does your family have family reunions; if not do you wish they did?

Question

if you have them: how often? Is it more trouble than its worth or do you enjoy the time and can't wait to see them next time?
I'M curious because our social fabric is being torn apart wider each year and families dont appear to be as close to each other as just one generation ago. What's your opinion?

the 12 remarks so far are very interesting to me. thx 4 responses. i feel
like alot of you (the sadness from the lack of closeness).Try organizing one for next year. Print out question/ans and send it to the appropriate loved ones to help jump start the desire in others. After reading just these few answers i'm going to read some of these at my reunion in august. thx again.

Answer 1

My family used to have Lobster Picnics every summer. I have quite a few siblings and nieces and nephews. It was a lot of fun having us all together and spending time.

We don't do this anymore. Now we never get together for Holidays, Anniversaries or Birthdays. My nieces and nephews are all different ages and live in all different states, and they hardly know most of their aunts and uncles. It's very sad.

My siblings are between the ages of 14-36 and there are 10 of us. The nieces and nephews are between 1-15 years old. My parents are either remarried or moved far away. Most of used to live in New Hampshire, but now we are spread out between NH, Michigan, Texas and Florida.

Answer 2

When I was much younger, we had family reunions every year without fail. I didn't have a large family, but it wasn't small either. However, as I got older, my extended family couldn't work together through their problems and it caused an huge amount of disorganization. Family reunions became no more, no one kept in touch for years and would avoid someone.

My mother came a strong family background; to her, family is important, and she has been trying to re-understand some relatives. Last year, we went to my great-aunt's 80th birthday party. I was mostly uncomfortable there -- it wasn't a great feeling. It was more of out respect because the aunt was 80, like people had better things to do.

Yes, sometimes I wish my family acted like a real family.

Answer 3

My family used to have family reunions every two years. It used to be so much fun and such a special time to get together and spend time with the ones you love.
After some of my aunts and uncles started passing away its like the family just isn't family anymore. We only have occasional get togethers that only a handful of relatives will attend. It is so sad and disapointing because this is not how we were raised.
I understand that people grow up and have their own lives and families to deal with, however people should never be too busy for family.
We weren't raised like this. We were always together and always knew one another. Now it seems that when someone mentions someone in my family, you hardly know who the person is. Its sad because I know that my mom and her sister and brother would be highly be disapointed in the way our family has become. Only getting together for funerals and occasional weddings.
I think that in order to get back to where we used to be it starts with each individual being responsible for their own actions. What can I do to get closer to my family. I have honestly put more effort in trying to keep more in contract with my loved ones, however what more can you do when you make phone calls and send emails and never get a responses??

Thanks so much for this question. This is a serious problem in my family. Good luck with your family and may God bless you all.

Answer 4

I haven't seen any of my cousins, etc since I was about 11 years old. That's been (oh god, I'm about to give my age away,lol) 40 years ago. It sucks. They are spread out in all different states. My parents are both deceased, and when they passed away, I lost contact with a lot of people. I wish we had done the reunion thing more often, but it was almost impossible since most of the family was spread out like they are. I would LOVE to get reacquainted with my family, if I could find them all!

Answer 5

I can't remember going to a fam reunion since I was like 10. My family is from all over and we are none close at all!! I wish things were different... I would love to have a big happy family... I'm lucky if we see everyone at x-mas, even then it's like once a year conversation so it's kinda stupid! I am going to try and change all of this for my kids and so on....

Answer 6

I used to enjoy the few reunions that my own family had, even tho they were a lot of work.

But, many times when we would go to my in law's house, my MIL would have a reunion, so my husband could see his family. Husband didn't like these, so he'd take off with his brother, to go out and visit old friends. I'd get stuck staying at MIL's, with people I didn't know, trying to make small talk.

I just hated these times.

Answer 7

It would be nice if families were a little closer these days, may solve a few issues we have in society today. With moving around for jobs etc families are not as close together geographically so it's harder to see each other as much....but then don't we live in the age of communication!
I like seeing my family but I have to be in the mood for the 'big get-together'

Answer 8

Good question. The last family reunion my family had was when I was 12. Now 13 years later we are finally have another one. You are right families aren't close like they use to be.

Answer 9

hi, our kin, of approximately 50, party each and every 2nd 3 hundred and sixty 5 days. As we've kin throughout South Africa, we alter the venues. occasion, next 3 hundred and sixty 5 days it is going to likely be in Durban on the east coast. the human beings residing there is in charge to discover a venue. We the two get a venue that caters or we do the cooking ourselves. AS there are various little ones, the venue might desire to have television, swimming pool, etc. We plan activities for the full fam, yet you're actually not compelled to do it. desire this permits. solid success!

Answer 10

Family reunions are a waste of time and normally end up with people p*ssed because they had to talk to so and so. Don't pressure your family to much sooner or later they will learn to get along.