What Would You Do? (Issue with family get togethers)

[Calico]

Financial aspect/Competing demands/In-Laws

Your bro is probably busy with his own family, friends, work, etc and doesn't want to spend his limited vacation time and travel budget on family get togethers every year. I wouldn't take it personally - it's probably something he feels bad about but had to do for his own family's sanity and wallet. His wife may also play a role in shutting down the family get togethers because she wants to travel elsewhere, spend the $ on something else, or doesn't like getting together so often......

Keim,

Is it possible there is a financial aspect to your brother's reluctance to continue the traditional get-togethers? Are he and his wife saving for their childrens' college educations, or their own retirement? Is it possible they are not in as stable a financial situation as you find yourself in? If the cost of traveling with the family means their budget takes a hit, they may be embarrassed and unwilling to admit that is the reason. Obviously I don't know anything about their (and your) financial situation, but differences in financial ability/lifestyle certainly have caused unintentional conflict in my own extended family in the past.

In addition to a possible financial twist, how old are their children now? I am childfree myself, but I have noticed over the years all my friends with children go through complicated juggling acts at every holiday - his parents want to see the grandchildren; her parents want to see the grandchildren; sometimes aunts and uncles demand some time; and the poor parents just want to throw up their hands and stay home for once and have a simple family holiday with their kids.

How often do your sister-in-law's parents get to see your brother and his family? Do your own parents get along with your sister-in-law?

Families can be complicated (understatement of the year!) and often trying to please everyone and meet all the competing demands on ones time can lead to hurt feelings.

As others have suggested, you might want to just make plans to see your parents on your own, and see if in time your brother is more amenable (or able) to resume the group visits.

Good luck to you - I hope your relationship with your brother is not permanently damaged by this change in the routine.

 

[Which Roger]

One day my brother called as I was arranging my annual get together stating his family would no longer be coming, and they would also no longer host their get together.

A few months later I politely inquired about the change: He felt the six hour drive to get together at one of our homes was overly long, the traditional times were no longer convenient, and we tended to always do the same thing at our get togethers. In short, they had become inconvenient and boring.

What would bug me if I were you is that he first told you of his unilateral solution, and only much later did he discuss the problem.

 

[easysurfer]

I've found this to be an unusually level headed board. Curious how you all would handle this situation:

...

A few months later I politely inquired about the change: He felt the six hour drive to get together at one of our homes was overly long, the traditional times were no longer convenient, and we tended to always do the same thing at our get togethers..

...

What would you do?

Don't feel too bad as for my family (siblings), for some driving over 60 miles is way too far.

In may case, there are some siblings I don't see in years. Or only if there's a family event like a wedding or funeral. Others more often.

 

[H2ODude]

Since DW's mother passed this year, I think it will be interesting to see what "get togethers" occur between us and DW's brother. We're only ~60 miles away but w/o the mother to be a reason to gather, I doubt the holiday gatherings will occur (and that's fine with me and DW). Family dynamics. They're all over the place.

For us, DS is in Africa and DD was in London but now DC. Despite DD w 4 kids and DS with one, we make a big effort to visit and collect all at Christmas. We just accept that that's the price of being a family. We also make an overseas trip in summer to keep things in touch; Skype is only so so for real interactions (and it doesn't work that well in some places like Africa).

As for Keim's situation, it's just really hard to prescribe the perfect solution without knowing all the relationships, as has been pointed out. Your brother could be being a real ass, or as others have pointed out there may be other drivers there. Lot of good analysis here, but only you can navigate a solution that ends in harmony or possibly makes a split that can't be repaired. Best of luck.

 

[FUEGO]

In addition to a possible financial twist, how old are their children now? I am childfree myself, but I have noticed over the years all my friends with children go through complicated juggling acts at every holiday - his parents want to see the grandchildren; her parents want to see the grandchildren; sometimes aunts and uncles demand some time; and the poor parents just want to throw up their hands and stay home for once and have a simple family holiday with their kids.

The kids might also be getting to a certain age (around teenage years) where hanging with family isn't nearly as cool as moping in the basement texting friends or hanging out with friends in real life. Dad (kiem's bro) might be the messenger for his kids who don't want to drive 6 hours each way for a family gathering.

 

[ivinsfan]

The kids might also be getting to a certain age (around teenage years) where hanging with family isn't nearly as cool as moping in the basement texting friends or hanging out with friends in real life. Dad (kiem's bro) might be the messenger for his kids who don't want to drive 6 hours each way for a family gathering.

The kid answer is kind of a cop out IMO...I'm guessing the kids don't drive all the dynamics in the house...I'd hope "boredom" by the kids wouldn't trump family closeness. You can still text in the car!

 

[easysurfer]

The kids might also be getting to a certain age (around teenage years) where hanging with family isn't nearly as cool as moping in the basement texting friends or hanging out with friends in real life. Dad (kiem's bro) might be the messenger for his kids who don't want to drive 6 hours each way for a family gathering.

Yeah, the only thing that beats moping in the basement is moping at home and retired .

