Visit from the grandparents: the dreaded day after

No, Sarah, you are not. I only live about 5 hours from my family, and we are "easy travelers" - it doesn't take much for us to pack up and visit one another. But I miss the little things - hanging out with my brothers on weekends, watching a football game with my dad while my mom and my son play or go for a walk. Watching my dad teach my son to ride a bike. Just sitting around exchanging jokes, insults, and stories around the table after a family dinner. They still do all those things, but I'm not there, and sometimes, it makes me blue.

But then the whole crowd will come here for a long holiday weekend, and it'll be like "Old Home Week", and I hafta admit, though I'm sad to see them all go, the quiet is also nice.

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When my husband and I moved to Atlanta, my mother made it clear that she had every intent to live near any grandchildren that came along. Unfortunately, my father has had a different opinion and it isn't going to ever happen. I would so much prefer weekly visits of an hour over the whole week staying in their house or them in mine. I'd like my kids to be able to tell them about their days and have my parents know the friends involved. I'd like to see if my mom has milk when I've run out. I'd like help when I'm pulling my hair out and yelling at my children. My mom would love to do all this and more, but their marriage comes first and I can't begrudge her decision. We visit as often as we can.

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On the flip side, I live in a town with my family and my husband's family. I never lack for a baby-sitter or support.BUT the guilt and time commitments and hurt feelings and always trying to make sure everyone gets equal time with the kiddo (because who cares about us anymore) can be overwhelming at times. I'm just saying....

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We live 3 hours from our families. We both are from the same town and moved because of my job. You would think 3 hours wouldn't keep them away for months and months at a time, but it does and it sucks. I'm very family oriented and hate being so far from the people I love the most.

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I'm a sad sack because my parents live 40 minutes away and they travel about every six weeks (and I still miss them!) They are headed out for only a week starting tomorrow and I will be in phone contact - be still! I miss knowing they are a short drive away if I need them. And I'm a newly single parent (5 months) and this is the first time they've been away this long. I don't see them every day - about once a week. But just knowing they are there is comforting. I think all of you who parent without family nearby are heroes! How do you do it?

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Absolutely not. I moved across the country from my family three years ago and we were pretty sure we wouldn't be having kids until we moved back. But then oops! we had a kid and now aren't planning on moving back any time soon. So we have to make do with traveling over 2,000 miles away (on really, really long plane rides - esp. now that she's mobile - oh crap!) once or twice a year and I tell yah, that just sometimes isn't enough. It's hard to do this so far away from family. And sad. I feel guilty that my family doesn't get to see my child grow up and be a very direct part of her life. It breaks my heart when she learns something new and my mom or sister can't see it.

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Oh do I feel your pain! We moved to Denver from DC about 2 years ago (both of our families live there) and I must cry about it pretty much daily! WHY DID I MOVE??? I want to "go home"!!

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Oh, goodness, I am 2,000 miles away from my family and our visits are few and far between. We go to California, where I was raised, twice a year and they come out once or twice a year, but I think my mom feels it most, wishing she was closer to her only grandchildren. Since we're in Chicago, I've found lots of families who live far away from parents, like famlies who have to fly abroad to visit family, and that makes it a bit better knowing mine is only a mere 2,000 miles away, but I do wish my family was a bit closer.

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ugh. that empty pit feeling i know all too well. my family is all in and around houston, tx and i reside in nor*cal. while i love the bay area and my husband's family is relatively near by, i still hate that i'm not a quick drive to see my family. ugh. plane rides with a toddler. LAME!

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I hear you. I'm across the atlantic and a 15 hour plane ride from my family. It's really hard. The nine hour time difference even makes calling difficult. I try to visit every year and stay at least 3 weeks. I hope you get to see them all again soon!

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I feel ya. My parents live in AZ, I'm in OH. It's really a bummer sometimes, esp. on days like today when I need my mommy.

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No, you aren't the only one. I miss my family like mad. Thankfully we're going to visit them in a few weeks. They haven't seen Babboo for over 6 months. That's way too long!

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