Kids can sure have a ball for themselves making someone else feel small. Yes - THEY ARE CRUEL. They can feel empowered by doing what they did to you. But they live in the moment. That's probably not all they are capable of being.

You may need to get in touch with your inner mean child. I bet you don't think you have one. I bet that, as a kid, you were really nice to people. Well, you need to expand your repertoire of behavior. You might want to show your kids a new side of you that they assume could never exist. It doesn't exist yet. You are going to have to invent it. Sometimes, being aloof and cool and quite detached from kids who have been not very nice is exactly what they need. In fact, rather than detached, I would advise a little snootiness aimed right back at them.

My suspicion is that they are playing you. Maybe - be a bit less eager to please. Let them seek your attention. Then, when they do, say "I don't feel like talking much, and act indifferent." Let them be all confused wondering what is wrong with you. I have used this technique with kids and have found that it can work wonders. Like you can get to doing something that you know they would like to join you in and then act like you don't really want to be bothered with them.

Now, I will admit that I don't have children. I have made quite a study of kids though. I have had nieces and nephews eating out of my hand by turning the tables and letting them be the ones to plead for my attention. You have to have some kind of a prop to use. Like get some really fancy glittery stuff to do up your nails with. Let them watch you, while they eat out their hearts, hoping you will do their nails, too. You know how all the little girls often want to be friends with the most stuck up girl in their class. You might have to become that girl. Start putting those decals on your nails that you know they would just kill to go around sporting. Play hard to get. They don't think you're cool. That's because you are instinctively warm. Kids often don't respect that.

I just use nail decorations as an example. It could be any of a hundred things. They are 7 and 10, after all. Just get yourself some cool toys and act like you might share them if people suck up to you enough. I have had so much fun with this technique. It allowed me to learn to be the cool kid that I never was. Also, start contradicting things they say, just arbitrarily. Just mess with their heads. It's hysterical what arouses admiration in kids. Have fun with it.

Oh, let me add: I have worked professionally in the care of "troubled" children. So, when I say I have made a study - I really have. I care deeply about children. However, I've learned that a little reverse psychology can be quite effective.