Hellobee Boards Topic: Is living close to family important to you?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Is living close to family important to you? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 28 May 2026 23:19:05 +0000 edelweiss on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536926 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 12:18:01 +0000 edelweiss 2536926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ it was to me because i wanted the extra support and i get along with my parents, but of course it depends on each family. i hope that this move turns out to be good for your family, even if not perfect--however hardly anything is forever, and if it doesn't work out, you can move again (not awesome, i know, but you won't be stuck). yellowbird on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536840 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 10:50:32 +0000 yellowbird 2536840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not really. My family is really small and spread out already. I could never live where my dad and step mom do because of limited career opportunities and an overall crappy place to live. It's more important for me to live where my little family unit will thrive. I do wish we could live close to dhs family. They live in a town that I love and we may move back there one day if the right opportunity comes around. psw27 on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536792 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 10:17:58 +0000 psw27 2536792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We live far away, and I can't see it changing so I try not to think about it. Luckily both my mom and my MIL are awesome about getting on planes to come watch LO if we need it. It stinks on a more day to day basis to not have the support if we need it. I would love if my LO could be with my mom 1-2 days a week, but its never going to happen so I just don't think about it much. Maysprout on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536776 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 10:03:03 +0000 Maysprout 2536776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ For us it's a consideration but not everything. I'd be sad about living a plane ride away for an extended period of time. Right now we live about 3 and 5 hrs away and probably will move a bit closer in a few years, but I don't think we'll go to either the same towns. I think it's been somewhat good for us to establish ourselves as parents with a bit of space. travelgirl1 on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536763 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 09:53:33 +0000 travelgirl1 2536763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not really.... We moved a seven hour flight away (before we had kids) then had kids while living away, and it was fine. Now we live an hour's drive from my family and in the same house as my in laws. It had its ups and downs. The jury is still out on what our final decision will be, but I guess it would be harder to live away from them now because our kids know them and would miss them. snowjewelz on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536681 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 08:27:47 +0000 snowjewelz 2536681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Really depends on your relationships! We have both families close by (20-30 minutes), and it's super important to us, not just in the aspect that they can help with LO(s) but we are both close to our family and want to see each other often. My family left my grandparents/relatives to move here, and I know it's hard for my mom to be so far away from her family and I always have anxiety about emergencies, so I really value being close to family. BKCaribBaby on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536657 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 07:59:14 +0000 BKCaribBaby 2536657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It is important, but we are not uprooting our lives to make it happen. My mother actually moved away from us right before I got pregnant with LO. To move to be closer to my in-laws and mother would require a complete a total career change for DH since his job exists primarily in certain parts of the country and who knows what I would do. While my in-laws live in a nice area, it’s not where I think it’s best for our multicultural family to live. So we are where we are. petitenoisette on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536655 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 07:54:57 +0000 petitenoisette 2536655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It is very important to me to live near my family! My husband and I dream sometimes about packing up and moving someplace else for a little while but then I think about my parents not seeing my LO like they do weekly right now and it makes me too sad :( Also we live close to my sister and 3 of her cousins and I really want my kids to grow up being close with them. I love my cousins but didn't grow up nearby and we really aren't close. My ILs I'm ok with the 4 hour drive we have now but I do wish they would visit us so our daughter could see them more. She's 14 months and they haven't come once since their visit when she was born (there are health issues at play but not for the entire time...). MOMTOLITTLEB on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536641 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 07:32:09 +0000 MOMTOLITTLEB 2536641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It is very important to us. Even before we were parents, we saw our families a lot. I have two nephews and I like being able to see them regularly. We've never had a non-family babysitter and of course I would hire one if needed but it gives me peace of mind knowing he's being cared for by a loving family member. looch on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536598 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 06:33:39 +0000 looch 2536598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes, it is. It's impossible to be close to both our families, but we live in the same town as my parents. No one has ever just dropped by, I do it all the time to my parents but they NEVER come here unless we specifically invite them out of respect for my husband. Mrs. Bee on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536583 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 04:37:33 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2536583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I wish we were closer, but I guess not enough to move! Neither of us likes each other's city! (LA & Brooklyn) But because we live so far apart, we have spent all our vacation time the past 5 years visiting family in LA and the philippines. Ms. RV on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536580 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 04:21:09 +0000 Ms. RV 2536580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My sister is looking to move closer (ideally walking distance) to us (currently about 15 minutes away). I am totally excited this. Other family? Meh. lamariniere on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536569 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 02:21:00 +0000 lamariniere 2536569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Less important to me and my DH. I've lived far from family since going away to college. Currently, we live on a different continent from my family and a few countries over from my DH's family. My DH has lived on 3 different continents in the last 10 years. We are both on good terms with our families, but we don't feel the need to live near them. SugarplumsMom on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536567 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 01:54:28 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2536567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No. I love my mom, but I actually prefer to live away from her. FannyMae on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536479 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 21:12:37 +0000 FannyMae 2536479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Super important for me. I live a 20 minute walk/5 min drive from my mum, and I check in on her everyday. She's a widow, lives on her own and works full time, so I like to know that if she needs me I