Are you close to your family?

@JenInTN (27514)
United States
December 24, 2008 5:41am CST
Do you have a close relationship with your family? When I ask this,I mean like your mom,dad,sisters,brothers. I haven't had a close relationship with mine since I was a teenager. I miss it sometimes but it's been so many years. The holidays always makes me consider this.
12 people like this
62 responses
@mjoy07 (202)
• Philippines
24 Dec 08
yes, i am close with my family, I have 2 siblings, my twin sister and my younger brother, we spent every christmas together, I alwaya thanking God for giving me a family like mine, They are my treasures in this world. We shared everything, and i love seeing my parents that are still together and happy still with each other after so so many years of marriage.
3 people like this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Dec 08
I'm really happy for you. Alot of people wish for happy families. I bet you are very close to your twin.That's supposed to be a very close bond.Thanks.
@vidhyavini (6111)
• India
24 Dec 08
I used to be always close to my brother. He is my first and best friend actually. So I used to share everything with him and obey only him. Lol. Other than that, I was not very close with my parents and my elder sister. When I was doing my 10th grade, my sister got married and when a baby was born to her, she was at home with us. So I got close to my sister only after she had a baby. Hehe. I never share anything with her or anyone else. I used to tell everything only to my brother. Whatever problem it might be. I never share with them. I considered my friends to be important when I was a teenager. Only now I realize that family is much more than that and I am now too close with my family.
3 people like this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Dec 08
At least you are close with them now.Sometimes it takes a while I guess.Thanks for responding.
1 person likes this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
25 Dec 08
I am blessed to have always had a close relationship with my family. I would not have survived much grief and sadness without them. They are my rock.
2 people like this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
25 Dec 08
Well, if you ever need a rock, you can always contact me. Family is not defined by blood but by heart.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
25 Dec 08
That's very nice of you. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
25 Dec 08
You are truely blessed. I can remember times in my life when I could've used a rock. I'm glad you have that. Thanks for the response. Enjoy that family too.
2 people like this
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
26 Dec 08
My parents are both deceased as are my husband's parents. I have 2 brothers who live in other states that I talk to on the phone 3 or 4 times a year. All my husband's siblings are deceased, but he has a niece and a distant cousin that he talks to every week to 10 days. We have 2 children and 5 grandchildren. None of them live nearby. As a rule, we talk to our daughter almost daily, except when she is working, which is 4 or 5 days a month. Our son calls weekly and sometimes sends an e-mail between phone calls. All our grandchildren are still living at home, but I doubt that we'll hear from them much once they move out. I'm glad that we have a digital phone with unlimited long distance. At the present time, we are pretty close to our children, but I don't feel all that close to my brothers. My husband talks on the phone to what family he has left, but he tells them that he will never return to his home town, even just for a visit.
2 people like this
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
27 Dec 08
No, my brothers and I were not very close as children. They were only 18 months apart and had each other as playmates. I was several years older. Yet, there was not enough difference in our ages for me to feel motherly toward them. I usually thought of them as nuisances, especially the youngest, with whom I am now the closest.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
26 Dec 08
Thank you bellis. It's nice to have that unlimited long distance for keeping in touch. Sometimes people just grow apart. Were you and your brothers close when you were younger?
1 person likes this
@wanted123 (121)
• India
24 Dec 08
yeah i am very close to my brother and father because they are my idol who teach me to live my life in well manner and even they teach me how to interact with people and they are the one who saved my life when my life was in danger condition so i think they are my role model and i think i am doing my best to retain my position in their mind instead of being a bad child i am living well not even wasting my single minute in being bad ..all my time i am praising my idol because they are my soul where i could harvest
2 people like this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Dec 08
Good for you wanted. I hope you and your family continue to be close. Thanks for responding.
• India
24 Dec 08
yeah you are correct this happen usually when the mom of a person loves any one else than his father and this happens only for them but due to this their children will suffer so i dont think sometime mom is good sometimes it may be not
• United States
24 Dec 08
I know what you mean about the holidays always making you consider your relationship with you family. I have never really been close to my family, except my sister, but ever since I left my good for nothing husband and moved away from them we have never been further apart. My sister won't speak to me and has not spoken to me in over a year. I miss her like crazy.
