Monday, October 30, 2006 2:24 PM
How do you connect with family so far away?
by Katie
I'm having issues with my family. Mainly, it's with my sister who lives in Colorado. We haven't gotten in a fight and she hasn't done anything rude or mean, I'm just incredibly frustrated that she lives so far away (I'm in NY).
See, she moved from the east coast where we grew up to Colorado with her DH about four years ago. Everything was going to be temporary because she didn't want to live away from her family and friends for more than 5 years. But of course, since that time, they have made friends, had a baby, bought a house, and well, created roots. Now I hear that they don't want to leave.
I can respect that decision, but the problem really comes when she or I get antsy that we haven't seen each other. Her “baby” is now 3 and I barely have a relationship with her. The easy answer is to visit more often, but with airfare costing $500 a pop and my vacation days at 0, that has become impossible.
Now it's the holidays and I hear they can't come home because they are buying tickets using points, and the off-peak dates don't work for them. To make matters worse, my sister is preggo again and while I'm thrilled for her, I only feel more frustrated that I'm going to have another neice or nephew who doesn't know me.
Do you guys have family living across the country? How do you deal when you can only afford to see them once a year? How do you form relationships with your neices and nephews? Any help you can give would be great.. thanks!
And well, my sister doesn't need this article, but many of you who haven't decided how to tell your fam you're not coming for the holidays -- or who still haven't decided where you're spending which holiday -- should read this article.