Monday's Question of the Day - April 25, 2016

I can't believe it's the last Monday in April!!  This year is FLYING by!!

Do you enjoy big family events?

I live hours away from both my family and DH's; so getting to go to a family dinner or party has become such a big treat for us.  It feels like the older my kids and I get; the more I miss it.  I'm mostly a home-body; but I do enjoy these laid back affairs my family puts on.  My cousin just threw an amazing first birthday party for her son.  I saw family I don't typically see when I do make it up for trips.  The food was SO good and my kids had a blast!  (There was a bouncy house. )  DS has a birthday coming up and it just highlights the lack of family we have here.   The kids didn't want to come home and neither did I to be honest.  Although I missed my bed.    I guess now that there is a new generation to our family (with more on the way...just not from me!!); those times together are even sweeter.  It's just so nice to be included instead of seeing everything via Facebook.     No family is perfect and of course that saying "there is one in every family." applies to mine too; but mostly things are very enjoyable when we are all together. 

I enjoy parties where people are sober and acting responsibly. I had my wallet stole at a party with friends many years back . Parties at my house usually end in chaos example broken window from a wrestling match. My friend drove a car threw my fence accidentally while drunk. I like get togethers at the lake better where no personal property can be damaged.

Our family get togethers usually include some drinking; but nothing wild.  Your more likely to hear some sort of rant (often political; but not necessarily ) than to see someone drink enough to cause a scene.     My cousin's husband and friend are into brewing their own beer and things like that; but most are either firefighters, nurses, EMTs, etc so your more likely to hear a story about the worst they've seen than to see them hit that level!    As my cousin once said; once she hit 21; getting drunk wasn't exciting anymore.    I'm not kidding when I tell my parents they had it easy with ME as a teenager. 

I am really not into the big family gatherings at holidays; except at Christmas Eve. On that day, my cousin has a really nice family party. It is really nice. His in laws are there. They are such nice people. It is a real 'family" time.

I guess I am just stuck in the mud. Not much for mingling, or partying..even when I was younger. 

It is always the same thing at each family party. I feel like an outsider. I am an only child, so these people are cousins whom my mom and dad were never really friendly with. They either work in teaching, or in Grocery chain, produce stuff. They know a lot of the same people, as friends. They have a lot in common to talk about. No one was in the medical field, so they cannot relate to me. I also do not have any kids. They all have kids. The youngest is off to college in the fall. It is now time for the next generation--the grand kids are starting, as of next month. My cousins daughter is pregnant. 

They also travel a great deal. I do not. I had taken care of my dad for a long time. Now I am on a limited income and really cannot afford to travel. So it is very hard to have conversations. I find I bond better to the people who are not 'family'.. Being more quiet and reserved does not work. My relative are boisterous. 

I am usually just there, hanging out. I am know to be he 'helper' because it gives me something to do. 

The issue is also, distance. I have to travel an hour for visits, sometimes more.. That is a long way when it is a holiday, or even any day for a visit. 

Then there is the issue of drinks. My family are what I would consider, 'good' drinkers. Beer more than wine. I drink wine, but feel I cannot really enjoy myself because I am aware of the driving distance, and the time (rush hours). 

I hate driving home at night; especially long distances~~ add in traffic..well..it is just bad. 

I do force myself to go to some of these things. I know they invite me, as a way of obligation ~~~ at least that is what I feel ..My dad felt the same way. 

Guess you could say I really have a weird family. We do not have any contact, unless it is a holiday.. 

I have learnt that you can chose your friends but not your family......

MoochNNoodles said:

 
I can't believe it's the last Monday in April!!  This year is FLYING by!!

Do you enjoy big family events?

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No.

It sounds like you're having a great time with your family events--that's wonderful.   

no! i prefer to spend holidays, birthdays, and special occasions with my cats.

now if there was some family gathering or another for my mom and aunt/her twin, i would try to attend that. but my mom and aunt live about 12 hours or so drive from me.

No I  only go if it's a wedding or some far-flung relative is visiting or a funeral or some other event Mom gets invited to and drags us along. The last big event I attended was a 60th birthday party for a first cousin. There were way too many kids under the age of 6 there running amok. Most of them are third cousins to me but I have no idea which kids belong to which second cousins with whom I kind of grew up with My Mom is great great aunt to these third cousins.

mickNsnicks2mom said:

 
no! i prefer to spend holidays, birthdays, and special occasions with my cats.

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Me too. Just me being an introvert. I don't even like small parties or gatherings.

NO. I can't deal with all the phoniness that goes on.

My husband had a large family, and when we were married and lived not too far away, there were many great get-togethers. I enjoyed them and I really miss catching up with everyone and seeing everyone's children go up.

No  I am an introvert through and through, I find large groups really draining.

I enjoy small family gatherings, maybe dinner together with my sister's family. Or maybe a dinner together with my son's family. Or just three of us when we get together with our daughter. Large gatherings, no. Somebody else can do those. :lol3:

I'm really not a huge fan of them. :nod:

I can do without them.

jcat said:

I can do without them.

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That is pretty much how I feel. It would be nice to have a real close family, but in my case that is not to be. 

I have pretty much done without them. I do not hear at all from one side of the family~~ unless it is a holiday..or an occasion when gifts are required...nice (sarcastic)

The other side, there are only 3 which I keep in semi touch with, mostly by phone.

I'd like it better when my whole family gets together if some folks didn't hate each other :lol3: I like gatherings where my nephews are there - they're all my age - but like smaller gatherings with individual siblings at a time. Or maybe two at a time. I have two sisters and two brothers, so when there are two of them, along with their spouses, that's a lot of people to me!

I much prefer family gatherings with my out of state family, I think. Maybe because it happens so rarely :lol3:

I love them, everything about them. I love planning them, I love cooking for them. I love it when everybody comes to the house and we sit around the pool or go out in the back yard and just sit and talk. I love everybody hanging out in the kitchen and gabbing. I love catching up with what's going on with my nieces and nephews and their families. 

And it's not just at our house; my sister plans her share of parties, too. We're starting to collect a lot of really crazy pictures of the family at our get togethers, too. Somebody's always doing something crazy.

Yeah, they're a lot of work to put them together, but I don't mind it.