Anybody not getting to see their siblings for the holidays.

DoingitWell
DoingitWell Posts: 560 Member
in Chit-Chat
My family is big, 4 boys and 3 girls, and we are spread out over the country. Video chatting and conferencing is not cutting it anymore and our kids are growing up without playing with their cousins other than online games. Seriously I have memories of my cousins and I playing outside from sun up until bedtime. I know it's a different era. Just wish they could see them in person more. End sad sad sad vent. I'm out...got a big of woe is me Skittles to eat.
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Replies

  • WeepingAngel81
    WeepingAngel81 Posts: 2,232 Member
    I haven't spent Christmas with my family in 10 years. Not going to happen this year either. It's just the way it is. We are all very spread out. My little sister and parents are in Florida, my older sister and her family are in Texas and I am in Nebraska. It never gets easier being away from them during Christmas, but I know that they miss me as much as I miss them, so I don't dwell. We have a google+ date to watch one of our favorite movies together for Christmas Eve so I am thankful for social media bringing us all al ittle closer together.
  • Mustangsally1000
    Mustangsally1000 Posts: 854 Member
    I hear ya! My brother is in Milwaukee, my sister and her kids are in Minnesota. I'm in Michigan. Woe is me too....pass the skittles. :tongue:
  • Danny_Boy13
    Danny_Boy13 Posts: 2,094 Member
    My brother and his family are half way across the US and we usually spend time together during the summers and not Christmas.
  • BikerGirlElaine
    BikerGirlElaine Posts: 1,631 Member
    I would love to see my brother for the holidays -- but he passed away six years ago. He was my only sibling. I would give my right arm for a video chat. You should be counting your blessings.

    I don't mean that to sound mean, I am just saying, it's so much easier all the way around to be grateful for what you have than to complain about what you don't.
  • AusAshMommy
    AusAshMommy Posts: 845 Member
    My family is big, 4 boys and 3 girls, and we are spread out over the country. Video chatting and conferencing is not cutting it anymore and our kids are growing up without playing with their cousins other than online games. Seriously I have memories of my cousins and I playing outside from sun up until bedtime. I know it's a different era. Just wish they could see them in person more. End sad sad sad vent. I'm out...got a big of woe is me Skittles to eat.

    We are in the same boat this year - though my kids don't have cousins yet - we aren't going home for Christmas (we're in Southeastern NC and everyone else is in MD) - I am saddened by this fact, but it's the way of life this year...

    Sadly though my sibs keep their social media stuff private so I can't see it - we're not terribly close to begin with - but it's still nice to see them.
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    I only have one brother and he will be coming over for Christmas dinner.
  • MysteriousMerlin
    MysteriousMerlin Posts: 2,270 Member
    99% of my mom's family live less than 50 miles from where they grew up, so I see my dozen cousins and their millions of kids throughout the year. My brother went to his gf's house for Thanksgiving, so we'll see him at Christmas.

    I care little for my dad's side of the family. He's pretty much the 'black sheep' and they treat him like an annoyance. Not that he isn't annoying :laugh: but he's never done anything to them to deserve to be treated that badly.
  • DoingitWell
    DoingitWell Posts: 560 Member
    I would love to see my brother for the holidays -- but he passed away six years ago. He was my only sibling. I would give my right arm for a video chat. You should be counting your blessings.

    I don't mean that to sound mean, I am just saying, it's so much easier all the way around to be grateful for what you have than to complain about what you don't.


    Sorry for loss.

    .
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    wish I did NOT get to see them. but I am,
    jerks that they are
  • dalehall64
    dalehall64 Posts: 290 Member
    Yes. My 46 year old sister, and only sibling, died back in September after an 11 year battle with breast cancer. I would give ANYTHING to see her next Wednesday morning.
  • kiwigal41
    kiwigal41 Posts: 1,059
    my sister lives in Brooklyn.....I'm in Canada.....haven't seen her in a few years
  • mrsjones2point0
    mrsjones2point0 Posts: 332 Member
    I'm so sad for you! My one and only sister gets in tonight for two weeks of holiday fun and excitement. My niece gets in on Saturday for a wekk.

    I have always felt bad that my kids didn't have tons of cousins to play with - but their father's side is too weird to allow to be around my children, and my sister only has one daughter who is older.
  • squishybarb
    squishybarb Posts: 72 Member
    I am super, super close with my family. Mom's family is from Germany, both of her parents passed a while ago. One brother lives in Ohio and the other lives next door to my parents..

    My dad, however, had 10 brothers and sisters - more than half have passed, only he, his 2 brothers and sister are still alive - but his Mom is still kickin' at 93. Needless to say, we're a huge family, and rotate houses every Christmas. It's what I look forward to the most every single year. All of us "kids" have started growing up, making families of our own, so we're here and there, trying to juggle everything .. but it's still much the same.

    My brother lives in Tennessee with his wife and 3 kids, that's the only thing that's missing.. I miss my brother a lot, and I only get to see him once a year. He took his vacation time early so he won't be coming down for the holidays. It sucks, but it's life I guess.

