6. When they make mistakes, you look better. Okay, it may seem mean-spirited but, when one of your cousins screws up royally, you could come out smelling like a rose.
7. They make fabulous mediators between you and your parents. Sometimes, it seems like your parents are incapable of understanding you. During such occasions, you can sometimes call on a cousin for help, particularly if your cousin is a little older than you. They can translate between you and your parents.