There’s a special kind of magic in watching your kids bond with their cousins.
It’s like watching best friends form in real time, without any of the pressures that come with being friends. Cousins are those rare relationships that feel like siblings, including the inside jokes and funny traditions. Cousins have always been special to me, having grown up close to my own.
Being able to watch my kids become best friends with their cousins is a hint of nostalgia that makes my heart burst, knowing they have lifelong best friends and memories they will reminisce about years from now.
My girls are lucky enough to have cousins who are close in age to them and also close in proximity, living only a town away from each other. When they’re all together, it is chaos in the best possible way. I swear they never sit down, grabbing snacks on the run as they move on to the next Nerf war or water fight. They all fight like siblings but love each other the next moment, forgetting what drama ensued only minutes before.
There’s something special about how the dynamic has evolved over the last decade. When it was just my nephew, all the adults gave him 110% attention. When he was just about two, I had my first daughter, and the cousin crew was officially created. Since then, we’ve added three more girls to the crew, and as each new addition was born, the older cousins took on the important roles of caregivers, heroes, and teachers, teaching them all the silly and mischievous ways of their cousins.
Cousins are a safe space for my kids.
If we have a tough morning, letting them know they get to see their cousins later typically turns the day around. They have so many simple shared experiences, through holidays, trips together, and time spent at home, that they offer instant comfort and immense joy just being together.
Cousins are like an anchor. Watching my girls grow so close to their cousins is like watching my childhood get passed down. It has also brought my brother and me closer together, which is something I am forever grateful for. We can reminisce and laugh about all the things we did as kids and all the similarities we see with our kids as they run around together.
The best part about cousins is that they are forever.
As someone who is still close to my own cousins, it brings me immense joy to know that the relationship between cousins can last a lifetime and only grow stronger as you experience more of life’s milestones together. I am so thankful to have had cousins by my side as we celebrated family holidays, weddings, and the joys of parenthood.
Reflecting on my girls, niece, and nephew growing up and being a part of each other’s teenage and adult years brings me a sense of fulfillment. They are already thick as thieves, so I can only imagine what the future holds for their bond.
Memories with their cousins are the moments that matter most to my girls. These are the relationships that will last them a lifetime.
