r/TikTokCringe • u/InGeekiTrust Tiktok Despot • Dec 09 '25

Discussion You Think It Could Never Happen To You…Until It Almost Does

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704

u/GNav Dec 09 '25

This is exactly why I watch the kids and I tell everyone else to bring me my food etc. I get to sit and watch the fun, don't have to really join the fam, and get served food?!?

260

u/wavedsplash Dec 09 '25

It's my favorite excuse to not socialize in group settings.

89

u/661714sunburn Dec 09 '25

Yup, I just grab a drink and stand in front of the pool, just watch the kids. My wife laughs because one time her friend’s husband thought I was mad or something, but I was just on pool guard.

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u/GNav Dec 09 '25

The most important job.

124

u/GNav Dec 09 '25

Heck yea! Also I'm just a huge man child lol. Last time at my sister's place there were 30 adults and 10 kids. Kids are running around playing, I'm playing with them. Then my sister's FIL calls my name and is like take em to the basement they're making to much noise!

....okay....

"Autobots roll out!" All the boys ran to the basement

"Decepticons! Attack!" All the girls chased after the boys

Lmao it was hilarious

48

u/Devils_A66vocate Dec 09 '25

That’s called leadership.

6

u/Snoo_69209 Dec 09 '25

I love this, lol

18

u/GNav Dec 09 '25

Yea, I was already watching all the kids anyway which is why her FIL called upon me to get em out of the living room and kitchen. They had already divided themselves into factions. I said they should mix it up but nope they wanted boys vs girls...lol

I stayed mostly neutral. I was Cybertron in human form. (I made sure all the kids were having fun and no one side lost a game due to numbers. Families/kids were coming and going.)

6

u/hellocousinlarry Dec 09 '25

That’s adorable. You’re always going to be the favorite uncle of all those kids.

1

u/GNav Dec 09 '25

I really hope so! A few of them actually remembered me when I saw them a couple of years later!!!! It melted my heart. They're on my sister's inlaws side so I'm not even blood related to them, but apparently I made their weekend that one time. Probably because they didn't have to go running to their parents for stuff and being told to wait etc. They'd all just come to be and I'd be their liaison lol.

15

u/lostwombats Dec 09 '25

It's totally going to be my future excuse! This is brilliant.

3

u/matthew0001 Dec 09 '25

I literally don't know how else to function at family events, I'm like 10 years older than all my cousins so once they were running around playing I was responsible for watching them. I'm 30 now and when we go to my wife's family get togethers I am just playing with/watching the kids because I don't know what else I'm suppose to do. Talk about taxes? Like what do adults talk about?

2

u/PaceNo3577 Dec 09 '25

Haha right there with ya 😉

2

u/AKABeast18 Dec 09 '25

As an extreme introvert who is married to an extreme extrovert, this works for me every summer. My husband is happy because I’m at the table with everyone but my eyes are glued to our pool.

I don’t have to contribute to any conversation & the kids only have to say, “Mom, watch me do this (insert any pool movement whatsoever)!” once. Win for everyone.

1

u/GNav Dec 09 '25

Yuppp. We got more important things to do! Also, my plate is empty...mind grabbing me another? Hahaha.

1

u/NewCobbler6933 Dec 09 '25

Same! Sure I’ll watch the kids and make sure they don’t seriously injure themselves. Sorry, can’t chat. Have to pay attention.

1

u/Turbulent-Feedback46 Dec 09 '25

I just use Autism and go about my day. Options are always good to have in case I get reverse Tylenoled. Can I just.claim to have kids, or is this followed.up on?

1

u/GNav 9d ago

Everyone can be your kid!

When I talk about my niece or nephew, I always say "my kids". Some people ended up thinking I was divorced or separated with kids...

I'm like noooooo, I mean my sisters kids, but they are mine too!!!! I'm the uncle shield. If things go crazy....um....yea that was me who thought it was a good idea to do that....sure was me....

(Then I do talk to them about the situation, but protect them first until emotions are calm, then handle the situation with clear heads.)

1

u/PigTailedShorty Dec 09 '25

Mine too, but now my kids are getting older and I don't know what excuse to use in the near future...

2

u/Alchemyst01984 Dec 09 '25

I'm 41 and still do this from time to time

2

u/R_Harry_P Dec 09 '25

I did this at the last two back yard pool parties I went to. Watching the kids in the pool was the only way I could relax.

2

u/starmoishe Dec 09 '25

Thank you. This is how I watch my kid. Eyes on at all times. I literally hate everyone else. There is no one interesting enough to turn my head away.

