https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:37:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792522 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 17:13:55 +0000 PawPrints 2792522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For right now, honestly I'm selfishly loving the focused attention that my kids get from both sides of grandparents, who dote on them endlessly. We get kid-free weekends at least once a month since grandparents can't get enough of them. But looking a few years down the line, I really hope we get some cousins! I think we'll get a couple, so I do look forward to the fun of sightly bigger family gatherings and those relationships. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792505 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 15:48:09 +0000 snowjewelz 2792505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up with no cousins (we have; but close in age ones weren't local, and others were either way older or way younger). But never really felt the impact; I've always had friend from school/church (my sister also wasn't born till I was 7 so I was an only child for a while). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792493 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 14:44:59 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2792493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our boys have 5 cousins from my side of the family and none from DH's side yet. The thing is, my brothers and I have kids from newborn to age 9, and they all play together fantastically. Even the 9 year old...she plays with my 5 year old constantly, and they're probably the closest out of all of the cousins. And it's my niece and my son, so I can't even say it's due to the same gender. I think it depends on their personalities. They mesh very well together and he sees her almost like a big sister. </p> <p>On DH's side of the family, the boys get a ton of attention from the adults which gives us some extra time to relax. So I see it as a blessing. Eventually, DH's older brother will get married (he's going to propose soon). I know they both want kids, but they're both in their early 40s and aren't sure it's possible...so it's more of a we'll see situation. I think you should make the most of what you have and enjoy that the kids have a ton of attention now. If the kids eventually get cousins, nurture those relationships. Your kiddos might take to babies really well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792480 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 14:00:59 +0000 psw27 2792480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LOs will only have 1 cousin - SIL's daughter, unless my SIL remarries and has more but I doubt it. My brother isn't having kids and my BIL is mentally ill. My husband's stepbrothers are all in their late 40s and 50s and don't want children. I hope my LOs get to know their 1 cousin but it is what it is. I only have 3 cousins and I love them but we aren't close since they live across the country. My husband has a dozen or more and he doesn't talk to any of them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792468 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 13:33:15 +0000 alphagam84 2792468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes and it makes me so sad. My cousins have kids though so my daughter will have a close relationship with her second cousins but not direct cousins. Nothing we can do about it though. I am bitter against my SIL about it though as she originally wanted kids with my BIL but she's a witch now and won't have anymore kids which means no cousins for my daughter and no kids for my BIL and I know he wants them. (she has a child from a previous marriage). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792454 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 11:44:00 +0000 josina 2792454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have lots of cousins, and we had lots of fun as kids (although not super close as adults).</p> <p>My kids have 9 cousins on DH's side. DS has 2 cousins within a year of him and they love getting to play together, I love that for him. Getting together with my side isn't as fun because they have no cousins, and probably won't for awhile, which does make me sad! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792450 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 11:37:16 +0000 bubblegum 2792450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up the oldest of all my cousins, I'm talking huge age gaps and my kids are heading down the same path. They're the oldest on my side and have one older cousin on DH's side. I'm just happy my kids have each other at least. My sister and I had a huge gap so I flew solo! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792435 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 10:37:37 +0000 ValentineMommy 2792435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids have no 1st "full" cousins. My 1 brother doesn't want to have children, so they'll never have any on my side. DH has 1 full brother and 1 half brother. His half brother has two children, but they're much older (high school), while my kids are all under 5. So there's not much interaction there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792434 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 10:34:48 +0000 littlebug 2792434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have cousins, but they lived halfway across the country (we're in PA, they're in MI and WI), so we only saw each once or twice a year and we are not (and have never been) close. And my cousins on my dad's side live in WA so I've seen them about 4 times in my whole life. It never bothered me growing up, since it was all I knew. But once I met Hubs, who grew up with almost all his of relatives and cousins living locally, I realized that I had maybe missed out on something. I say maybe because while it's nice that they're all close, there's also a lot of drama and they are super enmeshed. </p> <p>All that to say, if it's all your kids know, they won't know what they're missing out on. And you may just be sparing them some family drama while you're at it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792425 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 10:11:45 +0000 skiierchck99 2792425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have any first cousins growing up...didn't have my first until I was in college. I have three now but all are ~20 years younger so more of an aunt relationship than anything. On the other hand, my DH has a number of first cousins who he lived near, but in the end he isn't close to any of them (I think their family was a little bit of the odd family out in both families).