*[Update is at the bottom]
As an aunt and a sister, I take my roles very seriously.
It is entirely up to me whether or not the nieces/nephews are properly and age-appropriately educated in the ways of the world. It's a daunting task, because it is extremely powerful.
My siblings were often abusive of everyone while we were all growing up through perpetual trauma. I am the youngest, the quietest, "the normal one in comparison to the rest of you" kid who just wanted everyone to be happy together.
It was pretty easy to break my sensitive little heart, so my brother would do it for fun.
At a certain age, I came to adore pop music and discovered my first favorite band. I saved and bought every cd. But listening to this band -- let alone dancing and singing/lipsyncing -- earned me some of the most hurtful ridicule of my young little life.
I wound up always using headphones, hiding my cds, and spending a lot of time alone in my room trying not to get caught listening to them. Out-of-sight-out-of-mind worked on my siblings, but he still had the ammunition and made an art of honing it.
Watching him be a new father has been the most bizarre, wonderful, and also heartbreaking experience of all. He's an amazing dad who loves everything his daughter loves and he validates her regardless of how much the stuff annoys him.
Libby is now of an age to discover a favorite band and genre of her own. And I have a recommendation for her.
The odds of success are high.
Too high to ignore.
And it's almost Christmas!
UPDATE
All of your love and support has inspired me to share my secret. The impromptu guessing game turned out to be the best part. Thank you all for the wave of music from long-past and the super triggering memories 😂
u/CrispyPotatoSoftTaco, we must be spiritually connected.
Okay gang, please allow me to introduce/remind you all of Jump 5, the superior dance-pop band of the 00's.
You've definitely heard Spinnin' Around
Their greatest hit Do Ya
My all-time fave was All I Can Do
The did a couple Disney gigs that got them attention: Lilo and Stich X2 My favorite, Beauty and the Beast
They taught me some of the classics like We Are Family, Walkin' On Sunshine, Shining Star, and a couple other hard to find covers like Freeze Frame, and Friends.
There's also a DVD where they teach some of their choreography -- I can still do it all. (Of course I needed to be prepared for when they recruited me to be their 5th member after Libby left.)
I went to exactly 1 show because they never came to my region of the US. It was the last leg of their last tour -- they were all in their 20s ready to move on but still sweet af. It was me (15 yrs/old and 5'11) and one other VIP in the front row of a church and maybe 60 children under 10 screaming behind us. I felt so awkwardly fulfilled and too petrified to stand up, let alone dance along.
If I were to recommend a song to look up today, it would be Hello Goodbye -- a Beatles cover and reunion with Libby.
Yes... I call my niece "Libby" after my favorite member of Jump 5. I've been setting the groundwork for this ruse since she was born.
It might be a bit down the road -- but I will update cause yall earned it.
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do it.
I double-dog dare you!
I triple dog dare you!
DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!
legit do it! what band is it?
Im putting 3.50 on One direction
Bro, we're in our 30s. Put 3.50 on N'sync or something Lol
But both are wrong.
Ugh, can you DM it to me at least? Not knowing what band it is makes this story so unsatisfying.
Tbh, im still embarrassed about how much I loved them. I've admitted to very few people and didn't use a burner account lol
I'll think about it
98° or Hanson
Now we're talking. And no.
Is it O-Town?? Or S Club 7?
Holy throwback! Lmao my teen self is reliving TRL episodes rn
There ain't no party like an S Club party!
Is it New Kids on the Block?! PLEASE be NKOTB!!! It's definitely the Right Stuff
Sorry, im not that cool.
Dammit, I’m too old 😝
Is it Menudo?
Ha! I literally just messaged a friend who is still a Blockhead asking if she or anyone she knows wants my <cough> vintage <cough> memorabilia. We're talking giant buttons, trading cards, cassettes, even a couple of magazines.
I definitely had the tapes, a couple shirts, a wall full of pictures clipped out of Teen Beat type magazines. One of my friends had me beat by getting a body pillow with one of them on it.
Oooh! My daughter-in-law is a huge Blockhead! DM me if you still have anything!
