Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

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:

BadHabitsGoodFun · 05/02/2023 23:01

I have a younger brother - we are incredibly close. He was married but in a very abusive relationship which thankfully he was able to escape and I supported him through that. No children but he’s a doting uncle 😍.

thehappyhaggis · 05/02/2023 23:06

I have two. One 2 years older and one 2 years younger. We all live within a 10/15 min drive of each other. I love them and consider us to be close. There is nobody in this world who can make me laugh like my brothers. We text and see one another regularly.

Notformethankyoukindly · 05/02/2023 23:07

Eldest brother is a useless waste of space who has been a constant worry and burden to my parents. Brother two years older than me is a decent stick but very different to me. We communicate a lot right now as DF89 is dying. Once he’s gone I’m not at all sure I’ll stay in touch with either brother. Meh

Jellykat · 05/02/2023 23:08

Younger brother here, my mums favourite and we only talk on the phone when he rings due to women troubles.. this has been the situation with different partners for 35 years oh and he has 3 children by 3 of them.. hes never been interested in my life or my DCs at all.

HellsBellsK · 05/02/2023 23:08

I have three older brothers. Youngest is six years older and eldest 10 years older.
Would say I'm pretty close to all three of them.
Would text them about anything really that would pop into my head and remind me of them.
Eldest one wouldn't be great for texting so normal ring or just see him for a chat.
Two live very close by so could see them weekly or every couple of weeks.
The middle one lives further so may be once a month or so.
If I needed them I know they would come running.
My mom always said she wished I had a sister... but I never wished it at all. I'm very happy with my three brothers and get on great with all three sister in laws.

MyMachineAndMe · 05/02/2023 23:09

Yes I have a brother but his life is quite different from mine and we live a fair distance apart. I rarely text or message and I rarely hear from him. We get on when together like with any other old friend.

thaegumathteth · 05/02/2023 23:10

I have a bother and a sister. They're both a good bit older than me. Communicate with them about mum's progressing needs as she gets older and about major life events. See them once a year or so. That's it.

Thisbastardcomputer · 05/02/2023 23:20

I have two, one I work for 1 day a week, we speak on that day. The other one I only see at funerals, nothing wrong he's just quiet.

maximist · 05/02/2023 23:23

I have a brother a couple of years younger than me. I and my parents only see him and his family at Christmas and if he needs childcare, which is less often now his kids are at secondary school - Mum rings him sometimes but he very seldom initiates contact unless he wants something. This doesn't bother me, but mum and dad do get upset by his lack of interest. He's perfectly pleasant when we do see him, but he's obviously not interested in us.

awakeandanxiouss · 05/02/2023 23:25

My brother is two years younger and we are best friends. We always have been, we bicker and disagree with each other of course but nothing that is dragged out or dwelled on. I’m very grateful to have such a great relationship with him as he’s a great support to me and I do my best to support him too. My partner has the same age gap with his sister and they are also very close.

mattyd · 05/02/2023 23:27

I had four brothers, two are dead, the other two probably are. Such is life.

4thonthe4th · 05/02/2023 23:28

I have 2 brothers. One older, one younger. We speak every day, either on the phone or a quick text. See them weekly or at least once a fortnight. Love them both to bits. Also have a sister who I speak to daily and I see her once a week without fail. I can’t imagine being without any of them.

Abcdefu · 05/02/2023 23:28

I have 3 brothers and close to them all in different ways,speak to all regularly. But closer to my sister.

Cantcook4shit · 05/02/2023 23:51

I have 3 brothers . But I don't see them. They are all older than me . Brother 1. left home when I was a kid . I don't remember him being at home at all. I last remember seeing him at My sisters wedding about 26 years ago . I forget he exists.

My 2nd brother we were kind of close as kids/teens he was not a good settled person though. I have not seem him for around 25 years

my 3rd brother is older than me as well . There has been a bit or contact here and there. But I was sexually abused by him. I have spoken to him a couple of times as an adult. He has a big alcohol problem. and had spend many years with mental health issues.

Mammyloveswine · 06/02/2023 00:27

I'm closer to my brother since our mam died.. we have a big age gap.

I'm closer to my non-twin sister than I am to my twin sister... we are just more alike in personality. My twin sister is very confident and forthcoming.

Frith2013 · 06/02/2023 00:30

My brother is 9 years younger.

Bit of a strange childhood but we're both close. We message daily and go for walks/shopping/watch football together.

I've been a single parent for 18 years and he used to help with homework and swimming when my children were young.

CandyLeBonBon · 06/02/2023 00:30

I had a brother. 3 years older than me. He ghosted me when I was about 18/19 - no clue why. Made occasional attempts to get in touch/get to know my kids etc then would re-ghost me. This went on for years. He ended up taking his own life in December 2020. I'll never know what it was about me that he hated so much and always wished for a closer relationship. It always makes me glad to read threads where loving sibling relationships are thriving.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 06/02/2023 01:06

I have a younger brother and a much younger half brother.

Was very close to my brother when we were younger due to a bad childhood. Nowadays I barely hear from him unless he wants something. His wife texts me regularly though. Seems a shame we're not closer.

Half brother is at uni but I mainly hear from him at weekends as he works in a DIY store and I'm renovating my house. He sends me info on the mega bargains. If I text him he always messages back, unlike my full brother. We're not close though.

3kidswouldfinishanyoneoff · 06/02/2023 01:59

I've three brothers, one I have no contact with, one I get on with very well and the other no falling out, last time I saw him was 2014.

WhiteNoiseMoreToys · 06/02/2023 02:22

My brother used to beat the shit out of me as a kid, 3 years between us and he used to be vile. My mum was at the end of her tether in our teen years.

once we had both left secondary school we became much closer; we have a really good bond now; we talk every day and see each other mostly once every week or two.

SirenSays · 06/02/2023 02:48

I went NC about 15 years ago. No real falling out, just horrible person who wasn't worth my love or time.

BackToWhereItAllBegan · 06/02/2023 02:51

I have a younger brother and he his one of the best people on the planet. We've lived in different countries for most of our adult lives but we'd both drop everything if either of us needed anything.
We don't get to see each other often, maybe once a year if we're lucky, but I love hanging out with him and I'm grateful for any time we do get to spend together.

3ofus3 · 06/02/2023 03:50

I have a brother and we have a great relationship. He's very caring and has helped me through a lot I don't know where I'd be without him! He is also the god parent to both of my DS (9&10m)

Opaljewel · 06/02/2023 08:58

I did have a brother and he was the most wonderful brother. He died when I was 18 of suicide. He was 24.

If you get on with your siblings, hug them tight. I would give anything to hug mine.

My relationship to him was one of awe. He was so cool and popular. All of the girls fancied him. He always had time for me. He wasn't perfect and had his own issues but I worshipped ground he walked on.
Always be my cool older brother 💜

Sarahcoggles · 06/02/2023 09:06

@Opaljewel similar story for me.
Older brother, we were close as kids, stayed great mates as teens, socialised together, dated each other's friends, used to stay up late chatting and laughing for hours.

He killed himself at age 20, I was 19 - nearly 36 years ago now, but I often wish we'd been able to share an adulthood, knowing each other's partners and kids.
You can't force family relationships, but if you're lucky enough to get on well, make the most of it.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Swipe left for the next trending thread