How close are you to your family?

rosehawke

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I avoid my in-laws if at all possible---they're all loons
. My Dad's deceased and was pre-deceased by his only sibling brother who had no kids, his side of the family was never very big anyway. I was never really close to my mom although I did the dutiful daughter thing when she was living in a senior apartment for a couple of years, getting her groceries and such, but I finally refused to take her out anywhere as she would always get in a fight with some clerk for no reason. She's in a nursing home now not far from my brother, but a 2.5 hour drive from me and I haven't seen her since she's been in there (April.) Just not really comfortable with my brother and his wife they're so mainstream
normal. My sister and her hubby on the other hand we are very close to, and see them whenever we can and e-mail and call. Much more "like us"
as it were.
 

girlieq

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I don't see my parents often, but I try to see my kid brother as often as possible. He recently turned 15, so I've been going over on Sunday mornings while the 'rents are in church and giving him driving lessons.

My older brother is pretty cool, for a banker, but I talk to him in frequently because of the cost and time zone differences. We're close enough, though.

I love my future in-laws, and I probably see them (of my own volition) more often than I see my parents. Both they and my parents live in town. The future hubby is in the Navy, so I'm also making up for a bit of empty-nest syndrome.

My mother's side of the family is great (except the line that got stuck with the family farm... they're boring yokels). One of my mother's brothers is pretty cool, the other two are a bit weird, but whatever. And her dad's siblings are great. Two of his brothers married two sisters, and they live in RV's and travel everywhere with their cats. Very fun people. And my mother's parents were very cool. The both died of cancer a few years ago, though.

My father's side of the family... they're weird. Like, picture the steryotype of a backwoods, inbred hillbilly town, and you pretty much have an idea what they're like. One brother (besides my father) escaped, and he's a professional photographer in DC, but the others live on large properties in Kansas, and have their own shooting ranges. I try not to see them too often.
 

emb_78

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My brothers moved to Cali to persue their dreams... They are doing great!! One has worked on a movie with Jack Black and the other is an editer for the real world!!
I miss them both dearly.
It sucks only seeing them 1-2 times a year!!!
 

cincocatz

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I am adopted and don't know birth father. Estranged from birth mother and her family. My adopted father passed in 99 and my adopted mother & I are mending an estranged relationship for past five years. When she found out my husband to be was black she told me to never bring him to her house. She 'd never met him. So, I never took him OR myself til Thanksgiving last year. We have two sons from my first marriage, two grandsons, and all our lovely animals and that is all we need. #$*& the rest!
 

sofiecusion

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I didn't meet my dad until I was 13. My mom worked with his sister when I was younger though, so I knew her. My dad, his wife, and their kids stopped inviting me over when I got them a set of regular kitchen glasses, and didn't get them and the kids individual gifts. I was 13 and had no job...they claimed "We each got you gifts. I thought...if you would have paid for me to pick out gifts like you did them, I would have. My stepmom also asked why my mom wasn't on birth control. I was 13!!! It's not my fault he suggested my mom put me up for adoption, or else lose him!!! I do not talk to him, but his parents have always treated me the same as any of their other grandkids, as does his siblings. I see them once or twice a year, but they also live in Missouri (for farming) for 6 months a year. I never even get so much as a card from my dad, and I stopped sending him cards as well.....his loss right?

I am closer to my mom's side. My grandparents pretty much raised me. My older sister was raised by my Great Grandma who lived next door. My mom and I see eachother once a year if we're lucky...and talk on the phone once in awhile. Things have changed between us since my brother died in 98. My mom irritates me because I can't stand her new boyfriend. She dumps him and he always comes crawling back. UGH!!! My mom lives in Green Bay, as do both of my sisters. My older sister has a cat named Rascal and lives by herself. She's a workaholic (has 3 jobs) so we never really talk. Since my mom's boyfriend came back, my younger sister (13) stays with her dad most of the time. My aunt's and uncles aren't close either. I'm close with my Grandma, but that's it.


I'm probably closest with Scott's family. His mom has 10 brothers and sisters. It's so nice to spend time with a normal family!!!

