I am at an age where one has to deal with very elderly parents, if they’re still alive. My life abroad has made this incredibly challenging. I have two older siblings, both are brothers. My brothers and I get along great! We love each other! Although we went to the same schools from K through highschool, we were born in three different countries and have lived on three different continents for most of our adult lives.
Yes, this means that we don’t see each other very often. I like to tell people that I am SO lucky…my brothers and I get along SO well! We never fight! Despite our having VERY different lifestyles (the eldest is the typical conscientious, high-achieving first born son, the second is more rebellious, and I’m the downtrodden bohemian), we enjoy each others’ company very much. That is, if and when we see each other. Our infrequent family gatherings are joyful occasions and we have no time for arguing. We get along great because we don’t see each other much!
Being scattered around the globe, we have found ways to communicate. We were very avant garde in that we used on-line communication way before the pandemic happened. We were very comfortable and experienced with it when others were finding it so new and frustrating.
We recently gathered in person and had “the talk” about our mom, now 90, our childhood home where she still lives, and what the future may hold. It was a difficult, but very healthy and diplomatic discussion. We had some differences in opinion, but came to terms with one another and are working on a shared strategy where each of is responsible for helping mom in some area of her life so she will be safer and not have much to worry about. The challenges in doing this from a distance continue, but we are visiting more often and moving forward in a positive direction. I truly am blessed to have a loving, trusting relationship with my brothers. Our parents must have done something right.
— MCW
Yes, this means that we don’t see each other very often. I like to tell people that I am SO lucky…my brothers and I get along SO well! We never fight! Despite our having VERY different lifestyles (the eldest is the typical conscientious, high-achieving first born son, the second is more rebellious, and I’m the downtrodden bohemian), we enjoy each others’ company very much. That is, if and when we see each other. Our infrequent family gatherings are joyful occasions and we have no time for arguing. We get along great because we don’t see each other much!
Being scattered around the globe, we have found ways to communicate. We were very avant garde in that we used on-line communication way before the pandemic happened. We were very comfortable and experienced with it when others were finding it so new and frustrating.
We recently gathered in person and had “the talk” about our mom, now 90, our childhood home where she still lives, and what the future may hold. It was a difficult, but very healthy and diplomatic discussion. We had some differences in opinion, but came to terms with one another and are working on a shared strategy where each of is responsible for helping mom in some area of her life so she will be safer and not have much to worry about. The challenges in doing this from a distance continue, but we are visiting more often and moving forward in a positive direction. I truly am blessed to have a loving, trusting relationship with my brothers. Our parents must have done something right.
— MCW
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