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MNers without children

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Expectations of Extended Family

27 replies

BruFord · 15/09/2024 17:34

To clarify, I'm an only child so have no experience of sibling relationships. The situation I'm describing involves a childfree couple I know.

Childfree couple, late 50's, one of them has two younger siblings (late 40's) who've chosen to have children. The childfree couple are feeling left out as for a few years, their siblings haven't invited them for Thanksgiving/Christmas (we're in the US), because they're celebrating as a nuclear family, with grandparents, or with other friends.

Is that unreasonable? Do you expect to be invited? As I don't have extended family, I've never had this option anyway. Personally, I think the best solution would be for the couple to offer to host if they want their extended family there. That's what I'd do, or book a luxury break perhaps. Grin

OP posts:
fitzwilliamdarcy · 16/09/2024 14:48

we don’t even get a card or a gift from anyone in the family but everyone still sends us the Christmas lists for the 5 kids’ gifts though.

Commiserations - I have one of those families, too. It's really unkind (and doesn't exactly teach the kids a great lesson, either).

BruFord · 16/09/2024 18:02

@TheBluntTurtle I agree that it’s very hurtful behavior on your parents’ part especially.

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