His mom treats me like the daughter she's never had, and I'm good friends with one of his aunt's. Scott gets along well with his brother even though they seem like opposites (I guess its the shared love of NFL football that keeps them close).
 

lndscpsam

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I only get to see my parents 1 time a year. They live in Massachusetts and I now live in Minnesota. We talk frequently though. I do wish we lived closer. Since my Mother in law passed, I never see any of my husbands family.
 

eburgess

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We see our Dad's side of the family alot more often then our Mom's side. It is simply because of location. Mom's sister and late brother both live about 2 hours away, while my Dad's family lives close by.
 

catlover67

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I see my parents (not a choice on the poll) all the time but I hardly ever visit the in-laws (or care to). I lived at home (give or take a few months here or there) for thirty-six years. My mother is my best friend and I was pretty happy living with her and my father. I got married and moved out almost a year ago. My husband doesn't even enjoy spending time with his family, so we don't see them much.

I go home to my folks every chance I get. They live near a lake so I go swimming, stay in my basement apartment, visit with my mother, and basically don't have a care in the world. I get re-charged, then I go home to hubby and the responsibilities of life.
 

fwan

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My mothers side of the family dont care about me or my mother.

My dads side of the family i talk to once in a while

My parents i usually see every second weekend
 

KittenKrazy

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I see my parents almost every day.

My dad's side of the family, I see about once a week, mom's side, once or twice a year....has been over 15 years since I spoke to my maternal grandmother.
 

icklemiss21

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I am really close to my mum and sisters even though I very rarely get to see them as they all live on the other side of the world - but we speak on the phone 2-3 times a week usually. The rest of my mum's side of the family I speak to about once a month.

I very rarely speak to my dad's side of the family (with the exception of one of his sisters who married my mum's little brother).

My BF's family I see on a daily basis but would am not close to them at all - its just because we all live really close and work together etc

So I don't know!
 
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vespacat

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Originally Posted by Kellyyfaber

I am not very close to my family. My dad's side didn't want anything to do with me until I graduated from college
------too late now!!! I've experienced a lot of hurt from my family and just found it easier on myself to stay distanced a bit from them.
That's sad to hear, Kelly.
 
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vespacat

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Originally Posted by boys mum

both my parent have died,i have a sister who i will NEVER ever talk to again!! i 1/2 bro who i see on accasions.1 full brother who i see often,
as for my kids.er 1 lives nearby.the youngest lives quite away but we meet up about every 3 weeks or so.
my oldest wont talk to me (her choice not mine) and my son wont talk to me cause my ex wont let him??

i get on well with my MIL,see my BIL sometimes and dont have anything to do with my SIL
Sounds similar to my situation, minus the kids and in-laws.
 
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vespacat

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Originally Posted by cincocatz

I am adopted and don't know birth father. Estranged from birth mother and her family. My adopted father passed in 99 and my adopted mother & I are mending an estranged relationship for past five years. When she found out my husband to be was black she told me to never bring him to her house. She 'd never met him. So, I never took him OR myself til Thanksgiving last year. We have two sons from my first marriage, two grandsons, and all our lovely animals and that is all we need. #$*& the rest!
Thanks for sharing.
That's right, what you have now is all you need.
I have a mentor/close friend I call family, and that is fine by me.
 

xdx

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I see my inlaws infrequently. My mother died a couple of years ago. I have no contact ith my Dad. I do not get on ith my sister so do not see her and I have no idea where my brother is.

My family is my wife and my cats.
 

antares

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I did not read all replies in this thread. I have no contact to my family, we have been four, two brothers and two sisters, both of my brothers are gone. My sister is totally other than I.
 

lionessrampant

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My dad's family (my big fat Italian family) is ALWAY AROUND no matter what! They have come to every concert I've played in, every religious ceremony (I was raised, not surprisingly, roman catholic) and every little thing anyone in our family has done, everyone else is there.

I love it and I hate it
They are a nice group of support to have, but My Big Fat Greek Wedding, will inevtibly become reality for me, only with Italians, not Greeks.
 

sillyjilly

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I could actually care less about most of the people in my family. I do have one Uncle and his wife that i like quite a bit but I don't get to see them very often!! I like my brothers girlfriend but not really my brother so that is sucky!! Thats about it~!
 

ilovecats

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I'm 14, so I still live with my family, and I LOVE my parents, but we aren't as close as we should be.
 

cyberkitten

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I see my family often. I am a Maritimer and we tend to be family oriented - it's not uncommon for patients to ask me who my dad is or they may already know! And I am IDed as the grand daughter of or daughter of, sighhh! I am very close to my parents and even to my bf's parents! I have a sister who lives in Boston but for us in this region, that's practically home, lol (There are often more ties beteween Boston and Toronto here and of course we are mostly Red Sox fans tho we were happy when the Blue Jays won,


I cannot imagine not being close to my family - including various and sundry relatives. This region is very close knit.
 
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