How much contact do you have with your family?

Hi Hawkida. I'm 45 and left my parent's home when I was 16. I was raised in a military family and we moved all the time. After my father retired, I just found it hard to stay in one place. Currently I live in Argentina. My parents have been divorced for a number of years now and my mother lives in the state of Kansas (USA), my father lives in Florida (USA) and my only brother, also now in the military, lives in the state of North Carolina (USA). Because I live virtually half the world away from my family, I hardly ever get to see them any more. My mother makes it a point to come and visit for a couple of weeks every other year. I try to get back to the States whenever I can but because of the rate of exchange of the peso to the dollar, it's virtually impossible to make the kind of money necessary for the trip. My mom calls every Sunday and we usually talk for about a half hour or so. She keeps me posted on what my brother is doing. I have hardly any contact with him because of his military lifestyle. My father and I have been estranged for about 25 years but because of aging have been trying to re-establish a relationship of some sort. It's hard but, sad to say, kind of acceptable to us just because of the military life we led. As I get older, I really long for closer ties to my family. I write, I call when I can. I've got a web cam now, too, that is helping a bit. We can't go back and make up for lost time. We can only make the best use of what we have available to us right now. As my parents age, I find myself more open in expressing myself to them. That gives a closeness that bridges some of the distance between us. I wish I could see them more and am always sure to tell them that so they are aware of my feelings. That helps too.

I have virtually no contact with family beyond my parents, step parents, and sister. I see my real dad and step mom about once a month. I see my mom and step dad about once every three months, and my youngest sister about once every 10 months. Despite the fact that I have a great deal with family within a 30 minute drive of my house, I see them only on the rare occasion that I might bump into them while shopping.

My parents moved to this area about 12 years ago so now my mum lives just 5minutes walk away.We speak to each other by phone most days and probably see each other 3 or 4 times a week depending on my work schedule. My sons live away from home but we are in close contact via text/email/calls & I see one of them every 6-8 weeks and the other less often. I have an aunt who I see 3 or 4 times a year, am in contact by letter/phone with one of my cousins & the rest are just Christmas card contacts.

I moved out at 18 years old aswell as i was getting married aswell as me and the husband were buying a house.I saw my mum every day as we worked together aswell as we only lived about a 5 minuite walk from each others house.Then i got divorced and moved that was also a 5 min walk away and then i remarried and we live across the road from each other now so i see her most days.

I have 18 years of age and I currentley still live with my mother, along with my my brother, my dad is separate from my mom. We always reserve at least 2 weekends per month to have a bbq or dinner at my mothers parents house, reunited with the whole family. My dad's family lives in another state and I only see himn and them when he comes to visit, about onde or twice per year.