Nickelback?
A few nickleback songs eventually made my list of shame. "They're not bad, but you listen to all their worst music" and such bs.
But no
Is it A * Teens. I loved A * Teens. Still secretly do
How You Remind Me is a good song. If you take any alternative rock enjoyer and erase all their knowledge/memory of Nickelback and then play them that song, they would like it.
i have a personal grudge against one of Nickelback's songs.
Being born in 1981, i attended the Polish equivalent of high school when 'this is how you remind me' came out. High school also means high school drama and a buddy of mine fell deeply in love with a girl. Said girl had no idea he existed and well... let's say the lad's hormones got the best of him.
Anyhoo, when we would hang out, he would play the song. Ok, kinda annoying but survivable, right? That is until he would sing along. And let me tell you - that boy could not sing if his life depended on it, making Quentin traumatizing the hills sounding enjoyable, especially to a person with even basic musical hearing.
So yeah nah, 'this is how you remind me' brings back some bad memories.
Rush
maybe NKOTB?
Boyz II Mennvmd u said pop, BBMak, Backstreet Boys?You're guesses are okay, but I saw myself joining the band someday and fitting in.
(It's not a boy band)
Pussycat dolls or Spice Girls
The Bangles
The Go-Gos
Salt-N-Pepa
???
Emo band? As a woman in her 30s who was relentlessly bullied by her siblings as a teenager I sure listened to a lot of Emo music. My Chemical Romance was my favourite.
Is it Dream? I still kinda like their music 😆
Is it B*Witched?
I never believed in love .. til now
LFO
Aqua
As a fellow “this is driving me nuts” I’ll embarrass myself in the hopes you will share. I, a construction worker, “manly man”, will listen to Cher and Mellissa Ethridge at every opportunity at max volume. Please share🥺
I look like a shorter, fatter Kerry King.
But the looks I get from people tend to happen when blaring the cuppycake song.
You're a good citizen, friend.
Update posted!
The real mvp!
I'm pushing 40 and fell in love with disc golf a few years ago, easily one of the most made fun of sports out there. Embrace what you love, doing so just makes you more you.
Tokyo Hotel?
It can't be that bad. Back in ye old days of my childhood, I had an obsession with.... Nelson. Like my whole room was covered in pictures and posters. I listed to them every day. All day. You wanna talk about embarrassing? Yikes.
Backstreet Boys? I'm in my 40s and love them still
Then introduce her to the Village People.
Oof, im in my 30s and the band i was obsessed with was TVXQ 🫢💕
Bet it’s 5ive or maybe Westlife?
The Moffatts? They were absolutely my shameful, secret obsession.
You have bided your time and waited patiently until the dish of revenge was ice cold. Serve it with relish.
This is the way.
r/beatmetoit
It is both a privilege and a duty, as an aunt, to teach the niblings behavior that drives their parents bonkers. This can include but is not limited to, fr In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida on kazoo, pop singing and dance, songs such as My Mother's Child Is a Savage and If All of the Kings Had Their Queens on the Throne, and drumming. Bongos or a bodhran would be a lovely gift. You can teach them to drum with a teaspoon (as parents diabolically lose the drumming stick!) Also, be sure to teach tissue combs as kazoos can be confiscated. If you are planning a long trip - say going to Ankor Watt, followed by the Great Wall and finishing up at Machu Picchu, "Teach yourself to bagpipe" kits start at $30 online. Just a thought.
"Niblings" 🤣😂😅 thank you
You understand. Such is the responsibility of the fun/crazy aunt, right?
It gets better though because we're all musicians. Shes already played with various instruments and heard lots of music. It's very important that she has a wide range of exposure to such things and knows what her options are.
Im the sister that would struggle to resist commenting to my brother at least ONCE “wow she really likes them, sure glad she won’t be bullied over it like some have been…” but i am also very very petty at times
"Sure hope no boys her age mock her relentlessly for it and make her feel like she has to hide her joy. Oh well, even if there is a boy like that, at least she doesn't have to live with him."
