Just want to indulge in your stories: whats it like to have nice relationships with close family members?

[Flowergirlie91]

Just opening a space for people to share some nice family stories. My DP and I both don’t have family living close at all. Minimum 6 hours away. Even though they are mostly nice people, relationships with our families are complicated and stressful. We just moved house & are renovating. Jobs also hugely stressful. I always wish I had a big supportive fun family that’s near and helps each other out. Have dinner at each others, pop in for a coffee, a dad you can call to help out with a DIY job etc. If you have this, what’s it like :)? I just want to revel in your happy family stories to cheer up for a bit

For me it's my brother's/ mum on their side.

We spend at least one evening a week together. Often full weekends. Meet for lunch while working. Go on holiday together. Support each other through everything. They are buying a house around the corner from me that I found and knew was perfect for them. Partners and kids all involved too.

I don't really know how to put into words how much they mean to me.

That’s just so lovely, so your brother has a different mum / same dad? Love this for you

Distance doesn't have to stop you from being close to your family. 2 of my sisters still live in the town we all grew up in. Next week I'm driving 3 1/2 hours to visit them as another of my sister's is flying back from Chanel islands where she lives. My youngest sister will also drive 1 1/2 hours to attend too. We've booked so we'll all have a Xmas dinner together. 2 weeks later I am going down again because we all get together minus sister from Chanel islands to make a Xmas wreath for our Mum and Dad's grave. We make a wreath for 2 aunties and uncles and a grandmother's grave too. Also in early December I do my annual early Merry Xmas dinner when my own DC drive 2 hours DS South and 2 1/2 hours DD and DGS's North to spend weekend with me. I'm taking the dhs's indoor rock climbing on Friday evening then paint a pot and visit to Santa on Saturday. DH is making us all home made pizzas and I'm doing a buffet this year. My DC will go on Saturday evening to visit exh. They'll go back on Sunday.

Yeah.

We're very lucky and I appreciate that every day!

But as previously said, you don't need to live close to enjoy a close relationship.

See my parents a couple of times a week and chat most days as they are local.

See my DBro and DSIL every month and video val every week. We are all on family WhatsApp group basically every day.

speak to DH’s parents every week and visit most months as they are further away. When we visit we always catch up with DBIL and DSIL as they are local to PILs so we have a day together. All on a family WhatsApp group.

spend Christmas with one side or the other each year and have a lovely time.

go on holiday with extended family at least once a year but usually twice.

My DC all close to cousins and spend lots of time with each other.

having a close family for the kids is really important to me. They have 2 parents and 4 loving grandparents plus aunts, uncles, cousins. They have a big village and I love it

I too have complicated relationships with close family as does my husband (and both my parents with my grandparents). I don't mind but I do often wonder what it would be like to have a closer family - interested to hear about others' experiences.

I just hope it's possible to break the cycle and for us to have a better relationship with our DD when she's an adult.

I don't have a big family...wish I did!

But I do live very close to my sister and her family. It's great to just pop round for a coffee and so our kids can hang out. Pop to the local park or shops together. I think generally living close to family is so much better than living far apart