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MNHQ

Tell Matalan what modern family life looks like for you - £250 prize draw! NOW CLOSED

194 replies

MichelleMumsnet · 20/04/2015 11:04

Matalan have asked us to find out about your modern family life… who do you consider “family”, how do you stay connected, what makes you laugh out loud together?

Here’s what they say, “A family-run business for thirty years, Matalan has always worked to support UK families by taking the time to listen, understand and evolve in order to make sure our products are the right fit for happy homes.

What’s right for the modern family however, looks very different to what it did when we first opened our doors three decades ago. We’re seeing that family today comes in many different sizes and forms and that it is being reshaped and redefined to meet the demands of modern life”.

So what does family mean to you? Tell us about your favourite things you do as a family, what makes you smile and how you stay connected with loved ones.

Everyone who comments on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win £250 to spend in store or online at Matalan.co.uk!

Thanks and good luck

MNHQ

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6
teabagsmummy · 20/04/2015 21:54

My family are me my dh and ds, my parents and mil live 4 miles away which we see weekly my db and his family live in cario we keep in touch via email fb he has never meet my ds and I haven't meet his. But he is coming to uk in June which we are all very excited about

CrushedCan · 20/04/2015 22:27

My modern family is me and my little girl! We have lots of support from all my family and friends who offer to take her for sleepover so I can get a "night out" which is code for "get all the housework done in one night". I work full time and I feel guilty I don't spend enough time with her but its what I have to do to ensure we have a comfortable
Life. Me and my other family stay connected by walking round the corner and seeing them! We laugh out loud at each other's misfortunes (not in a mean way!) and the never ending innuendos!!

AvaAmulet · 20/04/2015 22:41

Family means my 'support group' of people who I know inside and out, and vice-versa, for better or worse, who I love and who love me unconditionally Smile My little family is me, DH, DD and our 2 cats. My wider family consists of my parents, my sister and her little family, and my grandfather.

Favourite things to do is anything together - DD, DH and I, whether we're just hanging out at home or away on day trips / holidays we try to make every day special and memorable. All of us curled up on the sofa with treats, watching a movie I've watched a million times is like watching it for the first time again with my DD sat beside me, eyes full of wonder, and I love seeing 'new' things through her eyes. I also love taking her somewhere new, whether it's new to her or to all of us, 10 miles away or 10 hours away, it's so exciting, creating memories for her, and us Wink

What makes me smile is watching my daughter enjoying learning and developing new skills, her big personality in such a little body shining through in the wonderfully insightful, comedic and honest things she says. And of course, just seeing my daughter happy puts a smile on my face Grin

I stay connected by talking and spending time together. I talk about everything to DD and DH - what we've done, what we're doing, and what we are going to do. We plan stuff as a family, reminisce about things we've done
And chat about what's going on right now. Where my wider family is concerned, I try to talk to my sister and DM daily, either via email, text or telephone to fill them in on anything important, or just to catch up in general. We try to plan large family day trips as often as possible and go away, all of us together, usually for a long weekend somewhere in the UK, at least once a year Brew

Rummikub · 20/04/2015 22:49

My family is me and my dc. Plus grandparents, aunties and cousins. An extended family which enables us to help each other.

Rummikub · 20/04/2015 22:51

We stay connected by seeing each other regularly. And via text/email.

sharond101 · 20/04/2015 22:59

OUr family includes me, my Husband, almost 3 year old Son, our dog and our unborn baby. We do lots of outdoors things together, walking, playing football, going to the park and our favourite is picnics. We love indoor discos and dance in the living room till we are tired. We try and laugh as much as we can and cuddle lots to stay connected.

Jellytummys123 · 21/04/2015 00:15

My immediate family is me, dp and our dd. Massive extended family streaming out globally including my mum and new partner, my dad and his new partner, my ex step dad and his new partner and all my step siblings and sisters as well as over 30 cousins and great cousins
We meet up at big occasions and every Sunday I see one 'set of family'

Also speak via Facebook and upload pictures of kids regularly as well as some members use an 'icloud sharing' Album where we all post pictures privately between ourselves.

My favourite time is being snuggled up on the sofa with me dp and dd watching a film (while she babbles away!)

PopTarts · 21/04/2015 00:36

Dh and I are quite protective of just our little family (DH and me and 2 dd's) because we've been through some very bad times together in relation to dh's parents & siblings.

Although we are still in regular contact with them, there are firm boundaries in place and they know that we would never allow it again.

Our family time is usually in the evenings when we are all at home from work/school/various clubs. We love eating together and chatting, or snuggling on the sofa with blankets Smile if dh and I go out for a meal we almost always take the girls.

Family to us means us four. We make decisions together. We allow and encourage the girls to voice their opinions and have a say. We love each other and we put up with each other's fussiness! If anyone gets huffy we all say 'calm down calm down' together Grin

janeyf1 · 21/04/2015 06:55

Modern Family Life to me is a busy juggling act made easier by teamwork and support

hiddenmichelle · 21/04/2015 07:06

Juggling lots of things, getting them right and wrong, but essentially its about trying to spend as much time as a family as possible.

