Which cousin?

It really can be difficult. My mom has lots of first cousins whom I always address as "Cousin So and So", and my husband just can't figure out how exactly I'm related to them, their children, and grandchildren.

That chart makes my head spin!!!

I always thought first cousins were your aunt/uncles kids, second cousins were your first cousins kids, etc. Is that what this chart says?
Okay, so a first cousin once-removed is your great-uncle or great-aunt's kid?

I usually just call everyone who isn't something easy (sister, mother, father, grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle) my cousin. Hardly anybody I know understands all those other terms anyway! I call great-uncle and aunts just uncles and aunts. Its too confusing for family to have all these labels!

I have a hard time figuring out how I'm related to some of my own family, I feel your husbands pain jcat!

I have a great aunt and great uncle who are my parent's age. This is becasue my maternal great grandma was still having babies as my grandmother was getting married and making babies of her own. Uncle Bud is my dad's uncle, making him my great-uncle. But just for ease of title, I just call him Uncle Bud. He's actually a couple years younger than my dad!

I think I have that sorted out right... it is very confusing.

i also have a famous first cousin, three times removed... but she was born in 1972 and died in 1953. (or is it 3rd cousin, once removed... I'll have to look at my mom's records... sheesh)

Since my parent's generation are all much older, I missed out on meeting many of the others. Bud is very cool, though. I'll actually be seeing them this summer up in Wisconsin. For a couple in their 70's they keep moving and are very cool. I can only hope to be like them when I'm in my 70's.

Amanda

"but she was born in 1972 and died in 1953."
WHAT???? Is that why she's famous, because she died 19 years before she was born???

My mom's Uncle is also a couple years younger than her. Most of my first cousin's kids are my age rather than younger, too.

My Dad was the youngest of a big family, and I was born when he was 53. My mum was 30, and younger than my cousins on my dads side, so I called them aunts and uncles (as you did in those days).

This new relative is the daughter of a cousin from my dads family, that I didn't know about. She lives in Manchester and I'm in Chester, so we intend to meet up in Manchester at some time this summer. She's 5yrs younger than i am, so I'm hoping we get on ok. I'm quite shy, and sometimes waffle on to save an uncomfortable silence.

I'll let you know when I'm going to meet her, I might need some vibes. Damn this shyness

Originally Posted by jcat

It really can be difficult. My mom has lots of first cousins whom I always address as "Cousin So and So", and my husband just can't figure out how exactly I'm related to them, their children, and grandchildren.

Click to expand...

My mother grew up in a small town where most of my grandparents siblings also settled. One Thanksgiving after my husband and I were just married, we had the holiday dinner with Grandma. They were throwing out names right and left. I had to keep hubby apprised of who was related and who wasn't. He was totally confused by the end of the evening. Even now, after 10 years of marriage, he can't keep all of my cousins straight.