 

[EastWest Gal]

All good advice above.

To be clear-I can deal with the change in dates/locations. I'm certainly not upset he wants to change the date/location of his traditionally hosted event. And I'll continue inviting him to mine-he can simply not come if he doesn't wish to.

It is the extreme focus on personal convenience I'm having trouble digesting.

My guess is there is something there you cannot yet see. It seems OK to me.


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[Keim]

What would bug me if I were you is that he first told you of his unilateral solution, and only much later did he discuss the problem.

Yes, that is a major part of what causes my annoyance. I'm all ears and helpful when asked to help with a problem or determine a mutually satisfactory solution. If I wanted dictation I'd be a secretary.

 

[Keim]

Keim,

Is it possible there is a financial aspect to your brother's reluctance to continue the traditional get-togethers? Are he and his wife saving for their childrens' college educations, or their own retirement? Is it possible they are not in as stable a financial situation as you find yourself in? If the cost of traveling with the family means their budget takes a hit, they may be embarrassed and unwilling to admit that is the reason. Obviously I don't know anything about their (and your) financial situation, but differences in financial ability/lifestyle certainly have caused unintentional conflict in my own extended family in the past.

In addition to a possible financial twist, how old are their children now? I am childfree myself, but I have noticed over the years all my friends with children go through complicated juggling acts at every holiday - his parents want to see the grandchildren; her parents want to see the grandchildren; sometimes aunts and uncles demand some time; and the poor parents just want to throw up their hands and stay home for once and have a simple family holiday with their kids.

How often do your sister-in-law's parents get to see your brother and his family? Do your own parents get along with your sister-in-law?

Families can be complicated (understatement of the year!) and often trying to please everyone and meet all the competing demands on ones time can lead to hurt feelings.

As others have suggested, you might want to just make plans to see your parents on your own, and see if in time your brother is more amenable (or able) to resume the group visits.

Good luck to you - I hope your relationship with your brother is not permanently damaged by this change in the routine.

While I can't know his finances, he just took the family to Europe for a two week vacation. I suspect he is doing fine.

As I've said-the change in routine isn't what continues two perturb. Tho it did at first. It's the extreme call for his own convenience (getting the parents to move there 50th anni celebration to a more convenient location REALLY!?!)

 

[Calico]

While I can't know his finances, he just took the family to Europe for a two week vacation. I suspect he is doing fine.

As I've said-the change in routine isn't what continues two perturb. Tho it did at first. It's the extreme call for his own convenience (getting the parents to move there 50th anni celebration to a more convenient location REALLY!?!)

I have to agree with you there. Asking them to relocate the celebration for his convenience was pretty selfish, IMHO.

 

[Calico]

The kids might also be getting to a certain age (around teenage years) where hanging with family isn't nearly as cool as moping in the basement texting friends or hanging out with friends in real life. Dad (kiem's bro) might be the messenger for his kids who don't want to drive 6 hours each way for a family gathering.

That could well be. I'm not sure 12 hours in a car with surly teenagers would be my idea of a vacation!

 

[FUEGO]

While I can't know his finances, he just took the family to Europe for a two week vacation. I suspect he is doing fine.

Maybe he's capped at 2 weeks vacation/yr and that's it for 2015. And perhaps the Mrs. and the kids want to do things like go to Europe for 2 weeks and not do family get togethers to burn some (?) or most (?) of the vacation time.

We've been lucky to have most of our family local here in town so get togethers are an afternoon or evening with a 5-20 minute drive.

However I see many friends that have family spread out all over the country and their travel and vacation schedule is basically a week to visit family 500-1000 miles away (and sometimes they drive to save on airfare) and another week to visit other family or maybe sneak away somewhere for a few days for just their immediate family. Maybe they enjoy those vacations, but maybe they also want to do other things with their allotted 2-3 weeks per year but can't due to annual family get together plans.

Just spit ballin' here. I'd not take what your bro is doing too personally and just hope for the best. You guys will figure out some way to see each other eventually.

 

[haha]

Maybe it's not him, but someone else in his family, and he is not sharing that with you as he tries to manage his own family dynamics.

+1. In America, once someone is married everything changes, as particularly for men, the cost of marriage conflict is just too great. And marriage conflict is all too easy to encounter.

Ha

 

[Act2]

My brother went through a phase where he was inexplicably super-self-centered. His convenience was the only factor that mattered. So I get it. It's very disturbing. Really made me feel as if he didn't value family at all.

Here's the thing: after a few years, it got better. He was always a bit selfish but nothing like those years. I still don't know why it happened. It was clear to everyone else in the family, but he felt he was being reasonable in demanding that all others accommodate his whims/convenience. And he'd explain his reasoning about why he was entitled to have everyone else do his bidding. It was bizarre.

From my experience: do what seems reasonable to you. Maybe meet him a little more than half way, even, so you don't feel later that you should have done more. But don't feel compelled to acquiesce to all his demands. I expressed my unwillingness to do things his way in the midst of those problem years but did not dwell on it.