Jaq2015 · 21/04/2015 07:11

I think the definition of family has changed a lot, even since my parents generation. When I was growing up my family was very much my Mum and Dad (I'm an only child) but as I've grown up and times have changed, I now class my close friends, some of my colleagues and extended family as being part of my immediate family network. My partners sister are like real sisters to me even though I'm not married or even engaged to their brother!

We all tend to stay in touch through text messages, Whatsapp messages or facebook. Just tagging someone in a status or sending them a picture of something you find funny keeps you connected - this wasn't possible even 10 years ago.

It's things like that that make us laugh too. Taking videos and pictures means that family can be part of the moment even if they're not there. Technology!

shawbarbara · 21/04/2015 07:27

To me a modern family can be anything from a Mum and child - to Mum Dad Grandparents(both sets) Aunts and Uncles. I do think however families are tending to get smaller and less support from extended family member which for me is a shame and a loss for the children.

Ravan1 · 21/04/2015 07:38

I agree modern families have changed a great deal,when I was young I was surrounded by family,mum stayed at home and dad went to work.

Nowadays family seems to spead,both parents usually work.My family live all over the north east and I live in wales.To get together as a family now is a mission. I see all of the once a year,but the only time we are together as a whole is at weddings and funerals.Thank goodness for the telephone.

BizziLiz · 21/04/2015 07:41

Our family has stepchildren and adopted children both in this country and abroad - they refer to each other as 'the cuzlets' and skype and facebook each other constantly.

The adults talk on the phone and here we see each other at least once a week and email abroad about once a week as well as phoning about once a fortnight.

We know what's going on and can support each other even at the other side of the world. Love has no limits.

Gmat38 · 21/04/2015 07:44

Small family surrounding one son. We have a lot of relations but these days we hardly ever see them, everyone always seem so busy. People (including me) find it easier to spend a couple of minutes on Facebook rather than spending a day meeting up with family.

maryandbuzz1 · 21/04/2015 07:52

My family has changed this year with my son going off to Uni. I couldn't believe the pain I would feel, it was like grief. My husband and I have had to get used to doing things alone with only ourselves to consider.
I have a very small family but keep,in contact by phone, email and texting. We try to travel abroad as much as we can.

devito92 · 21/04/2015 08:05

Positive and negetive, my son has all the opportunities I didn't but the social climate is very unpredictable

finleypop · 21/04/2015 08:26

Family to me is my husband, son & mum. There are others, such as my sister & dad, but I don't feel unconditional love for them like I do for the others.

Family life seems to be more splintered in this day & age, maybe because we seem to live such busy lives.

I go out of my way to spend time with my 3 most cherished family members, but the others, I tend to treat in the manner that they treat me, which is not always how I would like to be treated

glenka · 21/04/2015 08:50

Family doesn't always have to be somebody you are related to. As they say you can't choose your family.

maisiesnan · 21/04/2015 09:05

My Family consists of my daughter and granddaughter, my son and his fiancee ( who's pregnant so baby too) and my mum.We do have other relatives but very rarely have contact. What makes me smile...the excitement and joy regarding the expected baby especially from my 4 year old granddaughter.Obviously my granddaughter gives me lots of happy times but overall the best times are when we are all together which is 3/4 Times a week

jt75 · 21/04/2015 09:14

A family is supporting each other in times of trouble and spending time together enjoying activities.

beeelaine · 21/04/2015 09:17

Ours is a small family with extended family that live far away so we use technology to keep in touch! We laugh a lot at things as we find all kinds of things so funny! I think family life has changed a lot since the traditional times, its more fast paced, and spare time is spent as headless chickens running to this and that trying to squeeze too much in when the man is home from work - and I think some of the fun has been restricted in that things seem to have to be more "organised" for kids... Stores like Matalan are great for the "oh by the way mum i need new PE pumps for tomorrow" which is sprung on mums after teatime the day before! I think most people these days as families try to do the best they can on their budget to give the best for their family that they can afford, but being a 70's kid I can see so much has changed, food has changed - wow what you can eat for tea these days..., what kids wear is important now (it never used to be) and now if you do sports you seem to need a kit instead of just the same old shorts and pumps!

hdh747 · 21/04/2015 09:23

My family is me, hubby, son and daughter. Sadly we have little contact with my own relatives, and only occaisional contact with hubby's. However we have some very good friends that we do consider family now. I have often heard the saying, 'you can choose your friends but not your family' - but I disagree.

andywedge · 21/04/2015 09:38

It's a bit like The Simpsons here, but not quite as yellow

halestone · 21/04/2015 09:48

My family consists of alot of people, mostly relatives but some close friends. Myself and DP have a Dd and a DsD. And look after my neice so my sister can work days. Dp works nights, i work evenings so that we don't have to pay for childcare. My grandparents and parents visit daily/weekly. We spend time together when we can and as its rare that we are off together we try to make the most of it.