I don't know what you were expecting.

Be a constant part of their life. Show up for birthdays and holidays. Babysit. Go on outings with the family.

Listen to them starting when they're young. Show an interest in what they have to say, even if it's incomprehensible toddler ramblings, or a ten minute monologue about Paw Patrol. Let them show you their favorite toys. Get excited if they show you art or crafts, and if they give you one, treat it like a museum piece.

Treat them like a person. Respect their preferences and bodily autonomy (no demanding hugs). Don't make fun of them or embarrass them. Engage in actual conversation.

Set respectful boundaries, but give them room to explore.

Be willing to intervene if another adult is making their life unnecessarily difficult or if other kids are bothering them.

Respect the rules and boundaries their parents have set. Yeah, it's easy to win kudos with kids by letting them have fun that their parents won't, and yeah, the fact that this isn't actually your kid means you can be more relaxed in some areas, and have different rules at your house than at home. But most of the time, you will be supporting your siblings in raising their kid, so like. Be respectful of that too.

Don't be a snitch if you don't have to. If you catch the kids playing a forbidden game, or teasing one of the niblings at Thanksgiving dinner, you don't need to make it a big production. Be the adult and handle the situation, then let it go.

Keep confidence. Goes along with the previous one, but for older kids. If a kid or teen comes to you with a concern or looking for advice, respect their privacy. Don't tell your sibling about it unless the kid gives you permission to.

Accept the fact that teenagers are contrary little shits who usually think grown ups are the most embarrassing entities in existence. They may not want to hang out with you. They may find it embarrassing if you share their interests.

Remember that even if you end up being the kid's friend, you are still also one of their adults. You have responsibilities to a kid if you want to be a big part of their life, in a way you wouldn't automatically have with another adult.

The metaphor goes even further. Addicts are still people, they deserve support and assistance. People don’t get addicted to something because they’re stupid or didn’t try hard enough. Terrible circumstances simply reached a point where being high was less painful than being sober. Nobody is immune to that.

Cult members are still people, they deserve support and assistance. People don’t get into cults because they’re stupid or didn’t look for red flags. Terrible life circumstances make one vulnerable to cult recruitment tactics, these groups are predatory, and actively seek to use from vulnerable people. Nobody is immune to that.

For example, I have misophonia (sensitivity to noise) and if you were to lock me in a room with someone who vocally stims there would be conflict between us. I could say nothing and just get overwhelmed, they could stop and holding themselves back they could get overwhelmed. There's not a person more deserving of accommodation, there's literally no point arguing over who is actually ableist and in the wrong here we are both literally just existing in a space but have traits that conflict.

this whole situation is very funny

Boop.

Love is the best scent #38.

The federal poverty line, the biggest determining factor for public assistance, has been kept artificially low for decades because it was based on the outdated assumption that food was the primary expense for most American households. For decades now, shelter has been the larger expense, but the federal poverty limit has still been determined based on the prices of food commodities.

Because food prices have recently gone up, the federal poverty line has gone up significantly as well. This means if you were previously slightly over the income limit to qualify for public assistance such as food stamps or medicaid, you likely qualify now. I'd like to encourage everyone who thinks they might qualify to apply for these programs. The qualification cutoffs are still absurdly low, so please be assured that if you qualify for assistance, you're not taking something you don't need or deserve.