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Original poster

Do you have a brother?

117 replies

watchesrubber · 05/02/2023 21:31

I have a brother and I'd say we were reasonably close. We talk or text once every two weeks or so. Most of it is me texting him and him suddenly remembering he has a sister (ha!) and responding. When we do text, we always exchange 'love yous' etc and occasionally he'll randomly message me to say he thinks I'm great etc. We live about 400 miles apart so not that easy to see each other regularly.

Just wondering if others have brothers and what your relationship is like?

OP posts:
Starlitestarbright · 05/02/2023 22:27

I have 2 older brothers 8 years between me and bro1 and 5 years between me and bro2. Bro1 had been a heroin addict in his 19 -30s he effectively ruined my childhood, lots of shouting,stealing, punching walls, hit me once, my dm ended up having a heart attack with the stress of it all. He got clean has a wife and family but I'm not close with him. We will go several months not talking. My bro2 bullied me as a child, so bad it shattered my confidence. The stuff he did was merciless. I have very little to do with him. The odd text to wish nephew or niece happy birthday and see him when he comes up as he lives 5 hours away but I don't really speak to him. They have a family WhatsApp group where they post things usually to brag but they don't respond to each others stuff. I don't really comment. I don't see them as a big part of my life if I'm honest. I'd have loved a sister close in age but nm.

Opentooffers · 05/02/2023 22:30

I have 2 brothers, one 10 years younger who is a tad odd - very introverted, lives with mum & dad still. Older bro by 3 years, I love him, but we don't regularly text - occasionally group chat for gig meetups & odd festival with others. See each other about 4 times a year since he moved away and got a life - travel, experience etc. Used to see him every week when lived around the corner and went to many gigs together. I miss him, but I'm pleased for him, he's living his best life right now I think.

HappyKoala56 · 05/02/2023 22:31

I have a brother. Never really got on as children and he got even worse when he married his wife. We had a falling out 16 years ago and only seen each other twice since (one wedding, one funeral). I do however have a friend who I refer to as my brother and we are close - I'm going to be best woman at his wedding this year. We met at playgroup as toddlers and have been there for each other ever since.

notanothernamechangemother · 05/02/2023 22:31

I miss my brother, he died over 20 years ago. I think that we would have got on better as adults than children, sadly I will never know what might have been 😔

Xtraincome · 05/02/2023 22:32

Have an older brother by 3 years. He's a friend as well as a brother. We have lots of inside jokes, he has a beautiful wife who we all love and is wonderful and patient with my bonkers brother 😆

Duckingella · 05/02/2023 22:32

Two brothers who are years younger than me but we are close;always have been.There's the same age gap between myself and my youngest brother as there is between my oldest son and my youngest brother;they have an incredible relationship.

Maggiesgirl · 05/02/2023 22:33

I have 4, one lives in Oz and I hear from him about once a month, one lives in Scotland and don't get on very well so rarely speak to him, one lives up north and speak to him couple of times a week, either one of us initiating it, other one lives around the corner and see him once in a blue moon, although happy enough to see me when he does.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 05/02/2023 22:36

I have 2. One sounds exactly like yours @watchesrubber, the other hasn't spoken to me for 18 months. I suspect neither know when my birthday is, any more accurately than "spring".

PermanentTemporary · 05/02/2023 22:36

I have one brother 8 years older than me. We were very sporadic in being in touch though quite fond of each other and net up every 6-12 months. But then my dh died 5 years ago and he started ringing me every week without fail. It's been fantastic, we know each other quite a lot better and I really love and respect him now. It helps that we've both mellowed with age and he's much happier now he lives overseas.

lipstickwoman · 05/02/2023 22:37

I had a brother. He was my oldest friend, my partner in crime and I loved him so much.

He died 3 years ago, far too young. Still heartbroken

thaisweetchill · 05/02/2023 22:38

Just me and my brother (he's 5 years older than me). We text every other day just random things, we share a hobby, like the same music and regularly attend gigs together. I have a DS4 and he's got a newborn, he's always made effort with my DS and my DS loves my SIL to bits, she really makes an effort with him.
I'd say we are very close.

TokenGinger · 05/02/2023 22:41

I have two brothers. My older brother is married with a child and lives an hour away. My younger brother is single and lives locally.

We have a WhatsApp group for the three of us, one with my mum, and one with my dad. We'll probably message on each of them weekly.