A well timed grin gives the same satisfaction w/o the fallout. 😉
Exactly! As aunts, we make sure that they have choices!
As a funny, my father, born in 1938, and I, born in 1961, did NOT agree about music. When Dad was putting his affairs in order, he specifically said that SadLocal is not allowed to choose the music, lest he be wafted to Heaven by the Grateful Dead. Good times, good times!
Is an otomatone part of her music education? 😇
https://i.redd.it/yb2c5gzrap3g1.gif
i had to look this up and i was not disappointed. thank you random citizen
niblings is mild. I'm Polish and, among other terms, we have 'kaszojad' (something between groat-eater and 'porridge eater') and 'gówniak' (shitling) and i think it's beautiful
now these are good, cause I can just not tell them what it means and it will drive them nuts
My nieces and nephew are the payback I never considered wishing upon my younger brothers and I LOVE IT for them. The brother that swore he would have five sons but ended up with two adorably sassy little princess-y girls? If it has sparkles or ruffles or sequins, they get it! Meanwhile, I’ve got my nephew calling his dad - my youngest brother - “bro” “broseph” and “brotato chip.” Just waiting to get him a little more into rock music before getting him the drum kit.
She needs a recorder if she doesn’t have one.
Also, tap shoes.
I agree with you wholeheartedly, and I, too, take this responsibility and duty seriously. I mean, who else is going to teach them all the stuff that Mom and Dad don't want them to know but is still socially acceptable?
I taught my nephews how to use blades of grass to whistle. I taught my niece how to make imaginary margaritas and daiquiris in her little toy blender. I got my other niece to name her baby dolls "Esmeralda Quackenbush" and "Bolivar Shagnasty" by telling her that those are her parents' REAL middle names. My favorite game, though, is called, "Let Me Tell You Something About Your Parents That They Don't Know About Themselves".
Every bit of this is perfection. You're killing it.
The grass whistle is a secret weapon....
If I ever need children's attention while outside, this works for *all of them* even the shitheads lol.
I tell them I'll show them how to do it if they * *insert the needed obedience here*.
Works every time, keeps them entertained, and only once in a while a kid can actually do it. The parents are impressed that I get them to listen and behave, but hate me when they find out how I did it...
My nephew is starting to develop the sarcastic kind of humor his mom does.not.get. I absolutely love it. It'll drive her up the wall.
Whatever band you are planning to introduce also include K-pop Demon hunters in the off chance your niece doesn't know them and their four songs in repeat yet.
This is what gave me the idea. Watching it i was like "damn I hope my brother is forced to listen to this every day..."
Please, PLEASE tell me you will at some point introduce niece to the caterwauling of Mariah Carey and her abomination of a Christmas album.
But im not trying to torture everyone else too 😂
Ok, good point🤣
I would do this after OP’s brother does something particularly asinine to OP. Then that holiday season he gets his karma yet again. Save that for a really really bad day lol
It's an incredibly useful threat. Usually I make threats with campfire songs and annoying games. I've never felt so powerful.
🤣 Like the neverending 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall?
PRECISELY. Even the best of them will burn out at 96 bottles, but you can start it again literally any time...
Even as a kid that song annoyed me😂
My non pop culture husband just discovered it and ....heeelllllp meeeeeee......
Aww, thanks for the award!
It's the sisterly thing to do *nods sagely
My older sister who used to relentlessly tease me when we were kids so when she had her daughter I introduced my niece to things that I knew would really irritate her mom. My first diabolical act was to teach my niece the theme to The Brady Bunch. Then because my sister doesn’t like rock music of any kind I made sure to get my niece into rock at an early age. In fact, I introduced her to a lot of my interests that my sister doesn’t like and I took great joy in doing so. My niece is 44 and my sister is still complaining (bwahaha)! I just tell her that she should’ve been nicer to me when we were kids.
