Family is Everything!
My dad was one of eight children and I grew up with dozens of cousins. Four of us were all born within a few months of each other and have basically been a part of each other’s lives from birth onward. We attended the same schools, worshiped at the same church, spent holidays together and often vacationed at the same time. Growing up with a large extended family was one of my greatest blessings. I missed that for my children. Wayne and I don’t have family in the Seattle area and our children didn’t have the opportunity to know their cousins the same way I did. Even now as an adult I am still close to my cousins. Family is everything.
Posted on April 19, 2016 in Blog
April 20th, 2016 at 5:56 am
I enjoyed having cousins who were “stair steps” to myself and 3 sisters. For family gatherings and vacations we always had an age-matched cousin for games and sleep-overs. I am glad that my daughter and sons are close to her cousins, via technology, if not often actually together. I organize to get my grandkids together so they will know their cousins. It matters.
April 21st, 2016 at 4:28 pm
My heart breaks. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister. I keep in contact with my brother who along with me
has been disowned from our family. We were told by our mother to not attend her funeral when she passes.
We will be told to leave. I have had to have back surgery and been in the hospital a few times. My mother font care.
It breaks my heart. Thank God for my husband, 2 sons, 2 daughter-in-laws and 3 grand kids. Don’t know what I
would do without them.
April 29th, 2016 at 1:49 pm
I grew up very lonely. My brother is 11 years older than me. I had a few friends, though they came dear because I was horribly shy so making friends was really hard. One friend had 9 brothers and sisters, a few others had 4-5 siblings. The Greek family across the street had a huge extended family. I longed to have more siblings or at least a handful of close cousins. And I did HAVE cousins – while my dad was an only, my mom was one of seven siblings – but they were all in England, and when I grew up, world travel was not for people in our income bracket. I have connected with my extended family as an adult but it really isn’t the same as having brothers and sister close to your age or cousins you can spend a summer with. When I started my own family, I had five, all close together (including a set of twins) in age. And I’m happy to say that while they’ve scattered a little (one twin married a marine and they move a lot), they are all still fairly close.
April 29th, 2016 at 2:39 pm
I grew up with two siblings and lots of cousins. We all drifted away from each other, even my siblings. My kids didn’t have any close family growing up, other than my husband and I. I wish they had cousins and grandparents. Both sets of grandparents weren’t able to be there for the kids for different reasons. This is where the Body of Christ should fill in the gap. If you move around a lot (military families, etc) that makes it difficult, if not impossible to form close, tight knit community with the local church.
For me personally, I miss having close family ties and wish we were able to give our kids those precious memories that I treasured growing up. I miss having close family myself and often wish I could just pick up the phone and talk to my siblings or cousins. I think societal changes (traveling/moving for work) have had tremendous negative impacts on families. Women don’t get together like they used to and visit over snapping beans or canning. Everyone seems too busy.
April 29th, 2016 at 3:28 pm
Debbie I grew up the same way. My mom had 7 brothers and sisters. I had tons of cousins. We were together all the time. More like brothers and sisters. We are still very close. I have one brother who had the kids. They live over an hour away. I could only wish that my kids had the same connection I had worth my cousins.
April 29th, 2016 at 4:05 pm
I was a lucky one. The oldest of 7,(mom had 5 in 5 years) we were very close. We had a lot of freedom, and loved being with each other. We also had cousins that we visited often. A Mom who was always there, a Dad, who knew how to make us feel special. We were poor money wise but I did not really know we were until I was older. It seems we had everything we needed.
April 29th, 2016 at 5:26 pm
Good morning Debbie,
I was born in Kinglassie, Fife, Scotland in 1945, just after the War. My Mum had 9 brothers and she was the last one to be born. My Dad was the oldest in his family and had 3 brothers and one sister.
We came to the United States in the early part of 1950 when I was just 4 years old and my sister was just a few months old at the request of a friend here to come and take care of an aging aunt of my mums. To make a long story short we went back to Scotland the same year then came back in 1954 (with another baby sister). My dad bless his heart worked 2 jobs to support us and mom was able to stay home with us.
Being able to live in America has been a blessing for all of us. It took a lot for dad and mum to give up their life and family to give their 3 daughters a better life. The only downside for me was leaving my Gran.
I lost my dad 12-16-2008 at 97 1/2 and Mum on August 12, 2012 at 95 years old. I miss them both so much, but thank them from the bottom of my heart for giving up so much for me to have such a wonderful life with my husband,daughter and son. happy Mothers Day.
April 29th, 2016 at 8:40 pm
I grew up with four. older brothers so I can say I was always loved & protected
My dad told me he wanted a girl, and his wish came true when I was born
My mom came from a family of thirteen children,so I had a lot of cousins , then my oldest brother had seven children
I also have six nieces and seven nephews We all get along around Christmas-time for a big family party
Both my parents are gone but my brothers are here when I need them
Judy Scott