Things change, he may not be this way forever. Try not to make it a bigger deal than it is. He may 'recalibrate' in a few years.

My brother and I are closer than ever. That wouldn't have happened if I made it a bigger issue.





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[LoneAspen]

What would you do?

I'd tell my brother to f*** off.

And no, I'm not joking. I have zero tolerance for family members who act like they're king of the world. If that meant a sibling of mine never talked to me again, so be it.

 

[Meadbh]

I am amazed at the OP's attachment to family rituals. In my family we are dispersed among several continents and everyone understands when people are unable to make it to weddings, funerals, anniversaries, holidays, etc. Absences can be for a variety of reasons, from visas to no vacation time to finances. We get together face to face when we can and supplement that with electronic media. We certainly don't let that come between us.

 

[splitwdw]

Let it go. Have your event and if he comes fine. If you can make his event, go and have fun. One of my cousins plans a family picnic every year. I'm to the point where I don't want to go. It's in the same place every year and it's boring. Every year several of us make the suggestion that one of us will plan it and make suggestions for a different venue but this cousin insists on her way. There are already family members that are not going because it's boring. Also everyone doesn't have a big family attachment. I can go for weeks without seeing my parents or grandparents where 3 of my sisters, see them every few days. One of my sister's calls my mom every day.
Just curious, is that 6 hour drive a one day event or is he staying overnight?

 

[Bestwifeever]

My brother went through a phase where he was inexplicably super-self-centered. His convenience was the only factor that mattered. So I get it. It's very disturbing. Really made me feel as if he didn't value family at all.

Here's the thing: after a few years, it got better. He was always a bit selfish but nothing like those years. I still don't know why it happened. It was clear to everyone else in the family, but he felt he was being reasonable in demanding that all others accommodate his whims/convenience. And he'd explain his reasoning about why he was entitled to have everyone else do his bidding. It was bizarre.

From my experience: do what seems reasonable to you. Maybe meet him a little more than half way, even, so you don't feel later that you should have done more. But don't feel compelled to acquiesce to all his demands. I expressed my unwillingness to do things his way in the midst of those problem years but did not dwell on it.

Things change, he may not be this way forever. Try not to make it a bigger deal than it is. He may 'recalibrate' in a few years.

My brother and I are closer than ever. That wouldn't have happened if I made it a bigger issue.

I was thinking the same thing--be the bigger man now and wait. When you are older you might miss the relationship if you burn the bridge now. So maybe do the things you can or want to do with his family, have fun with your parents on their own (invite bro and his family too if you want), and see what develops.

 

[Keim]

I am amazed at the OP's attachment to family rituals. In my family we are dispersed among several continents and everyone understands when people are unable to make it to weddings, funerals, anniversaries, holidays, etc. Absences can be for a variety of reasons, from visas to no vacation time to finances. We get together face to face when we can and supplement that with electronic media. We certainly don't let that come between us.

You seem to of missed what has me displeased, Meadbh.

 

[Keim]

Let it go. Have your event and if he comes fine. If you can make his event, go and have fun. One of my cousins plans a family picnic every year. I'm to the point where I don't want to go. It's in the same place every year and it's boring. Every year several of us make the suggestion that one of us will plan it and make suggestions for a different venue but this cousin insists on her way. There are already family members that are not going because it's boring. Also everyone doesn't have a big family attachment. I can go for weeks without seeing my parents or grandparents where 3 of my sisters, see them every few days. One of my sister's calls my mom every day.
Just curious, is that 6 hour drive a one day event or is he staying overnight?

We have usually done three day weekends. Six hours drive one way isn't conducive to short get togethers.

 

[Meadbh]

You seem to [-]of[/-] have missed what has me displeased, Meadbh.

I perceived very well the proximate cause of your displeasure, Keim. I shared my family's outlook as an illustration of an alternative way of approaching family get togethers. That is, taking pleasure in spending time with family when we can, but no blame when we can't.

 

[Keim]

I perceived very well the proximate cause of your displeasure, Keim. I shared my family's outlook as an illustration of an alternative way of approaching family get togethers. That is, taking pleasure in spending time with family when we can, but no blame when we can't.

So, you would be fine with one of your family members insisting on things being done to the convenience of themselves, regardless of how this may inconvenience the others? (See previously mentioned 50th ann. example).

 

[Meadbh]

So, you would be fine with one of your family members insisting on things being done to the convenience of themselves, regardless of how this may inconvenience the others? (See previously mentioned 50th ann. example).

My reaction would be to send regrets, explaining my reason (not in the budget, previous commitment, etc) and to wish them a great time.

 

[ivinsfan]

My reaction would be to send regrets, explaining my reason (not in the budget, previous commitment, etc) and to wish them a great time.

Unfortunately, you can't really send regrets to your parents 50th wedding celebration, it's this kind of manipulation that sent the OP here asking for some counsel. I'd say again either have an upfront discussion about what's bugging you or attend only the occasions that are pretty much mandatory.