As for my sibs... my oldest sister went missing in 1983 and we never heard from her again. I suspect she's no longer with us. My middle sister, as y'all know, and I are close...well would talking on the phone at least 2 times a day be close??? LOL She lives in Oregon and I live in Arizona but we get together as often as possible and communicate via video several times a week (love that skype!!!) I have two boys. I could not have asked for brothers to be closer than these two are. They built their homes in the same neighborhood! It's really a good thing their wives like each other!!! My youngest son told me one time that the longest 2 years of his life was when his brother had already graduated from school and moved home and he was left there all alone. They tend to hurt my feelings more than each others.

"They tend to hurt my feelings more than each others"

And that's a whole other thread, how adult kids treat thier parents....

My two used to be close, use to fight like cats and dogs also..
But Kim is so full of her own life, she can't even send birthday cards
to her never seen yet nephews....

Her brother is getting fed up with her....my daughter in law always sends her
really nice Chirstmas packages...even including things like homemade pickles, etc...
and Todd will send them out fast express to make sure she gets her package for Christmas..

Kim on the other hand, orders online from ToysRus and gets them to ship....(one Xmas buying identical to the previous )
I know for a fact she never sent them anything this Christmas...some lame story
about looking for a box...when I told her to use the one I purchased to mail her her gifts,
there was some lame excuse that the cat threw up in it....
I don't care about me...but not to take an interest in her only 2 nephews is an insult to
the family..

I'm proud of my both kids..proud of their accomplishments in life....but it's almost like
Kim is divorcing the family, wants nothing to do with us...
She hasn't been home in 6 years, but can travel to places like Eucador, Twailand, New Zealand, Hawaii....and an
African trip planned this year...

Oh well, like they say....you can't choose our family..but you can choose your friends...

And that is the skeleton in my closet

Just give me the word and I'm my way to Payson Only you have to make Tomi pay a visit to my oldest in Dallas in return! LOL

Haha, Cat!
I just may take you up on that!

But really, I refuse to nag at my kids, if it doesn't come
from the heart....what is the use??

I always thought it was just because they were boys. I thought maybe I should have had a girl and it would be different. Now, you're telling me it's not gender??? My sister tells me that boys have testosterone poisoning and they just can't help it.

Girls do tend to be closer to their moms,
and Kim and I were always very close..but life happens,
and she just has other things she'd rather do than spend time
with the old folks I guess...
Todd is more tender hearted I find...thinks of others' feelings more....
Maybe if Kim lived closer it would be different, but being way out there
in Arizona, it's like, out of view, out of mind...

I'm torn about what to do this summer....she is flying to Halifax, NS to do a triathalon..
has no intentions of coming up to Bathurst to spend time with us, but wants us to
go down there to see her....she will be with friends she says, can't very well leave them
and come up to see us..
Why she can't take a week after the race and come up here...to spend time with us...we'd
go get her, drive her to an airport when she had to leave.
I just can't see driving 5 hours to see her do her race, maybe spend a couple of hours with her,
get a hotel...all for an hour or two visit....
It kind of hurts that she won't come home to spend some time with us...

We'll see what we will be doing when the time comes.
Hubby is of the intention of not going...is hurt that she never calls home, never sends a birthday
card, not even calling on Mother's day or Father's day...
It is hurtful...

Aww.. Joan. It's sure true.. our kids "do" hurt us sometimes...and in a way that no others can do.
Kim is losing out big-time.. and that is a true shame.
And I feel so very badly for you, Don and Todd who cant help but feel hurt by Kim's distancing and lack of effort with her family.
It's very hurtful...


I do believe that "overall" girls tend to be closer to their moms... their families in general - than boys.
I've found this holds true for our family.. and have seen the most examples of this.
But not always of course...

I'm so glad your Todd is such a thoughtful and caring son Joan. He sounds like a gem, and certainly would help counter your disapointment..
I'm certain than Kim loves her family, and knows she is so lucky to have you.
I'd guess she just thinks its a "given"..but her actions are just not good enough. Not even close..
I do hope at some point she realizes this, sweetie.

I don't have kids but if I did I would hope they would be as close as I am with my brother and sister. We all get along great. I miss my Mom very much. She was my best friend. She's been gone 14 years now and I really hate it when people are mean to their parents, take them for granted and just don't appreciate them. My Dad lives 2 houses down from me and I see him every day. He's 66 and I hope I have him around for a long time.. I'm sorry your kids hurt your feelings
Genea

Sadly my brother and I have never got on, actually he pretty much ignored me from when we were teenagers. My family has issues but lets just say my family and I were not invited to his wedding as to quote my mother "the grandchildren would get too much attention". Needless to say that hurt my feelings and I did not send a present.

Susan

I'm always so envious of people who are close to their brothers and sisters. Bryan and his brother talk at least once a week and he was very close to his sister before she died. My half-sister and I were never close. I used to put it to the difference in our ages - she was 14 years older than me and left for college when I was just getting old enough to really know her. Looking back, I think it was more that my mother divorced her dad (who cheated on her) and was very happy with my dad. She was also the oldest of the 7 grandkids and when I came along as the baby, my grandfather doted on me. She lived with my grandparents to finish high school after my folks married and I'm sure she thought she had been replaced yet again. So she decided to sully his memory with me and I never forgave her for it. She died last year and although I tried to see her several years before that, she refused and wouldn't let her husband (who I adore) and kids have anything to do with me. I went to the funeral and we are now back in touch. I know it broke my mother's heart, but I truly believe that being blood relatives doesn't mean you have to like each other - that comes with respect.