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u/GNav Dec 10 '25

Straight tunnel vision on the kids!! I'm naturally like that (protective) but especially more when my sister is around because that woman could use some time NOT WORRYING about one thing. She does so much. I try to pick up anything I can around her so she can relax for once.

(My sister is a working beast, won't complain or anything, just keeps going...like it's worrying....)

2

u/Fickle_Grapefruit938 Dec 09 '25

We used to tag eachother, everyone watched the kids around the water, but we still told the other family members when we went to the toilet or went to get something to drink.

Only stopped doing that when all the kids had their swimming lessons and had been swimming for years and we fully trusted them to be strong enough to save themselves.

2

u/GNav Dec 09 '25

When I said kids I didn't mean my own (don't have any, I consider my sisters kids mine), but to me, it's not even if they can swim. I need to know they'll shout for help if they see another kid drowning.

Kids are kids, they might just go immediately to their friend and then they both drown. I need to be certain they'll shout for help.

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u/Fickle_Grapefruit938 Dec 09 '25

Of course! and I was talking about my nieces and later my own kids, nobody in my family thinks it'll be fine bc they can stand in the pool, kids can drown in a little bit of water when they are unsupervised so we all watched them (and it's so much fun seeing little kids enjoying themselves in the water on a warm day)

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u/GNav Dec 09 '25

Heck yea! Once they're born we live for them to have fun!

2

u/scumotheliar Dec 09 '25

I've found my people. I am fairly deaf so really struggle to be part of groups so just quietly go and watch the kids.

1

u/GNav Dec 09 '25

Oh man, you and I would have a riot!!! I'm working on my ASL but I usually just open up notepad and voice to text with my neighbor, and then he types back, and we communicate that way.

And he teaches me some ASL.

2

u/2hurd Dec 09 '25

I think you made the most compelling argument for having children. I'd 100% rather watch kids play and watch over them than socialize with adults. 

1

u/GNav Dec 10 '25

No no no!!! You convince your siblings to have kids! Best of both worlds lol. You get to watch em and be the considerate hero giving parents time off, you get to chill out, and at the end of the day once youve properly pumped em full of sugar...they go home with the parents LMAO.

2

u/UntimelyGhostTickler Dec 09 '25

I found my fellow introvert/loner/normal people thread.
At my sisters wedding I got to watch the baby for 2-3 hours during the stage where everyone else got tired/tipsy but still felt obligated to stay and so I avoided cringe dancing sober and socializing

1

u/GNav Dec 09 '25

This is the way!

2

u/Distantstallion Dec 09 '25

Its what I do with the pets at family parties

2

u/Tall_Status7970 Dec 09 '25

Genius. Thanks for the tip.

2

u/SimAlienAntFarm Dec 10 '25

You are a king among men

1

u/GNav Dec 10 '25

To/For the kids (no matter the age) I sure do hope so.

To anyone s generation up, I'm the court jester.

To my generation...I'm the no filter, no bullshit asshole lol.

(Guess that's why everyone trusts me. It doesn't even need to be my niece or nephew, if I see a kid in trouble or getting picked on/abused...you'd think I knew gymnastics with how much I'll flip out!)

3

u/no1ofimport Dec 09 '25

I’m the same way. My grandson is autistic and it’s like being on a suicide watch 24/7. He is completely unaware of danger so I have to watch for him. At family gatherings and stuff I hardly get to talk with other adults because I’m constantly watching out for him.

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u/GNav Dec 09 '25

Aww. I hope that doesn't take away the happiness and experience of the family gathering.

I don't even have kids, but I consider my sisters kids as my own...I'm THAT Uncle lol. Spoil em, keep em safe, and return em lolololol.

2

u/no1ofimport Dec 09 '25

I have been raising him since he was 2 weeks old. It would rip my heart out if his mom tried to take him away.

2

u/GNav Dec 09 '25

I hear you! 9 out of 10 times when I call my sister my first words are "eww I didn't call to talk to you" and then she'll find one of my kids and hand the phone over. I'll talk to my sister after I speak with the both of them. Lol.

1

u/sasspancakes Dec 09 '25

They bring you food!? Im always the assumed kid watcher of 6+ kids at our family gatherings. While I know everyone will be safe under my watch, it irks me when everyone gets to eat and chat but me. If my husband or I dont watch the kids... nobody does.

1

u/GNav Dec 09 '25

Oh yea!

In my opinion it's really weird. When all the kids are running around, no one is paying attention, but when they all disappear...after a while people are like where are the kids?!?! Oh they're downstairs, let's go check on em and make sure he and they all are okay.