Cluelss forgetful uncle needs help getting back on his niece's goodside. Need womanly advice.

[De Leonist]

So I forgot my niece's birthday, she turned 10 this month. She is now very, very upset with me Perhaps this is small potatoes but here is the thing. I'm wrapped around my nieces' fingers, and they know it. Nuclear War could decimate the world. Cthulu could return to devour the souls of all humankind. Arby's could stop serving curly fries. All these horrid, horrid events could take place and yet none of them seems as horrible as the fact that one of my nieces no longer considers me her favorite uncle. I don't honestly know how to fix this. So please oh gentle, fair, kind and wise women of DU help this poor, clueless, creature before you with suggestions for quelling a 10 year old girl's anger.

[enough]

1. I think it's great that you're focused on your relationship with her and thinking about it.

But it does seem a bit over-the-top for your niece to be so very angry about your forgetting her birthday. I could see her being annoyed, and maybe having her feelings hurt a little, but a friendly sincere apology from you along with the belated birthday present ought to be able to clear the air.

My advice is to gently express your apology, to tell her how much her friendship means to you, to give her the present, and go from there. If she accepts this, you could take her out for a casual meal or treat of some sort. If she doesn't accept it, she's going to have to take some time to figure out some other way to deal with disappointments.

[abakan]

2. I think you shouldn't worry so much...

Apologize for forgetting and let her understand that people forget sometimes, which is no reflection of what she means to you. I would let the whole thing drop after that. She is ten years old and this will not change the way she feels about you once her ten year old brain forgets too. If you let it lie it will die, keep bringing it up and she will remember. IMO