When my generation of cousins was busy raising our kids, there was a long stretch of time (about 7 years, actually) when some of us didn’t see each other. It was not anyone’s fault. We live far away from each other, and flying is not always feasible, especially with young kids.
So, when we did gather for a big family event, several of the cousins got together and said we couldn’t let the long stretch between visits ever happen again. My mom took it upon herself as the senior in attendance to get assurances that the family would continue gathering and staying close through the next generation.
For the most part, it has worked. Despite a gap over the worst part of the pandemic, we have rarely gone over a year without some sort of gathering. During 2020-21 we had regular video calls for a while to keep everyone connected. It was fun but did not compare to when we finally took our chances and gathered for a special birthday celebration. It felt so good to see each other and hug each other… in person. Thankfully everyone stayed healthy.
As our numbers have grown, one way we enjoy get togethers is by renting a large vacation house and sharing the cost. There are some fun places out there that will accommodate even large family groups. It has been so much fun for us to have shared space for meals, catching up, pool or lake time depending on the location and late-night games and socializing. This has become our new favorite way to gather, and we plan to have more of these gatherings in the future. Everyone chips in on groceries and cooking and sometimes family members make their favorite recipes to share. Card games are played (Euchre is a favorite), jokes are told, stories shared, corn hole tournaments enjoyed…. lots of family fun.
Over the years, we have done different activities and found ways to include those who can’t make it for a given event. For one of Mom’s big birthday celebrations, we used a service to have people call in and record birthday messages to her from all over….friends, relatives, neighbors all called in and left birthday greetings. She was totally surprised and delighted when she heard all the voices. Plus, she could listen to it again later as many times as she wanted to. That was a gift that turned into a great memory and keepsake.
One of the goals of this blog is to share ideas to help keep families connected. We look forward to sharing more about our gatherings, ideas for future ones, party ideas and more with you as we go along.
Have a blessed day.