Is this normal behavior?
I still want to have kids even though I'm an elder millennial and have anxiety about my sperm quality diminishing, but had some career setbacks (chose a "creative" field), and I'm single. My sister (two years older than me) has a 3.5 year old. She is married and her husband is very involved (which is great).
Literally when the kid was 6 months my sister turned to me with her eyes flared and said, "You need to step up as an uncle." I'm like, uh... she just got here. What do you expect me to do?
I've been to everything they've invited me to and spent money I don't really have on expensive toys imported from Germany, etc. My niece was kind of standoffish and shy for a while, but we've bonded since.
I get invited to her dance recital in the park and I didn't feel like going. Her father is very involved and I kind of feel like he doesn't even want me around sometimes. Also, I don't need to be around a bunch of parents my age and younger for my mental health, since I haven't had children and it feels like other guys are judging me (they're probably not thinking about me).
Anyway, the point is, I've been to everything I've been invited to, and the one time I say, "I think I'll stay back for this one, but thanks for the invite..."
I get the following response:
"I always pictured you being a supportive involved uncle. She will be disappointed."
Like wtf? Should I just go now and let myself be manipulated lol? I kind of feel like my sister just wants me as a prop in her ego play. The truth is my niece could probably care less if I'm there and her dad will just like play with her the whole time, while ignoring me and giving me looks like, "you haven't bred yet..."