Aunts and uncles of the world have an innate responsibility to sow chaos when and wherever they are able. My wife never wanted kids but she was the 'fun' aunt. One of her talents was babysitting the young ones while Mom and Dad had some alone time to do whatever or go wherever they wanted for an afternoon. The catch? Hey look, it's 4:30. Your parents will be here to pick you up at 5:00. Time for Coke and brownies!!
Fill the little ones full of sweets and just as they're at their most crazed level of sugar-high, pack them up and send them home. If you're especially evil you give them the 'fun' Christmas/birthday presents like, oh, say, a drum set, realistic sounding lawn mower toy, or my personal favorite - the Spiderman Web-Blasters that shoot silly string all over everything. The silly string that stains anything and everything it touches.
My sister gave my kids AN ACCORDION one christmas.
Lol this sounds like fun, but the well-being of the kids is my top priority. Regardless what their parents did to me, I want the kids to be happy and healthy. Causing legit problems isn't my shtick, but I find creative ways to profoundly impact the parents....
Edit: (the real shtick is that they like me more than parents cause I'm fun. One amazing babysitting night and they Constantly ask for me to the point of mom and dad pleading for intervention.)
To be perfectly honest, the silly string staining was not intentional on my part and since the niblings are in their 30s, we can laugh about it now.
As a goth: do it.
I hate bullies.
He never found out how hard i fell for emo music.
He showed me Broken with Seether and Amy Lee and I began learning to cope with major depression
As a baby bat seconding the goth above: do it
Could you update us with the results of this? I am absolutely chortling with glee over here. Like I did the "hee hee hee" and the "delightfully evil" hand motions.
This makes me very happy, thank you. I will definitely update -- though it may need some patience
I did it to my mom. She was taking her bestie's kids (about 15 years younger than me) on a road trip and was moaning about "having" to listen to their music. She NEVER let me pick the music in the car. So I snatched the keys late at night and loaded a Ricky Martin cd in the car queued up to Living La Vida Loca. She had to listen to the whole disc repeatedly on that trip. 🤣
Is there a black purse in here?
Speaking as someone who bought my pre teen nephew an electric drum machine for Christmas once. DO IT
You have a duty as an aunt. You must accomplish this great and petty task.😉
Thank you i needed this
Maybe he’ll actually learn a modicum of empathy if he sees how crushing his daughter’s interests hurts her feelings and how it would’ve felt for you. Do it!!! Enjoy it and relive your child hood by dancing and singing with her
I'd never do it if i thought he would respond that way
Oop sorry my b
I feel no shame about any music I like. Queen, Celine Dion, Enya, S Club 7, N'Sync, Jonas Brothers, ACDC...
Also, get her a karaoke machine 😈
Why stop with one pop band?
Make a list of all the ones listed in this thread and share with nibbling.
Annoy brother with a whole genre, not just one band from it!
Do it! My ex sister in law decided one year to give my kids noisy toys. Cool. I gave her son a mini drum set.
It is tradition in the family for each child's first Christmas to give them nothing but the noisiest toys. It honestly doesn't stop with the first, but once the kids are old enough to express what they like, it fades off for that kid.
Dainty Kane?
I must know who it issss!!
Or is it Sugababes??
Ooh. You're the fun aunt. What a wonderful role to have in a young person's life. You are quite correct, as the fun aunt it is your job to introduce your niece to all of the fun bands from your youth. Gotta respect the love of music! Have fun.
This would be the time to get her a recorder or harmonica. Learn a couple of songs with her. She’ll be excited to share with her dad, you and niece get bonding time, your brother is miserable.
Drums are great for improving coordination!
Also, bagpipes are an underrepresented skill that will surely go down well as an unusual addition to her CV as she gets older. Recorders are relatively simple to get the hang of playing (and why they’re such a popular starter instrument) but a clarinet takes work to not sound like a cat being trodden on.
OP, you need to tell us who the band are.
YESSSS you are my favorite type of person
This has been simmering in the back of my brain all afternoon and an idea finally popped out.
OP, were you into Kidz Bop? Please tell me that's what you're getting your niblings for Christmas.
