We all are looking for a village to help us raise our kids. For some of us lucky ones, we have a built in safety net of extended family that fill this role nicely. Unfortunately, they don’t always live around the corner like they did in generation’s past. But nurturing these relationships and unique family bonds is not just a worthy goal, but one that will make the parenting gig so much easier. Here are some great ways to help your kids build good friendships with their cousins.
1. Reunite.
Erin is blessed to have married into a family nearly as boisterous and fun as her own. Every summer Dymowskis harken from hills and dales far and wide to meet and eat and reconnect. The date on the calendar is sacred and everybody tries to make it. Yes, these gatherings are effort, but they are so worth it.
2. Play Games.
When cousins are far away, it’s nice to have a shared experience and language to speak. Enter the humble board game. Whether cousin bonding means week-long Monopoly games, endless card games (especially Sleeping Queens Card Game and Munchkin Deluxe), or board game extravaganzas, games help break the ice and bring the fun easily with cousins who may not have seen each other in over a year.
3. Create Traditions.
For both of our Maryland families, sharing a bushel of the crabs is a precious summer memory worthy of a trip to our ancestral home every summer. We get practically giddy with the happy, family vibes we are all imbibing . . . or that could be the beer that goes so well with the crabs. But Steve’s family takes it a step further: they give everyone an engraved mallet for Christmas the year they learn to pick their own crabs. Little gestures like these go a long way to cementing bonds.
4. Let them share pieces of your everyday life.
Cousins, even the ones that live 300 miles away, appreciate little peeks behind-the-scenes. Try to plan at least one visit where the places to visit are the ones you go to every day.
5. Share the big moments.
Baptisms, graduations, or even a real honest-to-goodness Pinterest wedding are the perfect time to celebrate the ties that bind you.
6. Try something new together.
Nothing brings cousins close like a shared new experience. Even silly activities will reign supreme and be remembered long after you have taken off that crazy hat.
7. Use technology to bridge the miles.
We are so lucky to live in this age of technology. Whether talking through Skype, following each other on Instagram, Snapchat or other social media, or simply creating fun lasting memories of time spent together, leverage all that data for family fun at its finest. Growing up, Erin’s friend Mary taught her the delightful term “frousins” to describe the beautiful gift of cousins who are more than just family, but true friends as well. Here’s hoping we should all be so lucky!
-Erin and Ellen
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I love this one, gals. I think cousin relationships are such a gift and would love to foster these in our family. Thanks for sharing!
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