Extended Families

Having just gotten back from a week with my mothers-in-law and family, and now having my own my and sister come stay with us for 5 weeks, you realize the support one gets from extended families.

Not only does my son have a ball with his Nonna, Mimi and Nana, Grandpa and Grandma, as well as aunts, uncles and cousins, but we, as parents, get a little break too.

Living over 3000 miles away from my own family, my friends have become our support system.  As much as we couldn't do it without them, there is still something to be said about family.

Multi-generational experiences. 

It's true what they say...  "It takes a village."  But in this day and age, with children moving away, followed by grandchildren living far... it's hard to build that village.

It takes more, on our part, as parents, to keep the family connected; to raise our son so he knows his family.  His extended family.  But with the technology of today, it sure does make it easy.

My son Skype's with his Mimi and Nana, Grandpa and Grandma.  Even with his cousins in Wisconsin.  For a while, he thought his Mimi lived in the computer and his Nonna in the telephone.

But what's remarkable is that he knows and loves them the moment he hears their voices, that when they visit, it's like not a single day has passed or thousands of miles separate them.

He is connected.  In his heart and sole, and that's pretty special.


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