My older brother I'd say I talk to once a week or fortnight. We meet up maybe every two months as a family.

My younger brother I speak to several times a week. He FaceTimes me a few times a week, and he visits every weekend to see my DS and DD and I call upon him when I need some DIY doing that I don't trust DP to do 😂

I used to have the same relationship with my brother before he got married and moved away, but rightly so, his family get much more of his time and he's a wonderful husband and daddy. I love the time we do get together though.

The three of us have a great relationship, lots of joking around between us. I love my brothers very much and feel very lucky to have them both.

2chocolateoranges · 05/02/2023 22:42

I have a brother. I’m no contact with him. He is manipulative, an addict, a liar and causes far too much hassle to everyone’s lives.

for years he has ruined my family holidays as he had got thrown out his house, got lifted by the police, ended up in hospital and always phoned me to rescue him.. he is an older brother and should be there to look after me!

he was making me unwell so I cut contact after years of trying to support him.

Borborygmus · 05/02/2023 22:47

Yes, I have a brother and we get on fine. He lives in the US though, and we rarely communicate. It's almost 3 years since I last heard from him.

Icanflyhigh · 05/02/2023 22:48

I have one, last spoke to him 3 months ago when he told me I was a shite parent and my children should have been aborted. Probably won't bother with him again.

IWonderWhyIBother · 05/02/2023 22:49

I have two, one who’s 2.5 years older and my twin (I’m 15 minutes older) I get on well with both but I am closer to my older brother. We have more in common and go to gigs and shows together. I’m not sure that even if my twin lived nearer he would come with us, he’s never been to a concert. Politically we don’t agree, me and brother 1 say he’s turning into our father. Growing up I was closer to my twin though. Brother 1 was a bit of a lad with girlfriends and seeing him and his crappy behaviour towards them (he grew up and is a very good husband and father) made me wise to boys and men’s crap, I can spot bullshit a mile off and I’ve always been comfortable in the company of men. I never wished that I had a sister.

SecretSister123 · 05/02/2023 22:49

I have name changed for this one as this could be outing and at least 1 person on here will know me.

I have twin step-brothers, the same age as me.

They don't know about me; go figure that bombshell.

xprincessxjanetx · 05/02/2023 22:52

I have a brother and 2 half brothers. I cut them out of my life 3 years ago over things I could not forgive. I do not regret it and do not wish to see any of them again. My parents are also NC with them.

LoveYouHoneybear · 05/02/2023 22:52

My brother is 2.5 years older than me. He lives nearly next door with his wife and 3 kids and I see them every couple days or so. Can honestly say he is one of my best friends and I can (and do) confide in him for anything. We exchange "I love yous" every time we text or see each other, he's always been there for me and I'll always be there for him. We have an elder sis who we are very close to as well.

Zanatdy · 05/02/2023 22:54

Yes,2yrs older. We didn’t have a lot in common growing up, but are closer in adult life. Only see him when I visit family as I live 250 miles away. He’s recently got married for a 2nd time and had another child, which is lovely having a baby in the family again

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 05/02/2023 22:55

I have two and we get on well, one lives locally and I see him and his family around once a month. The other lives 3 hours away but we get on well when we do meet up.

We have a family WhatsApp group and message a lot on that.

SallyWD · 05/02/2023 22:55

I have 2 brothers and I adore them! We have such easy going, fun relationships with each other. Spending time with them is a real tonic. We don't talk on the phone a great deal (because I'm not someone who enjoys speaking on the phone much) but we message every day.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 05/02/2023 22:56

I have brothers. We get on well when we see each other but rarely do outside of family events and maybe Christmas despite living relatively close . We only text each other on birthdays really. Similar relationships with my sisters too.

BeautifulDayintheneighbourhood · 05/02/2023 22:57

I have a younger brother four years younger. He is a loner and isn’t interested much in my famiiy but when I do see him we get on well. This happens very rarely which is a real shame.

Sshhhhh · 05/02/2023 22:58

I have one, 18 months younger. We never really got on as children; we were treated very differently. Very traditional household, boys are very precious and girls are only good for marrying off. Lots of other toxic family issues growing up meant we hugely resented each other.

Havs been NC with both brother and mum for about a year after a falling out on my birthday which, for me, was the straw that broke the camels back after 40 years of me biting my tongue.