Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Families

I guess that I am really lucky as all my extended family actually live in
Auckland on both my side and my husband's side. This means that we get to see each other quite frequently and that my children get to play with their cousins, which is nice. My grandmother (on my dad's side) only died last year at the ripe old age of 96! I don't know whether I want to live quite that long!

In terms of my siblings, I have two brothers and so does my husband. However, Mark (my husband) is the youngest in his family, while I am the oldest in mine. We sometimes joke about the differences between us in relation to this. I think it is interesting that my own three children
reflect the birth order of my own family - first a girl and then two boys. The gap between oldest and youngest is the same as well ie. five years.

We enjoy being together as a family and have regular gatherings, which are usually for birthdays. These are most often pot-luck dinners, where we all bring food to share.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really interested about your family because you have a big extended family and the gap between your three children.
As you doing regular gathering with your family my family also doing the asme.

Anonymous said...

Hi Karen

I'm very pleased you give us a chance to know about your family. I am really interested when I read about your family because family is very important. You are lucky that you have got your whole family here in NZ.

My family is in Kashmir so I realise that family is important for everybody but I am really happy for you.

Anonymous said...

Hai Karen, You'r very lucky.Your all your family here.I'm sure you'll live as your grandmother.

Anonymous said...

Hi Karen I red your blogs and it was interesting. I wish I could go and visit all countries around world. It is very good that you spending your time with your family.

Anonymous said...

Hi Karen I red your blogs and it was interesting. I wish I could go and visit all countries around world. It is very good that you spending your time with your family.

Anonymous said...

You have an amazing life family history because the life you had done was reflected on your children.

Anonymous said...

Hi Karen, I really enjoy reading part of your family background. It reminds me 2 things on my own background.

Firstly, you said, you really lucky as all your extended family actually live in
Auckland on both your side and your husband's side. My one is on the opposite side. All my extended family include my siblings are in Tonga. My wife's siblings are all living in Queensland, we may be unlucky.

The second thing is, we have the same in this, I am the youngest of nine, and my wife is the eldest of five. However, far different from yours, sometimes you jokes about it, but us is a really issue.Our culture pressure on this and we struggle in the middle. To put this in short, is this. The eldest sister have to disrespect the younger brother whenever she want, think of my wife??????

Anonymous said...

I like how your all family socalize to each other. but why don't you like to live longer?

Karen Haines said...

Good question - why don't I want to live a long time.

Perhaps because I watched my grandmother's life shrink gradually as she got older. She was always interested in other people, but with physical restrictions (like losing mobility and things like hearing) life became more of a burden. Also, she really missed my grandfather when he died, and towards the end was quite lonely I think as all her friends had passed away.

So of course I will be happy to reach old age but perhaps I'm also not too afraid of death.

Karen Haines said...

Wow, Kuli. Cultural pressure on families can be really hard and I can see what you mean about the sibling order causing problems for you and your wife with in-laws etc. I'm interested whether you think your own children will have the same attitudes in regard to their siblings ie. the oldest can disrespect the younger members? What do you think?