Those of you who have your sisters or brothers living nearby .... how do you like it?

[Spidermama]

I'm just wondering. My family is really far flung and sometimes I wonder how much easier it would be if we could all be nearer and help each other out with childcare, school runs, shopping etc.

However, some people I know who still have an extended family network seem to think it can also be cloying.

I get on ok with my brother and sister, but only because we live hundreds of miles apart

My PIL live very close to us and are a fantastic support.

I get on ok with my brother and sister, but only because we live hundreds of miles apart

My PIL live very close to us and are a fantastic support.

Oops - sorry for double post!

Oops - sorry for double post!

AAAAAAAARGH

Littlefish.

Littlefish.

My sister used to live 20 minutes away and it was great. We're quite close and she adores my dds. I loved it. She moved to the other side of the country 3 months ago and I miss her so much. I can't wait for her to come home for christmas.

I see my sister 2 or 3 times a week and we get on really well. Her children are much older than mine though so we can't share babysitting although she does do some for me (as do her DSs!)

Another sister and a brother also live in the same town but we don't see each other as much. The children go to different schools and we really only see each other on the school holidays (family of teachers )and at birthdays etc which is a bit sad but I think that's just life....

I love living 5 minutes from my brother, but he did my head in staying with me and wrecking my house with crap DIY, lol!

My brother died at 4 weeks old before I was born.
I have no family now as my parents disowned me last year. My parents did the same things to theire families, thus I didn't have a lot of contact with aunts, uncles, cousins etc.

You are all very lucky having family so close. Appreciate them!

I lived all my married an child rearing life away from my family. I had wonderful friends but nothing can replace family.
When they came over for a holiday I would feel so miserable when they went back, I'd get a taste of what real family felt like.
My inlaws were crap.
I was always envious when friends would invite me to theirs at holiday season etc... see them all sitting and laughing.
I'm the 4th out of 5 bros and sis's...
Then I divorced (having been away since 1976) and my family got me back to the UK. They helped me no end. Both brothers live within 1/2 hour of me and sis way up in Bolton, but me and DD love getting the train and travelling up there to stay, and she comes to me. I never, never take it for granted. To me it is a luxury to have them close. (One sister is a bit nutty so I don't see her much at all, but that is ok).

My sister and I phone each other nearly every day. She lives 200 miles away but we visit as often as possible i love her kids and she loves mine. I wish we lived nearer.

My brother lives in London and I dont see him much or talk to him that often we have just grown a little apart. We get on ok when we see each other though.

My sister is a few doors away from me and i like it, we walk the children to school together as her dd is the same age as my ds.
Apart from that i don't spend loads of time with her which is a good balence for us.

My brother and his family live 5 minutes away but I never see them.
This is because my SIL is a jealous spiteful cow who won't let him see his sister or his nephews and niece.
I miss him all the time, but I've given up trying to change things now.

Purple one - that is sad. Have you ever considered getting in touch with your cousins etc?
My mum got in touch with a cousin that she hadnt seen since she was a child (she wasnt disowned just hadnt kept up contact) when they were in their 60's and they got on really well...

My sister lives down the road. She and her DP moved to live with us when they came back from living abroad, first in our house and then down the road, that was 7 years ago, and then we all moved 300 miles together and bought houses down the road from each other again. 4 adults and 5 children by that point.

It's great, we have always got on well and we have similar aged children and we do share a lot of childcare between the 4 adults. The children go to and fro between the houses quite freely.

I live 10 minutes drive from my brother and DSIL and nephew and I love it. My DSIL is a lovely person and we get on really well.
I wouldn't have been able to get through the first couple of weeks after having DD (Emergency CS then getting an infection) She moved in here for a bit and looked after me.

My brother and younger sister still live at home with my mum 2 roads fro me, its gerat.
My other sister lives 2 minutes away and I bloody hate it We don't get on and I would rather avoid her but its just not possible

Most of my family live miles away, but one sister lives a few doors away. It is really nice to have her close by, but she is single with no children so although she is always willing to help out, I rarely ask as she has her own life to lead.
I prefer she chooses to pop in regularly for a cuppa and chat

I used to live near both my brothers and about a half hour train journey from my parents. It was great because we all got on well and descended on the parental home every Sunday for lunch. We moved 3 yrs ago taking mum with us (dad died years ago now).

Vis a vis my brothers, we didn't socialise on a day to day basis but would get together from time to time, and could always go and see each other when we needed/wanted to. Sometimes we'd spend an evening together with other mates - not necessarily mutual - and occasionally go to a gig, restaurant etc.

Now we're 150 miles away it's harder to keep track of each other's lives and well-being. I don't regret it that much as we still have phones, e-mail and trains still run, so we're not badly separated. I'd quite like my elder bro to make good on his idea of emigrating because then we'd have fantastic holidays!

My bro and sister and me still live at home. My brother in the room next to mine and my sister is across the landing. I have another brother who lives away from home and I miss him lots!!

I would love to live near my brother and sister. I am in England though and they are in the Northeastern US.

My sister doesn't live that far away and we get to see her if my mum's down, but at the moment she's working hard to qualify as a solicitor on the other side of London, we have a toddler and another on the way and are permanently exhausted. We love each other and she adores ds, but I guess the other thing is that there's a big age gap between us and we're at different stages in our lives.

I still don't see as much of them as I'd like, but it's also nice that I have two aunts and several families of cousins living within a few miles of me.