</p> <p>It's looking now like despite 4 siblings between the two of us our DD won't have any first cousins in the near future, maybe ever. It's a bummer, but obviously we can't control it so might as well just get over it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792414 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 09:35:10 +0000 jennlin821 2792414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Growing up, I had no cousins. My first cousin was born when I was 12. Then I spent my teen years babysitting them. So we’re not close in the traditional way, but do have a connection. Now they are all entering college and loving playing with my 12 mo DD. </p> <p>We did have my parents best friends kids, but even they were 5 &amp; 9 Year’s younger than me. </p> <p>So I didn’t know any different. I think it was good, because we learned to sit around the table to listen to the adults talk; we learned to play by ourselves at non- kid friendly places.</p> <p>I don’t feel like I’ve missed anything, and my DD having cousins her own age is very strange to me!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792382 Sun, 17 Dec 2017 23:26:24 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2792382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LOs don't have any nearby cousins and I think it sucks both for them and also for us because it'd be nice if we had those kind of get togethers! But it is what it is.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792323 Sun, 17 Dec 2017 14:03:07 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2792323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO doesn’t have any first cousins. My husband’s cousins have children LO’s age and in the years to come I bet he will have fun playing with them the 1-2 times a year he will see them. Our siblings are no way near becoming parents plus they far away it’s not like our LO and theirs would grow up together. I didn’t grow up with cousins near by and I got along better with the ones who were older than me anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792322 Sun, 17 Dec 2017 13:53:14 +0000 Mae 2792322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had tons of local cousins growing up and they were very much a part of my everyday life. We lived next-door to my aunt and her 4 kids, so we saw them constantly and every single holiday we saw cousins on both sides of the family. I loved growing up with a big close extended family!</p> <p>That being said, I only have 1 brother, who is childless and may never have kids, and my husband has 1 sister who has 1 child but they live 8 hours away. I know that it's unlikely cousins are ever going to be a regular part of my kids' lives. I wish it was different, but what can you do? On the other hand, we have friends with kids around the same age and I feel like they are basically surrogate cousins. We maybe don't see them for holidays, but I do expect they'll grow up with close relationships with these kids! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792312 Sun, 17 Dec 2017 12:04:56 +0000 csross217 2792312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No cousins here either! DH is an only child and I have one brother who is nowhere near ready for children. So when DD does have cousins there will be a huge age gap. I didn't have any cousins close in age growing up either but it really didn't bother me. Luckily we live in a neighborhood with a lot of small children so there will be plenty of kids DD's age to play with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792260 Sat, 16 Dec 2017 17:50:03 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2792260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My girls have one cousin-my husband's sister's daughter. She's 24! My girls are almost 3 and due in February. So, yeah... major age gap! And I don't think we'll be welcoming any more babies into the family on either side (unless we have more, that is). Both of our brothers are 44 and not interested in having kids. I was never close to any of my cousins but my husband was super close with his. Would be fun to see those relationships within the extended family, especially at the holidays. But, at least our kids will have each other! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792246 Sat, 16 Dec 2017 14:32:18 +0000 skipra 2792246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was always so jealous of the kids with close cousins. I have a lot of first cousins but the one closest in age is 9 years older than me. I have 2 younger second cousins that I was closer to but still didn't see them very much. I loved visiting with them though.<br /> My kids do have cousins but until recently they lived across the country and we only saw them once a year. They moved and are closer now which is so awesome. The youngest is 2.5 years older than my oldest and 4 years older than my middle LO so the three of them play great together but it is even really fun with just the much older cousins around. One of them stayed with us over the summer - he is 7 years older than my oldest - and all the kids had a great time with each other. So you never know, even with a bigger gap it can be fun! I hope you will have a new niece or nephew soon :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792243 Sat, 16 Dec 2017 13:24:09 +0000 erinbaderin 2792243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up with cousins who lived in BC (we live in Ontario) so we only saw them once a year. My kids have no cousins right now, and I don’t see my brother having kids any time soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792236 Sat, 16 Dec 2017 11:43:50 +0000 periwinklebee 2792236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No cousins here, my LO may eventually have a couple but they will not live close. </p> <p>I think what @wrkbrk: says is true - no one can have everything but there are hopefully other ways to create a good community. