Comments on: Living Far From People We Love

By: Tonya

Tonya — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:05:14 +0000

I read this after getting back from visiting two of my brothers. One brother has been married for 4 years now and has two children, 2 1/2 and 7 months. The other one also has two children 4 & 10 months. I had never met the younger three children and left after only being able to spend a few hours with them. I left with tears in my eyes wondering how old they would be the next time I see them and how much my own children are missing out on getting to know their cousins. I too have fond memories of growing up in ’small town’ Alberta with grandparents and cousins close by. I only wish I knew then what I know now.

By: Tiffany A.

Tiffany A. — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:17:22 +0000

I totally know what you mean. I didn’t really think about it myself until about 4 yrs. ago when my dad found out he had lung cancer and less than a year later passed away. It was hard to be so far away. I have fond memories of growing up in ’small town’ Alberta!

By: Sandrine

Sandrine — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:57:30 +0000

Well Darin all I can say is…consider yourself lucky your family is not on the other side of the globe!!!! I can tell you it has been a major sacrifice for me, and at times I have wondered if it was the right choice. I felt selfish and ungrateful for leaving my parents behind, wondering the same thing as you, who is going to take care of them? My mother has reassured me many times though, saying that parents want the best for their children and where I am now and what I have here is something I would never have had had I stayed back home. So it helps but you can’t help but wonder though. It was funny that I read your message just as I was feeling down! Anyway, it was nice visiting here! Take care!

By: kelly

kelly — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:36:52 +0000

i never even thought about needing to be near family until we were settled in the northwest and spending so much time with john’s family. i realized what a different kind of relationship you can have with someone when you see them every week, i miss being near my family a lot.

By: Shea Van Fleet

Shea Van Fleet — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:09:43 +0000

I hear you. I regret my decision to settle in Utah at times but we take care of Ryan’s mom and his Grandma (until she moved to Oregon last month) so I feel like we are useful. We know we’ll be the ones responsible for his mom and it’s a daunting thought at times.