How Important is Family to you?

[SoulOfTheFlame]

Just wanna preface this by saying first:

1. I'm not an unfeeling robot man!
2. When I say family I mean the family unit you came from, not the one that you made yourself (eg. Your wife/hubby and kids).


So, for me, spending time and being close distance-wise to family is not very important. I live in Australia and am totally fine with catching up with the folks every 1-2 weeks. Often I encourage friends back home to come visit or take a 6 month working holiday to Australia, and some of them say that they can't come because they'd miss their family members too much. To be honest, this just baffles me. In my family's culture doing well for yourself (professional success is valued more than anything else) and starting your own family is much much more important than spending time with your mother, father, and siblings.

Very few of my family members live in the same city, most have spread out to other areas across Canada and the rest of the globe.

Does this sound similar to you? Or do you find this strange?

[yads]

Strange for sure. Career is very important in my family, but family is also important.

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by SoulOfTheFlame

Often I encourage friends back home to come visit or take a 6 month working holiday to Australia, and some of them say that they can't come because they'd miss their family members too much.

This is weird to me. I love my family but that doesn't mean I want to see them all the time. I'd never give up a personal opportunity because I'd "miss them too much".

Keeping family close is important, but close doesn't necessarily mean geographically. Going out and making your own way and starting a family of your own is important too.

[Prototype]

Family above anything else. My parents paved the way, helping me get where I need to be, and where I am today.

In fact... my father was one of the only people to step up to help us move this weekend. He's paying for it physically, as he's in his 60s... but we got the job done thanks to him.

[4X4]

Don't tell my family this, but one of the things I loved about living in Italy was that I didn't have to see them very often. My family is pretty big, so there's always a birthday or something just around the corner. Add to that my parents are divorced, means that I have to do every thing twice - actually 3 times because of my grandma and aunt and uncle.

Three thanksgivings, three xmases, three easters... April has three easters, plus my dad's bday, my sister's bdays, and now my neice's bday. October has my bday, my sister's, my mom's, three thanksgivings. December is my sister's bday, three xmases, then my other sister's bday.

In other words, I see too much of my family. I loved living far away.

[mykalberta]

Being from a small family - it is very important - 5 family members + 5 blood relatives which we also very close with but thats about it. There is more "by marriage" relatives but they have different set of family values so we dont socialize much.

Living a few hours drive I dont see them much, maybe 5 times a year max which is fine. We talk on the phone/messenger probably once a week. My dad will come down and visit for a week probably twice a year for golf which is good.

I am sure once I get married and have kids I will see more of them for good or bad because of grandkids etc.

[The Yen Man]

I would place family above all, both where I came from (parents and brother) and family I will start in the future (wife and kids). If I was forced to chose, I would give up my career for both. But maybe it's because I'm Asian, so in Asian cultures, they do place a lot of emphasis on close family bonds.

In fact, I expect my parents to help me take care of my kids in the future when me and the wife are working. That's just the way it goes for Asians. That way, I don't have to worry that my kids are being cared for by some unkown day care or babysitter. And grandma and grandpa are happy they get to spoil their grandkids. Win win both ways.

I only get to see my parents like twice a year (if that) and it STINKS! I miss them alot. I think because I'm an only child.

[REDVAN]

I live in the same city as my parents... but that's not because of a professional/personal conflict, it's just because I was born here.

If I had a good opportunity elsewhere, I'd try it, but being away from where I grew up and my family would weigh heavily on the decision.

[Flames89]

I would do anything for my family, but I sure as hell don't want to see them too often.

[Dion]

Family is very important to me. I hate the fact that my sister and her 2 kids live in Colorado and my brother and his wife in Minnesota. I see my brother at Christmas when he comes home and during the summer when I make my annual trip to see him Minneapolis. My sister I see even less. Also haven't seen my niece and nephew in years.

[Kipper is King]

Family is incredibly important to me. I'm an only child, but even if I were living away from home, going more than six months without seeing my folks and perhaps other close relatives is almost unthinkable

[Displaced Flames fan]

It's all that really matters, aside from my own created family of course.

Parents divorced when I was 5 and I think that might have something to do with it. I am very tired of living far away from them and hope to move closer and spend the rest of my life making up for lost time.

My biggest fear is that my Dad passes before we have a chance to spend some more time together.

I have a bunch of nieces and nephews that I don't know yet.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by SoulOfTheFlame

Often I encourage friends back home to come visit or take a 6 month working holiday to Australia, and some of them say that they can't come because they'd miss their family members too much.

I very much agree with your sentiments here, and don't understand why people have such a problem with leaving home for, away from family members. When I lived in New Zealand, I chatted with my immediate family once every 2 weeks or so, and that's all I needed. If you need more, you can use the internet for voice / video conferencing, and even just use good old fashioned snail mail for an even more personal touch or some comforts from home.

Bet you if they actually tried it, they would very much enjoy it. You just have to get off your duff and DO IT! Best thing anybody can do for themselves; live abroad for a while.

[troutman]

How often do you talk to your parents?

Myself, about 1-2 per week. Others are 2-3 per day.

[Ford Prefect]

I'm on good terms with my sister, and consider her an important part of my life. My life would be simpler and less stressful without my brother though. Mom brought me into the world, so that's pretty much the bottom line with her, although she causes me a lot of grief with her meddling and favouritism to my dead beat brother. Dad's dead.

I talk to my sister a couple times a month, mom about the same. I talk to my brother about once or twice a year.

So are they important? Yeah, but so are pickles and pecan pie.

[V]

I never had an issue living away from my folks. I moved to Calgary for my career, and I had no problem with it. I still see my folks every 6 weeks or so with us taking turns up and down the highway.

Now that I have kids, and one of them in school, I'm feeling the draw to come back home. My parents are fantastic with my kids, and I would really like them to spend more time together.

I never thought I'd want to come back, but the kids have changed that a lot.

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by Dion

Family is very important to me. I hate the fact that my sister and her 2 kids live in Colorado and my brother and his wife in Minnesota. I see my brother at Christmas when he comes home and during the summer when I make my annual trip to see him Minneapolis. My sister I see even less. Also haven't seen my niece and nephew in years.

At least your family members live within the same division!

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by V

Now that I have kids, and one of them in school, I'm feeling the draw to come back home. My parents are fantastic with my kids, and I would really like them to spend more time together.

LOL....Good babysitters, get rid of the little hellions for a while, we get ya

[You Need a Thneed]

Family is very important. Other societies do the whole extended family thing much better than we do.