You know the phrase, “Aren’t you like, 12?” for good reason. 12-year-olds are worse than pooping infants and stressed out college students. I remember I declared a 12-year-old my enemy like it was yesterday… except it was months ago.
Yes, I hated a 12-year-old. Yes, I’m 17. Who could have possibly made me so angry that I would hate someone barely graduating elementary school?
She was my cousin. About a year ago, we got into a conflict that involved the entire family. Looking back, the original conflict wasn’t that big of a deal—I should have been mature. But so few things make me angry, and this 12-year-old brat caused me to lose my mind. I told my family I wouldn’t speak to her until she changed her ways. I’d talk to her in five years, She’d hopefully learn to stay in her lane. Not too long to wait!
I really didn’t care that she was my cousin. Her actions directly clashed with my principles, and I was fed up with her problems—problems that my sister and I seemed to be dragged into too frequently. After our dispute, I accepted that my life would be easier just never talking to her. Plus, she lived two states away, so I would only have to be in the same house as her about twice a year. Thank goodness.
I gave her the cold shoulder for about a year, and it wasn’t until this summer that I saw how much our feud affected my family. We weren’t the same fun, tightknit family that I’ve always known. Watching the 12-year-old I hated so much get neglected by several cousins, simply because of the barrier I built, made me see how horrible I’d been. She was just a kid, but more importantly, she was still my family.
Things are better now. We didn’t patch up our relationship by hugging and eating ice cream, but we acknowledged that we could not let disputes come between us. Family is family, and we’ll always love and protect each other.
Yes, I hated a 12-year-old. It was dumb, but her age is not why I am ashamed. I’m ashamed that I could have such terrible feelings towards my own blood. If you’re not there for your own family, who will be there for you?