If you live abroad, how many times a year do you visit your parents ?

[Cabotine]

I’m in Uk and parents are in France, I haven’t been yet and I don’t think I’ll go this year. I want to prioritise an holiday with my own family and I don’t really want to see my parents as it’s complicated ! I still feel guilty for not going.

I’m in the US, elderly Dad in the UK. Before he was widowed, we’d visit about once a year. Now that he’s v. old and alone, I try to go three times a year. He lives in a retirement flat so I have to arrange accommodation as well so it’s a faff.

I try to get at least one child over to see him once a year. They’re 20 and 16 so it depends who’s available.

To be blunt, time isn’t on our side as people his age keep dying off. I’m v. aware that each visit could be the last one so I don’t leave it too long between visits.

@Brefugee I think it’s all in the context of the relationship and characters involved.

If my loving parent were still alive then I would visit far more often. But the parent who remains is a pretty difficult character who really doesn’t like having visitors in their house or going out anywhere, so that makes it rather tricky to see them! Staying with them is out of the question, so it rapidly becomes quite expensive for a very short visit. Combine that with a five hour drive and twice a year is probably more than reasonable.