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Original poster

Do you see parents and siblings as extended family in adulthood?

20 replies

inmyfashion · 08/04/2026 23:31

Do you consider your parents/siblings to be extended family if you are an adult with a partner and/or children?

Just wondering how other people feel. I consider my parents to be my extended family now I’m an adult in a marriage. My husband is my immediate family. I’m pregnant with our first child and whilst they are a child they will be my immediate family too, and then I hope when they go out to form a family of their own they will consider us their extended family. My nuclear family is my household. I’m very close with my Mum and speak to her every day, but wouldn’t consider her immediate family anymore.

It’s completely inconsequential but wondering how others feel? And what about adult siblings who have their own families - are they still your immediate family?

OP posts:
LassiKopiano24 · 08/04/2026 23:34

I personally see kids and spouse and my parents and steps and siblings as my immediate family, but spouse and kids are the priority. Tbh I also probably see my grandparents as immediate family also! But all families are different

Morepositivemum · 08/04/2026 23:39

No, they’re all family in my mind. I hate people saying their immediate family (meaning spouse and children) take priority- we’re not in a life or death situation, it’s usually about something like Mother’s Day where someone wants to be prioritised and acts like their mother/ mother in law is closer to being a stranger than family. My mum, db and dsis are as important to me as they were when it was only us living together

EasterDecoration · 08/04/2026 23:47

No, I still think of my extended family as being my aunts, uncles and cousins. My parents and siblings are still family as opposed to extended family. As, obviously, are my DH and DCs. I don't live in the pocket of my parents or siblings but they didn't get relegated just because I got married. DH is part of my family now and I'm part of his.

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LassiKopiano24 · 08/04/2026 23:49

Morepositivemum · 08/04/2026 23:39

No, they’re all family in my mind. I hate people saying their immediate family (meaning spouse and children) take priority- we’re not in a life or death situation, it’s usually about something like Mother’s Day where someone wants to be prioritised and acts like their mother/ mother in law is closer to being a stranger than family. My mum, db and dsis are as important to me as they were when it was only us living together

I said Spouse and kids take priority, nothing about Mothers day for me, more like my decisions will have them in mind before my mum or my brother.

If I got offered a job that had me away for 2 weeks a month say, I would decide based on how it would affect husband and kids, how we could juggle it etc, I wouldn’t worry it would have any impact on brothers life if you see what I mean.

LightnDark · 08/04/2026 23:52

Spouse and kids are the immediate family unit. Anyone else is extended family.

One child of mine is married and I consider her and her husband the extended family now, as they have started their own immediate family unit.

Next of kin is very close family though.

ThatFairy · 08/04/2026 23:53

No, I see my parents and siblings as immediate family. I have kids but I'm single

TokenGinger · 08/04/2026 23:57

I still see my parents and brothers as my immediate family.

Meadowfinch · 09/04/2026 00:11

My siblings and my dc are my immediate family. My ex doesn't count as my family, he is ds' family.

Parents are dead so obviously not.

Morepositivemum · 09/04/2026 06:01

LassiKopiano24

oh sorry when I said no it was to the op question not you! Sorry about that!

WhatNextImScared · 09/04/2026 06:09

We are a very small family as so many people of died so I would still say my mum and dad are part of my immediate family, along with my DH and 2 DC. Becuse that’s all we have now really. I am an only child and DH’s parents and sibling have passed away. I am not close to aunts and uncles/cousins and they live a long way away. They are extended family to me.

ChaToilLeam · 09/04/2026 06:15

I have DP but no children. Parents and DSis are immediate family, and I consider BIL and nieces the same. Aunts, uncles and cousins extended. All GP gone now but they were immediate family too.

tofumad · 09/04/2026 06:22

EasterDecoration · 08/04/2026 23:47

No, I still think of my extended family as being my aunts, uncles and cousins. My parents and siblings are still family as opposed to extended family. As, obviously, are my DH and DCs. I don't live in the pocket of my parents or siblings but they didn't get relegated just because I got married. DH is part of my family now and I'm part of his.

Yeah, my husband, son, mother and siblings are my immediate family. Aunt's, uncle's, cousins, in laws etc are extended family.

WhatNoRaisins · 09/04/2026 06:37

I think the way I see it is my partner and children are immediate family because we live as a unit. Parents and siblings are extended because we don't live together but they are a meaningful part of our lives. Everyone else I just think of as relatives because we are related but no relationship.

Shallotsaresmallonions · 09/04/2026 06:47

No, parents and siblings are still immediate family, along with my husband and children.

I think it's odd to see your mum as extended family!

Dermatologically · 09/04/2026 06:56

I can't say I feel any need to label or grade the members of my family that I feel closest too. They are all important to me.

LastHotel · 09/04/2026 07:05

My immediate family are my DH, my DC, my parents, my siblings.

Indianajet · 09/04/2026 07:05

I just have 'family '. No-one got downgraded when I married. I hate the phrase 'my little family' when it means separating yourself from parents/siblings.

RawBloomers · 09/04/2026 07:24

Parents and siblings definitely not lumped in with extended family, but not immediate either. I think Extended (grandparents, aunts and uncle, cousins), Immediate (spouse, kids) and Family (spouse, kids, parents, siblings). Maybe.

Roundofapause · 09/04/2026 07:41

I'd still class them as immediate family, along with my husband and son (and soon to be born daughter). Extended family to me is grandparents, cousins and aunts/uncles.

ShiftySquirrel · 09/04/2026 07:48

I consider my parents, grandparents (none left now), uncle, sibling and (single) BIL who I all see regularly, plus my husband and DC as my immediate family. I would drop everything to help any of them out in an emergency, and vice versa.

I have loads of cousins, aunts and great aunts/uncles who I only see at family occasions, my extended family.

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