As a parent, all you want is to make sure that your children are happy. Seeing them playing, smiling, and laughing with their friends warms our hearts and brings a smile to our faces. What makes us even happier still, is knowing that they have friends for life that they can always count on.
My children’s best friends are their cousins. Thankfully for them, we live so close to them they get to see them almost every day. I’m so glad to have made the choice to be so near to them. I truly believe that the greatest gift you can give your kids is raising them near their cousins.
It Makes Waking Up So Much More Exciting
As the sun begins to seep in through the cracks of our bedroom curtains, my youngest son always rushes into the room. Half-asleep with his hair askew, the first thing he asks every morning is if he’ll see his cousins today. From the moment that he wakes up, before he’s even opened his eyes properly, that’s what he thinks about.
Some days, we tell him that we will be seeing them. However, on the days that we don’t, we tell him that it will be tomorrow or at the weekend. Even on those days, he still keeps his excitement, knowing that it won’t be long until the next time he sees his best friends.
Although our oldest son is too big to rush into our bedroom first thing in the morning, he still asks us the same question. While we all sit together and eat breakfast, we tell him when we’ll see them next. The look of pure joy in his eyes every time is enough to make my whole day so much brighter.
We have Family In Different Places
Some of our closest family members live in different states, and some even live in different countries. Because of that, seeing them regularly is impossible. We only really get to see them for holidays or on special occasions.
It was the same for me when I was growing up. Sadly, I didn’t have family nearby that I could see whenever I felt like it. I had to wait until there was a wedding or an important birthday. Whenever I did get to see them, it was always such a big deal that it felt almost staged.
Being able to raise my kids so close to their cousins is a privilege that I don’t take lightly. They don’t need to wait for a special occasion to see them. Along with that, they don’t need to get all dressed up and be warned to be on their best behavior. For them, seeing their family is so commonplace it’s as if they were just having a normal day at home.
This Is The Greatest Thing I Could Have Given Them
Because of how close we live, our families are intertwined. My sons and their cousins behave as if they were siblings. They argue and annoy each other, but they also love and support one another too. Some of them are even on the same sports teams and they will all be going to the same school.
But it’s not just about their friendship now, it’s about a bond that will last for years to come. No matter what happens, my children now have friends for life that they will always be able to count on. Even if when they grow up, they move far away, they will still be connected by so much more than blood. Their memories and love for one another will connect them forever.
Nothing has brought me more joy than raising my two boys so near to their cousins. It’s given them friendship, love, and something to look forward to every single day. Maybe one day in the far future, when they have kids of their own, they’ll raise them near their cousins too.
Did you grow up near your cousins? Share this article with them and let them know how much they mean to you.
