Cousins, Friends And “second Siblings”

Your cousins form a unique family bond. These close relatives or “second siblings” enrich your childhood and teenage years.

The psychological and social environment of the close ties you form with cousins ​​is similar to that of your parents, siblings.

Cousins ​​are those unique friends with whom, sometimes along with sharing your mother’s or father’s last name, you have shared a thousand adventures, created thousands of memories and shaped the most important parts of each other’s adulthood.

We invite you to take a closer look at this valuable relationship, which is worth living today. To encourage your children in turn to strengthen those family ties.

Your cousins, those special second brothers and sisters

Something interesting that anthropologists have told us is that not all cultures place equal value on family ties in everyday life. There are some countries where friendly family contact is limited to phone calls and meetings once a month.

However, in other cultures it is not uncommon to have daily or regular contact. Several generations can even live together, sometimes because of caring for the elderly, out of economic necessity or just simple reciprocity.

Many people grow up with their cousins ​​not far from their home, with grandparents around to pick you up when your parents can’t because they are at work.

Growing up with this daily contact filled with ordinary acts of affection and respect is a deeply ingrained value in certain cultures, from which everyone can benefit – whether large or small.

So let’s see what your cousins ​​mean to your childhood. What role they play once you grow up.

A way to socialize outside the immediate family

When a child comes into the world, the first circle of interaction is with its parents and siblings. Long before you start building friendships with your peers, you will be socializing with your cousins, which can be very helpful.

• The quality of a relationship between cousins ​​can be determined by a positive relationship between siblings. If you don’t have this kind of affection, it probably won’t occur outside the immediate family.
• In fact, it’s not uncommon for many people to not even know some of their cousins. Since their parents did not have a good relationship with their siblings at some point.
• If the contact is positive and frequent, a child on the other side will find a special friendship. This emotional bond will then make a lasting impression.

Your cousins ​​are those second siblings from whom you can learn more about your grandparents,  with whom you can:

• Enjoying holiday and weekend adventures
• To get lost
• To discover
• To argue
• Laugh

And that ‘cognitive reserve that helps you all grow inside.

Your cousins, friends for life

Something that everyone knows is that you might not get along with all  your cousins.

• You bond better with those whose values ​​align with yours  and whose personality traits give you support and joy when you need it most. So those are the ones who have been with you since childhood and have grown up with you.
• Another common situation is that there are some people who have better relationships with their cousins ​​than with their own siblings.  This is completely normal and you don’t need to worry too much about it.

• Family obligations shouldn’t make you pretend to feel something you don’t really feel. You should always follow the voice of your heart and conscience, but always remain respectful.
• A cousin can be better than a friend.  They can be a soul mate. A person you can count on until the last day of your life.

Cherish good relationships between children and their cousins

If you still have a good relationship with your siblings and your partner’s family, don’t hesitate to encourage gatherings that adults will enjoy while also allowing the younger members of the families to spend some time together .

• Remember that children, especially during the first six years of life, are  at a point in their lives when every event counts.
• If you encourage playing games, having adventures, sharing snacks and jokes and songs with cousins, you will not only give them a good time, but also  wonderful memories that will help them grow up with fun and love. .

Let your kids have the same positive relationship with their cousins ​​that you had with yours.