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<blockquote data-quote="fly2cast" data-source="post: 331261" data-attributes="member: 656">I thought I would offer my two cents.&nbsp; I come from a very close family both immediate family and relatives. I have about 200 first cousins.&nbsp; About a hundred on both sides of the family.&nbsp; On my fathers side, we have a reunion every year and we also get together informally about one or two more times a year. On my mothers side it is less frequent.&nbsp; The cousins have been doing this since the 1940s.&nbsp; Never missed a year. It was important for my grandfather that we did this and it was important for my parents to do this with my immediate family.&nbsp; There has been an open invite every Sunday to get together with my brothers and sisters and their kids at my parents house for lunch.&nbsp; By doing this all of my kids and all of my siblings kids are very close, best friends close.&nbsp; And by getting together every year with my cousins, they are very close to many of their second cousins.&nbsp; Many of us have very differing opinions on politics and we at times will get in very passionate debates.&nbsp; But in the end, we don't take things personal and can agree to disagree and still be family. And so what does it take?&nbsp; It starts with the parents making it a number one priority to keep the family close.&nbsp; This means to have an open door policy, be inviting to all, actively plan events for the whole family, plan many events (some as simple as lunch together) and to be able to debate but not to take it (or make it) personal.&nbsp; Don't be petty with your thoughts, time or possessions.&nbsp; Be willing to give more money and time than others are willing.&nbsp; It really isn't hard to do but you have to want to do it.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="fly2cast, post: 331261, member: 656"] I thought I would offer my two cents. I come from a very close family both immediate family and relatives. I have about 200 first cousins. About a hundred on both sides of the family. On my fathers side, we have a reunion every year and we also get together informally about one or two more times a year. On my mothers side it is less frequent. The cousins have been doing this since the 1940s. Never missed a year. It was important for my grandfather that we did this and it was important for my parents to do this with my immediate family. There has been an open invite every Sunday to get together with my brothers and sisters and their kids at my parents house for lunch. By doing this all of my kids and all of my siblings kids are very close, best friends close. And by getting together every year with my cousins, they are very close to many of their second cousins. Many of us have very differing opinions on politics and we at times will get in very passionate debates. But in the end, we don't take things personal and can agree to disagree and still be family. And so what does it take? It starts with the parents making it a number one priority to keep the family close. This means to have an open door policy, be inviting to all, actively plan events for the whole family, plan many events (some as simple as lunch together) and to be able to debate but not to take it (or make it) personal. Don't be petty with your thoughts, time or possessions. Be willing to give more money and time than others are willing. It really isn't hard to do but you have to want to do it. [/QUOTE]

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