2 people like this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Dec 08
Awww.maybe you should call her. I bet she thinks about you too. Thanks for responding and have a Merry Christmas.
• United States
24 Dec 08
She still talks to my kids but if they hand the phone over to me the most she will say to me is "here's mom". All because I moves MY kids away from her.
@Crysi23 (515)
• United States
25 Dec 08
I don't have a close relationship with my dad's side of the family because they ruined my trust and to me they are not family. But I do have a close relationship with my mom. But I have a better relationship with my in-laws than I do with anyone in my family. My in-laws treat me more like family than my dad's side of my family.
2 people like this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
25 Dec 08
I'm glad you fit in so well with your in-laws. I think we all have a place in life. I'm glad you found yours and you do have a sense of family. Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Dec 08
Not really, I doesn't bother me though, I just go through life accepting it. I'm sure its hard for other people to understand. I'm an indentical twin and we used to be close but marriage and kids and stuff just gets in the way. I've always been somebody who is on the outside and called to do things that other people would decline.
2 people like this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
25 Dec 08
I accept it too and have for a very long time. I do wonder what it would be like sometimes if I had stuck around. It does suprise me about you and your twin not being so close. Usually twins stay very close. Thanks for sharing gitfiddleplayer.
1 person likes this
@kfbella (22)
• China
24 Dec 08
I am kindly alone sometime ,I am the only child in my family ,my mom was working so far from my dady and I .so I wasn't that close to her .until now ,I still felt she couldn't understand me totally and she doesn't know me .I used to close to my dad ,but since I grow up ,we don't that close too .now I am working far from them alone ,I felt lonely .
2 people like this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Dec 08
I'm sorry your feeling lonely. It's tough not being close to your family sometimes.Especially during the holidays. Hang in there. Thanks for sharing.
@missybear (11391)
• United States
24 Dec 08
Me and my family are very far apart. Everybody but me is in Germany. Me and my mom are very close as far as we can be for being so far apart. We talk once a week. Me and my dad are not quite as close but i love him just the same. We talk on Holidays, Birthdays and mainly just that. He will be here in April.
2 people like this
@missybear (11391)
• United States
24 Dec 08
I talked to my mom this morning and was a little sad, but now i feel better. It's almost time to open presents since i have to work tomorrow.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Dec 08
I reunited with my grandmother on my mothers side a few years ago while she was still alive and talked to her almost everyday.She lived in California and me on the east coast. I talked to her almost evryday and even flew out a couple times.It's hard when you live far away.
@uditpanda (1023)
• India
24 Dec 08
I think I am..at least to my mom & my younger brother... I don't stay with my family all thru the year because of the nature of work i do,but I talk to my family whenever i get some time. I think its really essential for every human to have a good bond with his/her family as that ensures a proper emotional support at the time of a break down & helps to grow as a better social being... Merry Christmas mylotter
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Dec 08
Thank you very much and merry Christmas to you too. I agree it helps emotionally to have a good bond with your family.Sometimes we just can't though.I'm glad your close to yours even though your job takes alot of your time.Thanks for the response.
@UK_Shree (3603)
24 Dec 08
Yeah I am close to my mum and dad, and I feel really lucky that I am able to have a close relationship with them. I trust both of them more than I trust any other person that I know and they are incredibly special to me.
2 people like this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
25 Dec 08
That's really nice UK_Shree. It's so good to have people you can trust and depend on like that.Especially if it's your family.
@GADHISUNU (2162)
• India
24 Dec 08
Yes! In fact I am very close to my primary family.By that I mean my Mother, Father, Brother and Sister. The closeness and well-knit nature of our family has been cause of lot of bad blood between me and my secondary family, that is my wife and children. I use the words primary and secondary to bring in the time element in my relation and encounter with them. Another reason why I call my mome of birth as primary is my nature was molded there, while living with them. Ours was a very spiritual atmosphere at home whence our family members derived different levels of succor. It is not that there is no spiritual connections mine with my secondary family. Thare are. But the spirituality of my original home is steeped in reverence for the elders, whereas, my current(secondary) family's spirituality perhaps is loving but not particularly reverential.