    I am so greatful that my family is a big part of my life, I know a lot of people take it for granted.

    Best wishes.
  • sherrybaby81
    sherrybaby81 Posts: 257 Member
    I am in Maryland and my entire family is in Ontario (a few in Nova Scotia). This is our stay in MD year. My parents are coming down on Boxing Day for few days so that's good.
  • FerretBuellerr
    FerretBuellerr Posts: 468 Member
    I moved 8 hours away from my immediate family, and with my current job I couldn't take time off to go home and see them. Haven't been home for the past 3 Christmases due to similar situations (can't get time off, don't have the finances).

    That, and my parents have taken a trip to a couples resort in Jamaica the last 3 years :grumble: At least I have my boyfriend's family in the same city! It's hard not seeing family for the holidays :frown: I have a fair bit of extended family within an hour's drive, but they never invite me to anything :sad: I guess I'm no better for not asking....then again the last time I asked I got no response... :ohwell:
  • Im_NotPerfect
    Im_NotPerfect Posts: 2,181 Member
    I'm in the same situation. I live in WI, my brother and his family lives in MN, and my sister and her family lives in WA. I feel bad that my kids don't get to see their cousins very often either. We only see them maybe once a year (the ones in MN) and once every couple years (the ones in WA). We are lucky enough to live near my parents though so they get to see both sets of Grandparents quite often and my husband's siblings just as often.
  • SugarBaby71
    SugarBaby71 Posts: 3,630 Member
    My bro and his wife live 1000km away. My sister and her hubby live in the UK (I'm in Canada) so no, we don't see each other that often, even for holidays. :sad:
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    nope. Mom and Dad are in South Dakota this year- my brother is god knows where. I don't spend holidays with family.

    I also don't care that much either. I'm a grinch. I just don't care- it's over commercialized and a waste of money.
  • Rixx31
    Rixx31 Posts: 220 Member
    I live in WA, Seattle area, my side of the family is in London, UK. I feel bad that I don't get to see them much since I moved to the US.
    I still keep in touch with Skype/phone but it's not the same as being there.
  • summertime_girl
    summertime_girl Posts: 3,945 Member
    There are six kids in my family. One sister and one brother can't make it home. :(
  • Gail3260
    Gail3260 Posts: 354 Member
    Me....and long may that continue....we can't stand the sight of each other!!!
  • MrsPong
    MrsPong Posts: 580 Member
    Military family here. Husband has been in the Marines 9 years. I've been married to him 5. We have been lucky, each Christmas he has been home with us while married (not the whole 9 years) and we have been able to make it home (even from Japan - it meant that much to me) He has not been home for the important stuff- like the birth of our daughter.

    He has 2 brothers also Marines- his whole family is NEVER home together at Christmas or even special occasions. My daughters god father (marine) was on iphone when she was being baptized. When they were all together it was a party but it meant one of the three was deploying to Afgan/Iraq.

    Most our family is in Ohio (both of us) we have a duty station which is close right now so we can go home as much as possible. But I know family's that have not spent Christmas with their extended family in 10 plus years...or military members in longer bc they are deployed. But I know this duty station will end soon and we will be gone and far again- and we will have to count our blessings that we are all still there for texts, face chatting, and even being stateside.

    Being away from family is hard no matter the situation- but it can ALWAYS be worse. You could be overseas and someone trying to kill you.
  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,788 Member
    I don't get to see my youngest brother and youngest sister. Because I didn't invite them.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    I haven't seen all my siblings for the holidays in a very long time, maybe since the youngest was in high school 15 years ago. The only time we've all gotten together was my mother's funeral and my sister's wedding (and for the wedding my one brother didn't bring his wife or children).
  • icimani
    icimani Posts: 1,454 Member
    We're kinda spread out too. I'm in upstate NY, sisters are in western and south central PA. So I'm driving to spend Christmas with one sister and her 2 adult kids 5 hrs away, then home for a few days, then driving 3 hrs to spend the New Years with my niece and her young family and my sister will be there too.

    And then later in January I'll be driving 8 hrs for a long weekend where everyone can come - I think there will be about 23 of us this year. I'm the only one who isn't married and they all spend Christmas with their own families, so we try to get everyone together after Christmas. This year it's the last weekend in January, but in past years it's even been into March so everyone can come. So our Christmas season is sort of extended!

    I feel incredibly lucky that my sisters are some of my best friends!
  • elishazf
    elishazf Posts: 332 Member
    All of my family lives in Greece so I probably won't see them at all...again
  • Fullsterkur_woman
    Fullsterkur_woman Posts: 2,712 Member
    I get to not see my siblings for the holidays. I love them, but their mere presence seems to drive me up a wall. I wish them so well. :heart:
  • bloominheck
    bloominheck Posts: 869 Member
    My brother who passed away in July this year. :frown: Not going to a happy time.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    My siblings I don't care about. I'd like to see my daughter.
  • jlahorn
    jlahorn Posts: 377 Member
    I always hated the chaos of big family holidays, so I'm grateful that I live far enough away that I no longer have to participate. I like seeing my family, just on a smaller scale with less pressure to be "on" for 12 hours.

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