am not far at all. My mum is very independent but feels secure with us close by, and also I like her near in case of emergencies with the kids. My in laws live close as well, more like a 10 minute drive, and its good to pop in and see them as well. catlady on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536426 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:51:50 +0000 catlady 2536426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It's hard for me to say. We live about 30-60 min from almost all our family members on both sides (but more like 2+ hrs in weekday traffic). It's an annoying distance because it's far enough that we don't get much help from anyone (they will babysit, but only for a couple hours at a time on occasional weekends), but we also feel obligated to go to all sorts of family events which are always at other people's houses. Sometimes I wish we either lived much closer or much further away. I hate that every major holiday, we spend half our day in the car driving from one house to another. ScarletBegonia on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536417 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:38:09 +0000 ScarletBegonia 2536417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not really. My immediate and extended family includes many diplomats (including my dad) so we were always spread all around the world, and met up at holidays/visits. This may have contributed to me moving away after university and settling possibly as far away as can be from my family! I feel that our relationship is as strong if not stronger than if we lived in the same country/city. My son doesn't get to see my parents more than once or twice a year but this was the case for my grandparents and I as well, and they are and were my greatest mentors and inspiration, so i know that distance and physical time spent together doesn't necessarily come into play when discussing strength of relationships. We live in the same city as my father in law and he's seen my son less than my parents who live a 20 hour flight (minimum) away. My son doesn't even know him, whereas he recognises my parents voices immediately and tells them he loves them all the time. Beth24 on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536402 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:23:50 +0000 Beth24 2536402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes it is important to me. My husband and I lived in the PNW for a few years and loved it there but moved back to my hometown (in the Midwest) when we wanted to start a family. My mom and sisters watch my daughter (and will watch future children) while I work. Their help has been amazing and I love the relationship they have with my daughter. My husband and I dream of retiring and moving to the west coast down the road, but we plan on staying here until then. Synchronicity on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536389 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:57:52 +0000 Synchronicity 2536389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ So, so important! We are an hour away right now and would like to be closer. I think 15 minutes would be amazing. Mrs Panda on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536385 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:53:56 +0000 Mrs Panda 2536385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We moved across the country to be close to both of our families....and honestly, I kind of regret it. hilsy85 on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536372 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:44:31 +0000 hilsy85 2536372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It is important to me, not only because of help but because our parents love our kids so much and it breaks my heart to think of them not having a good relationship. We are moving from 30 min away to 2 hours away and that feels like a lot! Alba4 on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536369 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:43:53 +0000 Alba4 2536369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes! We rely on both sets for childcare weekly. I wish we lived even closer. My parents live 45 min away and my in-laws are 2 hours away. LemonJack on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536346 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:21:25 +0000 LemonJack 2536346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think it depends on your relationship with them. If you think it will be stressful to live near them I'd hesitate to leave a location you love. We live about a half hour from one set of parents and an hour from the other and it's good for us. We love having them near enough to see them often. I wouldn't want to be further away than we are. travelingnanny on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536335 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:04:11 +0000 travelingnanny 2536335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope. My family is big, complicated, and filled with drama so I prefer to live far away. Right now I'm about a 10ish hour drive away and it is great. I currently do not have kids but I do not have any plans to move back home once we do have kids. It helps that I am so close with my nanny family and built a great support system here. Are the grandparents going to visit you a lot in Chicago? Edit- BF's family is 15 minutes away but we're not super close with them. Rainbow Sprinkles on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536327 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 17:48:15 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2536327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pretty important. We almost moved across the country for DH's work, and leaving family was my biggest fear. As of now we are 3ish blocks and 20 minutes from our families. peaches1038 on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536324 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 17:45:46 +0000 peaches1038 2536324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No. We live 12 hours by car and it's fine. I miss them but it's good for us. DH, DS and I are our own little family. Also, it makes visits so special and fun. Pumpkin Pie on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536322 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 17:42:17 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2536322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I sometimes wish my family was closer because I could use the help. But, life happens, and we have to make choices that are best for us. Mrs. Pickle on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536318 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 17:39:05 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2536318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It's very important to me and my husband. We live 16 hours (by car) away from our families right now. We're trying to move to be about 1.5 hours away from them. We're both close to our moms and to each other's. We want DD to grow up close to her grandparents. runnerd on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536316 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 17:33:58 +0000 runnerd 2536316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm happy with our distance - 2 hours away; close enough for weekend support with kids, but far enough that we don't see them every other day like when we lived 5min away :) That said, I would move a plane ride away without much hesitation for the right location while DH isn't comfortable taking our kids more than 5-6 hours away from their grandparents. Baby Boy Mom on "Is living close to family important to you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-living-close-to-family-important-to-you#post-2536309 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 17:28:12 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2536309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think it can be a great asset if the relationship is there or can be built. I would love to prioritize it, but there are just so many factors in where to live. We would happily move near my parents but alas can not because they are overseas and we wouldn't be employed. We have many times considered moving near my in-laws but there are complicating factors that haven't made it a viable possibility yet. It's not off the table though.