Our little girl is blessed with four cousins. On my wife’s side, we’ve got the Greenville duo, practically our neighbors just two cow pastures away. They’re a constant presence in my daughter’s life, joining us for Sunday lunches and MYF at church. All three girls are thick as thieves in 4-H, though our daughter often finds herself in the role of the eager tagalong.
Then there’s the Columbia crew – one just nine months older than our daughter, and a wee one barely three months old. We’ve been spending the past few days with them, and it’s been a real treat. The age gap with the older Columbia cousin is just right – my daughter and this cousin, let’s call her J, are practically on the same wavelength and play as equals. It’s a refreshing change from the “little kid” dynamic she experiences with her Greenville cousins.
At my daughter’s age, I was far removed from my cousins. I had just one on my mom’s side – a boy almost two years younger, who lived in sunny Orlando while I bounced around Illinois, Iowa, and Kentucky. Our interactions were limited to an annual week-long visit, meticulously arranged by my mom. Those concentrated bursts of cousin time became cherished memories.
My daughter’s experience with her cousins is much different. Her cousins aren’t just summer visitors or holiday faces – they’re integral characters in her life. She won’t have those isolated weeks of cousin time to look back on. Her time with them will be more like a series of chapter-long adventures.
Of course, family dynamics are always evolving. My youngest brother just welcomed his first child, and there’s a possibility they might move back to my sister-in-law’s home in Louisiana. If that happens, we’d see that little niece (and any future children) far less frequently. It’s a good reminder to cherish the time we have together now.
Yesterday, as my daughter and I soaked up our time with my family, I found myself hoping it would become a day she’d carry with her. Whether it’s a Fourth of July party or just a day in the pool, these easy-to-take-for-granted connections will form my daughter’s sense of who she loves and who loves her.
Learning Together 