Keeping Family in Your Life

I keep in touch with my family members a lot. I live in Calgary, Alberta and my 25 year old daughter and I live together and work together. So we are very close. My son and his wife live in Winnipeg, Manitoba and I talk to them once a week and they have been here to see me a few times and I have been to see them quite a few times. My whole family lives in Winnipeg except my daughter and myself so we both go to Winnipeg often to see all my brothers and sisters and mom. I talk to my mom on the phone at least once a week and sometimes even more. Two of my sisters and I send each other emails almost every day. So to answer your question, yes, I keep in touch with my family on a regular basis. Alrighty then, talk to you later my friend, Have a good mylotting day, Chris

I think it is all in how they are raised.It is how my sister and I were raised and also how my mother and her 6 sisters were raised so we are all the same. I love to spend the holidays with family but it does not happen very often. This year my mother is actually working christmas day. I couldn't believe she actually told me this. My mother is more concerned with money than her family but I don't know why I am surprised by that. The last 4.5yrs that is how it has been with my mother. But anyways I am rambling LOL I just think that it has alot to do with how you are raised and also with how you all get along when you are all together. It is harder to spend time with people if no one wants to get along.

It's sad to hear that, but some families may brought up in that way. I'm thinking, what we can do is take the initiative to organize some family events, and try to gather all the family members together and hope the relationship will be better soon. Someone really needs to take the first move, or if you are closed to any of your siblings, perhaps you can organize the events together with him/her, at least someone is supporting you. Yeah, I do keep in touch with my family quite often. I started to stay in another city when I was studying in college, until I work. It's 2 and a half hour drive back to my hometown. Luckily my husband is from the same hometown as mine, we always go back to the hometown at least once a month. Sometimes, my parents will come here and visit me too, my sister is staying near my place also. Sometimes, my sister will come to my house and stay with me during the weekends. I'm glad to have a closed family and wish I'll do the same to my kids too.

hi leenie iam very close to my family,i have so many sisters and brothers i don,t really need a whole lot of friends we do everthing together.we take trips together we are very close knit family.

My father left our family a long time ago. There's not much option there. My mother and I are really tight. My brother is my bud. We all stay in touch. My mother calls at least once a week.

Oh, i feel so sad to know that. having a huge family is a blessing. but for sure it will be really a blessing if everybody gets along well, enjoying each other's company and helping each other. i just wish everything is well for you..

Hi Leenie, I'm sorry to hear about that..Maybe you can organize a reunion and give everyone a notice ahead of time so they can arrange their schedule..Anyway, it's really different when everyone is living far and with own family.. But, I have noticed that other clans really are active in Family gathering..IN my case, we have our annual Fiesta every June and this celebration will always gather relatives and close friends! I am far from them now, so, whenever they are together, I will call and feel like I am home though it's definitely different..LOL!

Excellent topic. I have to say I think if families get together once or twice a year as a group that is fantastic. I think we grow up and go out into the world and not being a part of each others everyday lives is part of it. However saying that I think if families are not getting together because of the criticism or anger then that is sad. I moved away about 16 years ago but before that my family lived in one tiny town. My mother had a few family dinners in a year. They were for sure Christmas and one Summer barbeque but the other could be say Easter. The saddest thing about those diners was they nobody really talked or shared casually about their lives. Beyond those dinners we never saw each other at all. No phone calls of how you doing; no one stopping by for coffee no nothing! I moved away like I mentioned and my brother has not only come this way a few times a year but also lived in the general area of me for about a year for school and never once stopped in to see which I was living now as a single mom with my girls. Not once not ever. When I would go home to visit my parents the first few times I made a point of visiting all my family but then decided after a few times. What is the point. It is very strange to be sitting in your brother's house feeling like an unwanted guest. So now I except the fact life is what it is. Maybe it is more natural to grow up and go out into the world and be what ever we are meant to be then to be a close tight family. I find it strange that we are so divided and unconnected but that is the way it is and so many family are. So maybe that is more normal then having a close knit family, I don't know! What do you think?

I am from a small family and gre up with it ike that - on the other hand my husbands family is large but there are always conflicts so I've learnt that just because they are family doesn't mean everyone will get along! We have a lot of friends and these are the people we spend a lot of time with and I wouldn't want it any other way! x

oww sweetie, thats sad vut you just have to make your holidays fun and good memories for you and your kids..if your brothers and sisters are too busy with their own lifes you make your holidays specail.. i bet the family will hear and will start popping in or around to see what your up to.. i have a huge family and we all catch up for xmas, thats a must but we do try to make it that we go visit each other and go out to eat from time to time. i am very close to one of my cousins and we catch up as much as we can, she lives in the country so its a long drive.. hope it all works out congrats on your 107 post that came fast, ive kept myeye on it and its just jumped over 100 in no time.. hugsssssssssssssssssss

It's really sad to see when family members are distant emotionally. My family is the same way. I have uncles that havent seen me in years. It is very sad and discpuraging. My best advice is invite your family over alot, plan daytrips to the beach, invite everyone to a BBQ. Once they see that it's fun and not an inconvience, everyone will want to spend more time together! Good Luck!