Parenting and Religion

This weekend was a long overdue family reunion, for my dad’s family.
When I was a kid, we had one every summer- at least it seems like we did.
As far as I know, there has been at least a 20 year lapse.
We had fun seeing cousins who we have lost touch with, as well as family who came a long way to be there.
I was informed that we are going to plan on doing this every last weekend in August.
I am already looking forward to next year. I am really hoping more family can attend than this year. It was great, seeing everyone, but there was not enough notice to give people who would have to fly time to plan.
My kids were amazed at how many cousins they have that they had never met. I told them this was a small crowd compared to how many there really are. (We are talking 2nd, 3rd, and 4th cousins)
I grew up knowing my extended family. I was even very good friends with my 3rd cousin. My kids don’t even know all of their first cousins….how sad.
Of course my husband is the 5th of 8 kids, so his older nieces and nephews are much older than our kids and most of them live far away from us.
Looking back on family life when I was a kid has given me a glimpse of how blessed I am to have been surrounded by family while I was growing up.
My dad’s cousins were more like additional aunts and uncles to me. They still are.
I was also amazed at how much my Aunt Ann looks like grandma, and her brother (my uncle Danny), looks like grandpa.
Then we saw my dad’s cousins- Maryanne looks like her mother (my great Aunt Betty), and Tommy looks like their father(great Uncle Bill). It was a little creepy seeing them all together- almost like seeing the two couples again.
Even though the years have gone fast, the memories of picnics at Sullivan’s Monument and cookouts in Grandma’s yard will stay with me. I hope my kids will have similar memories of playing with cousins, and seeing a lot of family- even if they don’t know who everyone is.
Family has a certain connection- even when you meet a cousin you hadn’t known before, there is a connection immediately that bonds you together.
Family is like that- bonded, even after years of no contact-much stronger than super-glue.