I was moving on to emo music when i learned about kidz bop. that was for the *little* kids.... except for the usual 2 songs i liked on each album
Has to be Spice Girls
As someone with an Aunt who gave me a love of musicals with *check notes* Into the Woods when I was around five or six-ish - DO IT.
you have an amazing aunt
And update us!!!
It's petty. And I'm here for it! 💥💥💥🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Please update us after the holidays OP! My petty heart would love to know the fallout!
DOOOO ITTTTT!
It’s your job as an aunty to introduce your niece to everything your brother doesn’t like, whether it be music, films or books! It’s payback time hahaha!
Don’t forget toys that make noise!
RemindMe! 1 month
"All I want for christmas is..." "Last Christmas"
It’s spice girls.
I was a good Christian girl and the spice girls were too sexual to be allowed
Superchick or Zoegirl?
Omg superchick, damn that was a flashback
Point of Grace?
That means no Brittney either.
Jessica Simpson?
Ooh, goodness that limits options a lot. I’m really intrigued now…
Oh if that's the case I'd probably guess Amy Grant or Twila Paris, my religious friend's had their CDs growing up while I was listening to the spice girls.
BarlowGirl? Also grew up in a strict Christian house, and I was obsessed with them lol and Hillsong United, Stacy Orrico, Aurora, Superchick, Rebecca St James
We would have been besties
♡ I hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving, friend!! And a blessed new years! 🤗
😈 may the odds forever be in your favor... hope this will be successful!
how fervent life could be if we all had that kind of support
That is hilarious and 100% the way 🤣 but seriously youve got to tell us whats the band!! Too embarrassed to tell internet strangers come onnnnn pleaseeee lol also do remember the band was popular enough to have cds and stuff like you're not the only one who likes them i promise!! Just be like my husband who is loud and proud about how he looooved spice girls as a kid and had their cds lol he was embarrassed at first but music is music and its amazing so he proudly tells people now if it ever comes up!
I love you! I would not have guessed jump 5! What a legend thank you for bringing them back into our lives
The Dixie Chicks?!
the dixie chicks are sinners
\s
Omg I love this so much! Donor!
I love this and you are obligated to do it
Was it The Cheetah Girls?
This was also SUPER close
YESSSSSS DO IT
updateme
Do it!
Please be Nickelback
😂🤣🥹
It wasn't *not* nickleback....
I vote Klingon Opera but that's just me. 🙀
DO IT!
Updateme
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ git him
I do the same thing to my sister with her children. Bullied me relentlessly growing up so I got my nieces to love my reptiles and plushies. Soon it'll be video games like pokemon. May she forever be haunted by the things she hates
Updateme!
Please tell us his reaction.
PLEASE DO IT!!! Karma is best served with a CD player
im thinking the only way this can succeed is with a boom box...
I will put in for a gift card or whatever to get her a TON of merch for this band.
I'm gonna need it
My husband for awhile used to “poke fun” at things that were my interest.
We have a toddler. Who listened to k-pop in the womb. Toddler now LOVES kpop. My husband is suffering from the movie Kpop Demon Hunters.
Oh and my sass.
I love my husband but I love MY mini-me even more.
Congradulations! A mini-me is a precious reward
I love you for this. This is way better than a drumset.
As a lifelong Hanson fan and fellow Aunt to incredible nieces born of my brother, I respect the drip. Can’t wait to see if they can Mmmbop harder than me.
This is amazing
Hahahahhaa my nephew was growling death metal of OPETH “blackwater park” when he was 2 years old
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I was the first to have a baby in my family. My siblings loved to sugar her up and send her home for me to deal with.
I happily returned the favor when they had their own. I enjoy every moment of it.
Niece is gonna be like "K, thanks" and roll her eyes lol
Brace yourself sor the "omg, cringe"...
Paramore
Top 3 of all time. Unashamed. Love them, miss the old days.
I would buy incredibly annoying and very harsh sounding toys. And taught them to make slime at home gave each one a kit for every visit for anybody’s birthday. Well I just gave a gift.
Brilliant.
Updateme. Love this! LOL!
What a terrible band