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792231 Sat, 16 Dec 2017 11:37:10 +0000 cake2017 2792231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO has cousins but they are all teenagers. He’s 6 months! So huge age gap and we are hoping my sisters have kids soon. Three aren’t married yet and one is married and trying! We are okay with it! He gets a lot of attention and love so I think he will be fine! It would be nice though - so hoping sooon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792216 Sat, 16 Dec 2017 10:37:43 +0000 Mama Bird 2792216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most of my kids' cousins are either way older, or live a plane flight away :crying: I want them to meet the long-distance cousins so bad, but it won't be anytime soon, and they certainly won't grow up seeing a lot of each other... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792209 Sat, 16 Dec 2017 10:23:17 +0000 MamaBear87 2792209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My lo has "cousins", they're actually my hubby's cousins but they're 7 and 4. They live in ca though so we don't see them that often.<br /> Other than that she has my close friends littles that she's known since 6 months or so, so almost 2 years now! They play together at least weekly so I'm so glad to have them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792207 Sat, 16 Dec 2017 07:59:39 +0000 wrkbrk 2792207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprild: My 2 year old son's cousins are teenagers and they live across the country. AND he is an only child. But I figure not everyone has everything! We try to make sure he spends lots of time around peers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792205 Sat, 16 Dec 2017 07:19:26 +0000 babypugs 2792205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LOs have one older cousin who lives in the other side of the country. We rarely see her. This actually heavily impacted my decision to have a second child. It initially made me sad to think that my kids won't enjoy the holiday craziness that I did growing up, but we've really adopted the "friends like family" concept. It's really helped me to have close friends with similarly aged kids that we intend to have grow up together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792204 Sat, 16 Dec 2017 07:15:27 +0000 looch 2792204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a ton of cousins, but they all live on another continent, I just had two growing up, they are males and they were much older than I was. I think it's part of why I dislike holidays so much, they're boring! </p> <p>My son doesn't have local cousins either, and we make the best of it. It's a fact of life with families spread out all over and I try not to create fantasies of how we wish things were. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792202 Sat, 16 Dec 2017 01:42:26 +0000 lamariniere 2792202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I mean, it is what it is. I have a ton of cousins but we were never close and never saw each other outside of family get-togethers, and half of them lived in another country. I have younger cousins (10+ years younger) who I definitely wouldn’t recognize if we crossed paths. For me, it’s one of those you don’t miss what you don’t know situations. My kids have 5 cousins close in age but on two different continents so we don’t see them very often, and we’ve never even met my brother’s twins. We do FaceTime so at least they can say hi. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792197 Sat, 16 Dec 2017 00:20:33 +0000 DesertDreams88 2792197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My children will most likely only have 2 cousins, 5-7+ years older than them and across the country. Yes, this is disappointing. </p> <p>My mom was one of 5 and my dad was one of 9 (a blended family). I grew up with 27 cousins, most of whom lived nearby. We got together regularly. Their ages range from 20 years older than me, down to 15 years younger than me (so a spread of about 35 years). All the ages are decently spread out so there is a cousin every 1 or 2 years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792194 Fri, 15 Dec 2017 23:33:25 +0000 maddyz 2792194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids don't have cousins. I grew up 1 of 23 grandchildren on my moms side. I was the 4th oldest and always the one chasing the little kids around and helping to care for them all. It was loads of fun. My youngest cousin is 12 years younger than me.</p> <p>Two of my cousins have kids but they love far away and we don't see them much. </p> <p>I just had dinner with neighbors and it's been wonderful watching our kids grow up together. I know it's different than cousins. We were all friends before we had kids. it's such a treat and we make the best of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792190 Fri, 15 Dec 2017 23:06:16 +0000 Foodnerd81 2792190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up with no cousins until I was 16- and then three of my moms siblings had kids within a year. Now I have six cousins but they are all 16-19 years younger than me. We never had much of a relationship with them, but then my mom isn’t super close with her siblings. It did make me a little sad growing up but I had four siblings so it’s not like holidays were quiet! </p> <p>My kids now have 5 cousins and they are in the middle to younger side of the crew. It’s great when we get together but then live kind of far so we don’t see them as often as I’d like to. I’m hoping when the kids are a little older it will be easier to travel and see the cousins (and my sisters!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kids-have-no-cousins-anyone-else#post-2792189 Fri, 15 Dec 2017 22:45:39 +0000 jhd 2792189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have five cousins but we grew up on different continents so I guess I never had the picture of all the cousins being together on holidays in my mind. I will say that my LO is 3 and his oldest cousin is 11 and they adore each other. So although the age gap may change things a little they can still be close. </p>