Melody wrote:
hmmm we kinda did in my childhood when my mom's side of the family was still healthy. she has/had around 10 aunts and uncles (as in 10 total, idk the exact ratio) so with all of their kids and grandkids (aaand spouses) combined there were quite a lot of ppl. one of my mom's cousins owns this big summer cottage/cabin plot where everyone could stay the night. then years went by and the youngest entered rebel teen phases and no longer wanted to go to the gatherings, and ultimately age was also starting to catch up with the aunts/uncles. i think my mom and dad still attend every summer but it's mostly mom's cousins now + the healthiest of the older ppl. the older ppl are in their mid-late 80s for reference and uhhh most are dead
as for dad's side? never gatherings, just rare visits to dad's dad and dad's cousins. the closest to a gathering was maybe my mom and dad's wedding party.
i also don't know much about my first cousin once removeds (we call them little cousins in my language) besides my mom telling me some of them are "like me" referring to them being lgbt+ (or more specifically one being a lesbian, which my mom thinks i am bc she sees me as a woman and i've only dated other afabs). a part of me is interested in reaching out but it also feels kinda awkward