These days there seems to be a decline of family anyways. Divorces, and live togethers & all. It seems that friends, family and other people are all mingled now. There's no bounderies anymore and kids today don't understand the blood ties from the friends, let alone ties through marriage. Most don't understand or put anymore significants about grandparents or uncles/aunts cousins. One of my grandsons said his "aunt so & so" had done this. Well, I know his mother had no siblings, my son only has two brothers, how is he going to have an aunt. They aren't being taught family structure. A prime example is when I was getting a mailbox in a nearby town, and said the "family" was going to be using it so I want to put the "surname" down only. No clue they all would have the same last name or "surname" because it's rare these days.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BCboy
I feel another contributing factor is that now relatives move vast distances apart.
Myself, well I only moved a 7 hour drive from where i was raised.
But I have relatives that haved moved thousands of miles away, and to other countries.
Actually my Aunt Lorna that moved to Arkansas about 35 years ago, just passed away this winter.
I have not seen her, or my cousins that are her 2 daughters in about 25 years or so.
Now I wish I had made a point to go visit them, but its rather late now.
I come from a small family, spread out, and never really go to know them. My definition of family is wide consequently.
Most of my direct family is overseas, so it's rare we see each other, and we've never managed to get together for a big bash with everyone from the other side of the pond all in one sitting. We do get visits, but it's never like a real reunion.
Our extended family here on the other hand has rocking parties and get togethers at least once a year. Counting all the kids and grandparents there's usually upwards of 50 people drifting in and out throughout the day or weekend.
My wife's side of the family is pretty extensive, and most of them are close enough to get together on a more or less regular basis.
I feel another contributing factor is that now relatives move vast distances apart.
Myself, well I only moved a 7 hour drive from where i was raised.
But I have relatives that haved moved thousands of miles away, and to other countries.
Actually my Aunt Lorna that moved to Arkansas about 35 years ago, just passed away this winter.
I have not seen her, or my cousins that are her 2 daughters in about 25 years or so.
Now I wish I had made a point to go visit them, but its rather late now.
I agree about the distance. I have a small family, and none of us live in my home town anymore. I'm in PA, my sister is in California, and my mom retired to FL. We were born and raised in Ohio.
Another thing that cut back on reunions is the very opposite situation....many grandparents are living with...or really close ....to the families to help out. I live with my daughter and 2 preschool grandsons. Every day is a reunion...lol.
My family is so small, I mentioned them ALL in this one post.
I just got an invite to a HUGE family reunion in the Phoenix, AZ area. Huge, last one this big was in Tucson many yrs back. They say many Zonies, Calies and Sonies are gonna be there. I can't go so there will be ONE less Zonie there. Too bad they gotta pick one I can't do.
My Christmas vacation was spent very differently this year! We went to Mexico and got to see how they celebrated it. We got to all go outside by the beach on Christamas eve and let the balloons go up in the air!
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