No family

[Milsplus3]

Can anyone share their story on how it has affected their children by not having any extended family?
The baby in question only has their mum and siblings, due to NC with her own family and the dad and his family are not in the picture by choice. Mum has support from friends but child will only have their mum as family. Siblings with a different dad have extended family on the paternal side they visit often, but the child in question will not having anyone else to share birthdays/Christmas/firsts with in the same way. Appreciate any advice I can pass on.

I only had my DM and my DSis. We are no contact with my DM's family, and my father was not permitted by the court to contact us (and we have no contact with his family).

Honestly, I felt, and still feel, so secure in my relationship with my DM that I have never felt that I have missed out by not having a father or extended family.

Having said that, my mother did her best to bring good people into our lives who we consider to be our family. My 'Nanny' is not related to me at all!

I don't think there needs to be any worries. We always made celebrations last a week, with different activities planned with different family-friends and then children-friends. Nothing expensive either, we were very poor. Just having people over for cake or for a picnic in the park.

My childhood was amazing, and I am a completely well-rounded individual today (even if I do say so myself!) xx

I think you deal with whatever you have .

You still have significant important people in their lives if not related by blood.

Beavers/cubs have given almost family feeling.

I grew up with just parents and sibling. I had grandparents on both sides, but only saw them once or twice a year due to geography (they lived 200+ miles away). Once I was older and my grandparents started passing away I became very close with my grandad (in my 20s). He was my only grandparent left and I wanted a relationship with him. We would speak on the phone at least once a week and once I could drive I would visit about once a month or so. He later moved the 200+ miles to a care home in my town. He has passed away too now. I'm 40 now and I see my cousins once a year if that so no real ties to extended family.

Not having a big extended family has made me close with my immediate family. I see my parents 3 or 4 times a week and we group facetime my parents and my sister every day so that my DC can say goodnight to their grandparents and cousins.

Obviously the difference is that my sibling and I were in the same boat whereas in the situation you describe the child is in a different situation to their siblings which must be very tough, especially when they are young. Over time this will get easier as the child will develop friendships at school or through hobbies and want to spend more time with peers and less time with family anyway.