A female reader, eyeswideopen United States +, writes (27 September 2012):

eyeswideopen agony auntHow much younger than you is your friend? I think you've posted about this relationship not too long ago. This isn't a romantic relationship, right?

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A male reader, Sageoldguy1465 United States +, writes (27 September 2012):

Sageoldguy1465 agony auntI can't begin to imagine why you and W can't simply say to Uncle J: "Dear Uncle.... We are going together - and by ourselves - out to do (whatever you (two) wish to do. You don't have to explain what you do to ANYBODY!!!).... "

If Uncle J suggests; "Well, perhaps I can come along"... then W (puffing up his chest and revealing the sturdy backbone that he has) is to say: "Sorry Uncle J. Not this time. Perhaps you were unable to hear when we said that ONLY WE were going out. I'll be sure to speak louder, next time, so that you don't miss any of the details."

How's that sound?

Good luck...

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