2 people like this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Dec 08
I understand completely. I'm glad your still close to your primary family. Sometimes it's easy to feel like you don't fit in with your secondary family. It takes time..sometimes alot of it. Thanks for sharing.
• India
25 Dec 08
Yes, I have very close relationship with my family and it is very important in life. My mom is now old and she shares her feelings with me on phone as I am married and stay far from her. I understand your feelings and I am sure you must be missing this joy in life. I don't know what exactly is the reason behind you not having a close relationship with your family. But I am sure that it is better late than never. You can take a step forward and I am sure you will be welcomed by your family members. Life is too short for differences and it is meant to enjoy it along with family and friends. So forget everything and move forward with love for younger ones and respect for your elders. Wish you all the best and Merry Christmas.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
25 Dec 08
Thank you very much and your right. Life is to short for differences. I don't know about the open arms though. They are not quite the open armed kinda family. Thanks for your response. Maybe I will one day make amends. Welcome to mylot.
1 person likes this
@balasri (26537)
• India
25 Dec 08
You can say that.I am a family man.All my close relatives count on me and come to me on needs.I love to be a person to be loved by all.
1 person likes this
@balasri (26537)
• India
25 Dec 08
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
25 Dec 08
That's so nice. You sound like a good man and a family member to be counted on. Thank you for responding.
@rusty2rusty (6751)
• Defiance, Ohio
26 Dec 08
Yes, I have a close relationship with a really close relationship with one of my sisters. She also posts on here. I live far away from everyone. It is hard to keepa close relationship. I don't know why but it is. One doesn't have a phone, another does but never retunrs my calls. Not sure why.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
26 Dec 08
Another mylotter huh? Well,that's pretty neat. It's tough when you live away from your family to keep things tight. Everyone gets tied up in their own lives. Thanks for responding.
• Defiance, Ohio
26 Dec 08
Yes, she is new here and don't have as many posts as you. But she is learning okay. She lives 1200 miles away. It is a form of communicatio betwen us. If I was closer to my other silbings. I am sure I would have a close bond with them. But moving away is hard on all. I wish I had never done it.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
27 Dec 08
1200 miles is a LONG way for sure. At least you guys can communicate pretty regularly here. I know what you mean about wishing you never moved away.All we can do is what we feel is right at the time.
1 person likes this
@robert19ph (4577)
• Philippines
26 Dec 08
[i]Hello JenInTN, Yes, we always tried to see each other during the holidays. Even though we have some differences, we tried not to affect our family relationship. I think there are friction in all families, we just need to be more understanding and open minded about it because we are all family. It helps to keep our pride a bit down when we are with our family. Regards. [/i]
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
26 Dec 08
I agree robert. Pride can definately be a relationship killer. I'm glad you've been able to maintain a good relationship with your family. Thanks for responding.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
25 Dec 08
both my parents passed away this year but i was not close to them. i akso lost my only aunt who i use to be close to before her mind got bad,, don;t have much family left. thank god for my children , their wives & my wonderful grandchildren.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
25 Dec 08
good for the kids.where do you live in tennessee. i live in martin, tennessee. i have never seen very many people on mylot from tennessee.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
25 Dec 08
I live in Morristown. Close to Gatlinburg.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
25 Dec 08
I thank god for my children all the time. They help me feel like I have a purpose. I think that close familys make us feel like we belong to something. My kids help me feel that way.
1 person likes this
@jmp_72 (246)
• Seychelles
24 Dec 08
Yes we have a close relationship within the family. My sibblings have moved out and started their own family and i am still at home with dad, mum passed away last year. We make sure we have lunch together at home atleast once a month and we call each other everyday. I have blessed to have such great family and i love them.
2 people like this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Dec 08
That's great you have that. My grandfather was kind of the head of the family and when he passed everyone just kinda went their own ways. Thanks for sharing.
@korbchng (40)
• Philippines
25 Dec 08
I can say I have a close relationship with my family. Although my siblings aren't living in our house right now, we make sure that we still communicate through telephone and internet. This will create an awareness on what has been going on with our lives. This is just one of the signs of closeness within my family. I'm truly blessed having them as my greatest companions.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
25 Dec 08
You are blessed. Thanks for the responses.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
25 Dec 08
Oh...welcome to mylot Glad to have you as a new friend.