Abali1:

OP, as an African, a Nigerian and a Igbo, your question makes absolute sense. We still practice extended family relations where I come from.
The saying "when you marry, you are married to the whole family" comes to mind in this situation. Infact when you get married you automatically become a son/daughter of the family you married into. The position of you spouse counts, unless you want alienate yourself from the family.

If you married a first daughter, it is only understandable that the younger ones will see you as a big brother who they can run to in times of need (though some abuse this situation). On the other hand if you marry a first son, know that your husband's siblings will only see you as a big aunty whom the expect to get gifts from time to time, cos they will think "it is our brothers money" (also some families abuse this).

Whether you like it or not, this things happen in marriage and if the couples don't sit down and discuss the issue of extended family, there is bound to be some misunderstanding in future and some times it has led to break up of marriages.

Abali1:

OP, as an African, a Nigerian and a Igbo, your question makes absolute sense. We still practice extended family relations where I come from.
The saying "when you marry, you are married to the whole family" comes to mind in this situation. Infact when you get married you automatically become a son/daughter of the family you married into. The position of you spouse counts, unless you want alienate yourself from the family.

If you married a first daughter, it is only understandable that the younger ones will see you as a big brother who they can run to in times of need (though some abuse this situation). On the other hand if you marry a first son, know that your husband's siblings will only see you as a big aunty whom the expect to get gifts from time to time, cos they will think "it is our brothers money" (also some families abuse this).

Whether you like it or not, this things happen in marriage and if the couples don't sit down and discuss the issue of extended family, there is bound to be some misunderstanding in future and some times it has led to break up of marriages.

Abali1:

OP, as an African, a Nigerian and a Igbo, your question makes absolute sense. We still practice extended family relations where I come from.
The saying "when you marry, you are married to the whole family" comes to mind in this situation. Infact when you get married you automatically become a son/daughter of the family you married into. The position of you spouse counts, unless you want alienate yourself from the family.

If you married a first daughter, it is only understandable that the younger ones will see you as a big brother who they can run to in times of need (though some abuse this situation). On the other hand if you marry a first son, know that your husband's siblings will only see you as a big aunty whom the expect to get gifts from time to time, cos they will think "it is our brothers money" (also some families abuse this).

Whether you like it or not, this things happen in marriage and if the couples don't sit down and discuss the issue of extended family, there is bound to be some misunderstanding in future and some times it has led to break up of marriages.