Do You Visit Family? - Page 2

2blonde · ‎03-10-2010

@Winkk Sadly, you are right. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but I do fondly remember those days of visiting. I grew up in NE Ohio, but we had a lot of relatives on my mother's side in Buffalo, so we went there a lot, and they also came to visit us often. I liked going there because we were in the country, and I always loved the city. They liked coming to us because we were in the country! It may have helped that my generous Uncle Tony used to bring me bags of assorted candy bars, and my grandfather gave me money and little sips of his beer!

I think Facebook has changed a lot of people's habits. I don't use it, and I'm not at all interested in that type of communication. Thankfully, my only living relative (little sis) lives only 15 minutes away and she also is not a Facebook user. She actually moved into our old house after my dad passed, so I can go back there any time I want! (It looked soooo much bigger when I was a kid!)

Laura loves cats!

Winkk · ‎03-15-2010

@2blonde wrote:
@Winkk Sadly, you are right. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but I do fondly remember those days of visiting. I grew up in NE Ohio, but we had a lot of relatives on my mother's side in Buffalo, so we went there a lot, and they also came to visit us often. I liked going there because we were in the country, and I always loved the city. They liked coming to us because we were in the country! It may have helped that my generous Uncle Tony used to bring me bags of assorted candy bars, and my grandfather gave me money and little sips of his beer!

I think Facebook has changed a lot of people's habits. I don't use it, and I'm not at all interested in that type of communication. Thankfully, my only living relative (little sis) lives only 15 minutes away and she also is not a Facebook user. She actually moved into our old house after my dad passed, so I can go back there any time I want! (It looked soooo much bigger when I was a kid!)

It's funny you should mention that @2blonde. My daughter bought my parents house and I'm now living back in that house where I grew up. She is single and I'm divorced so we decided to move into together instead of paying two mortgages. Over the years she has made changes to the house and we find items that bring back a lot of memories.

StylishLady · ‎03-11-2010

We visit family and friends back north at least once a year. I enjoy it. If it is not possible to stay at a homes, we get a room at a nearby hotel. We also love having them come here. We have a guest bedroom and bath and a sofa/bed in DH's den. Our younger daughter and family will be here at the end of the month.I'm looking forward to having them all here for a few days.

2blonde · ‎03-10-2010

@Winkk That is funny. I could imagine the two of us (my sis and me) living together as a couple of funny old ladies (I'm 10 years older), but first she'd have to get single (I could never live with her "husband") and she'd have to quit smoking!

Laura loves cats!

kitty60 · ‎03-13-2010

Sea Maiden I agree with you what is normal is what you are used to. When I was young I lived in a two family home grandparents and unmarried uncle upstairs. We lived downstairs and cousins lived two houses away. We always ran between houses but that all changed when my mother died when I was 10. Then we moved in with paternal grandparents and while we were close with them my maternal relatives slowly drifted away. To this day my brother and I speak about 3 times a year, he will call me on my birthday, I on his and perhaps Christmas. Other than that I can leave messages, texts, etc and on his whim he may reply. I do know though that when he needs something I will get a call, and I will be there for him. I only have one child but his wife is precious to us along with grands. She feels very strong for family and includes us in everything including her extended family activities. While I am not "close" to her family I do know them and communicate with them.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

When I was a child, my father's sisters and their families always came to our house every Sunday in the late afternoon, There were eight sisters, Sometimes his brother and his family would come as well. My father was the oldest.

I learned to bake cakes, because we always had cake for their visits.

When I got married, my DH and I and later with our children, would visit my parents and his parents on Sunday.

Our parents are gone now, but most of my siblings visit my oldest sister on Sunday, if they can.

i notice that in my neighborhood, adult kids come home on Sunday's to visit their parents. Mine usually stop in for Sunday dinner if we are home. We are away most weekends during the warmer months.

My family is very close on my father's side. We always have get together with the extended family.... cousins and their families.

It's not like it used to be, but we still visit when we can.

bootsanne · ‎01-21-2011

We used to visit when my parents were alive, There was 6 of us kids with big age differences. Even though we were a large Italian family, I only had 3 aunts and uncles and only 3 cousins. Of us 6 brothers and sisters, only 3 are still alive and one in pretty poor health. My brother and I have tried to maintain relationships with nieces and nephews but it hasn't been easy. I guess when you get older you see the shortness of days ahead, but the younger family members do not see this. I miss the days when people used to talk--actually talk--instead of texting. Ironically, when we do have a get together, we have a great time. It just gets harder and harder to get people to visit.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

I think one of the things that we learn when we do grow up in close knit families is that maintaining relationships and building a family doesn't just happen. Everyone has to work at it and some work harder than others....for the sake of the others. My parents are gone and the "mother" position became mine not so much because I am the oldest kid but because I had the personality for it and I wanted it. My younger sister and I are the ones who keep everyone together. But that comes easy for us because we grew up in an extended family. That's our normal. Not speaking to our siblings for year just wouldn't happen for us unless someone committed some egregious unforgiveable crime.

RetRN · ‎10-01-2013

@chrystaltree wrote:
I think one of the things that we learn when we do grow up in close knit families is that maintaining relationships and building a family doesn't just happen. Everyone has to work at it and some work harder than others....for the sake of the others. My parents are gone and the "mother" position became mine not so much because I am the oldest kid but because I had the personality for it and I wanted it. My younger sister and I are the ones who keep everyone together. But that comes easy for us because we grew up in an extended family. That's our normal. Not speaking to our siblings for year just wouldn't happen for us unless someone committed some egregious unforgiveable crime.

How interesting. You were just whining because your daughter and grandchild are visiting for a few days. How dreadful that a baby is teething and your daughter leaves food on the counter. Maybe someday you will learn what a real challenge is.

blackhole99 · ‎08-22-2013

I first noticed the visits and family gatherings at holiday time and reunions falling off after my grandmother died. After our mother died the visits pretty must stopped altogether and we only saw each other at family parties a couple of times a year.Now that we are all senior citizens and not in the best of health, we rarely get together. We do keep in contact via phone and speak at least once a month though.