Ah, bless her...

My mother was one of 5 and didn't really get on with any of her siblings - there were a lot of undercurrents and private bitching. She often used to say how happy she was that her 4 all got on and we'd say, 'Well, we were never going to be like your lot - talk about the awful warning!'

My four are not close either, Ellie Anne, and never have been. They have very different personalities and have always had their own groups of friends. Spouses in the mix have made it even more problematic. We have a week away as a family once a year, mainly for the cousins who always get along. As someone else said, they pick up after a year as if they had seen each other just the day before. Once we are gone I think it will be weddings and funerals only, but that's the natural way of things, a gradual parting. How many of us know our own second cousins?.

Craftycat, my boys were the same as children. Fights and just horribleness were a few seconds away when they were left alone. Luckily, they didn't kill each other and now look out for one another, in a brotherly hey insulting way when they greet each other. Have made this far more polite than they do it! Sadly, my own brothers have fallen out and will never speak to each other again. I am caught in the middle. It's too sad.

My 4 children (1boy,3girls) are all very close, the families meet up and last Christmas we all spent together and again in the summer for eldest daughter's big birthday! Requires some travelling - but it's worth it They were close growing up which was maybe because their father left when the eldest was 15 and the youngest 6. We formed a close unit for 18 years then and it still exists although we don't live close. I remarried after they had all left home and happily they have incorporated "stepdad" into the family

My little granddaughter calls her cousins her best friends. She talks about them as 'MY Connor' and 'MY Roan' even though she rarely sees them (they live in Scotland, we in Norfolk). It's so cute that she feels such a bond.

My sons fought like cat & dog all through their childhood- really physical fighting.
Now they are married with families & get on like a house on fire- very close.
Isn't it strange

My children aren’t close and it makes me very sad. They’ve not fallen out or anything but they have never been close. They all live in different places and get on ok when togetherbut would not seek each other out. I worry that when I’m not here they will lose contact.

I have 2 younger brothers, I was particularly close to the older of the 2 as there is only 15 months between us. Although I don't see either of them often we are still close and I know if I need help I only have to shout. Similarly my own 2daughters are very close and always have been. Eldest is now on her own with 4 children, is being treated for depression and is, according to doctor, on verge of an eating disorder. Her sister is very supportive, speaks to her almost every day and they see each other every week, neither of them drive so they have to bus to meet unless son-in-law can help. If youngest is at all concerned about her sister she will ring me to have a chat. Their own children are very close and love spending time together

My 7 precious little GC (aged 5-12) live in three cities and two countries on opposite sides of the world. Between us we speak 3 languages. They have seen each other every year so far, although this is becoming more difficult as they get older (school etc). To my great joy (and especially as it was not my own experience) they just love each other to bits and there is much "cousin love" happening. They meet up as tho they were together only a few days earlier. They don't Skype etc in between as those efforts consisted mostly of poking tongues out at each other and making fart jokes! I do so hope that these early connections result in real lifelong relationships. The joys and pain of international families. I am amazed how many people I speak to have families spanning continents. We are all so much part of the global community today.

I have two DD, three years apart. They live close to each other 300 miles away from us. They are very close and provide childcare for each other. They have dinner at DD1s house every Wednesday and DD1 often pops into see her sister for coffee if she has a break between her carer visits. They now both have partners and luckily they all get on really well together. Just need to persuade DH that we should live nearer them .

My two daughters, 2 years apart, were very different people as they grew up, but I always wanted them to get on well, and never played one off against the other. Despite their different personalities, they always supported each other and kept each other's secrets. As adults, they have become closer since they had children of their own. It makes me very proud and happy to see them spend time together and get on well, and also to see the cousins in the next generation getting on together.

The green eyed monster has come between my two DD's .
Very upsetting as opportunities are there for all .
We cannot blame others if we don't make the most of them.

I only have one child so I can't comment. But if you asked my mother, she would be proud to say that all of her children get on and are close. My brother and sister live in different parts of the world from me, but we speak to each other all the time and give help when needed, so much so, I find it difficult to understand when I read or hear about people who are estranged from their siblings.

I could tell a similar story to you, jacig, as we had lots of spats, shouting, fighting, and general despair from me, but they are good friends now. They support each other, and care for each others children.

My two dd didn't get on at all growing up, wouldn't even sit in the same room at times. They have now spent a month in the same house with 2 GC, 2cats,2dogs and one SiL while waiting on a new house. They haven't fallen out and enjoyed the time together. If mine can do it so can anyone!

One of my happiest moments was coming home from shopping when my oldest two were on schools holiday to find them making music together, one on the flute and the other accompanying on the piano. There hadn't been much cooperation until that point so it was a joyous surprise. Happily mine all get on despite, or perhaps because, they are all so different from one another.

My dgd is a very emotionally disturbed little girl right now (long back story & help is being accessed but it has all taken far too long).
Her mum (dd) has just confided she's pregnant. My heart sank ?. I really don't think my dgd (6) will cope with this at all. As much as I feel guilty I'm not excited about the news I can't help but be concerned for dgd. She's only just been returned to her mum after 4 years of living with me.
I can only hope for a similar lovely outcome as OP has with dgc ?

My two are close - less than 2 years age difference. They were at university together and their children were all born in a 4-year time period.

They meet up regularly and every year go to The End of The Road Festival together. They set that date in stone. Their children (cousins) are close too and more like siblings as they have spent so many happy times together.

It is hugely reassuring for us that they all get on so well and will be there for each other after we are gone.

As if to underscore my last post I just had a call from my daughter to say she got home from work this evening to discover a bouquet from her younger brother, with a card thanking her for her support during his time at university. Yesterday he got his first pay packet after starting first job since graduating.

Witzend - that's a very hopeful sign and may well last into their adulthood.
Three of my four adult children have had major life events that have been traumatic and it has been one of my deepest joys to see how the siblings have supported one another emotionally, financially, and in practical ways according to their means. They are very close and most days they engage with each other through a family WhatsApp page or FaceTime - and occasionally even get together in person, though as they are scattered in this country and one lives abroad that's a fairly rare event.

my two have 10 years between them and my son always thought of his big sister as almost a second mum ,she was the first person other than a nurse to tube feed him in his incubator ,they're 29 and 39 now,he still sees her regularly ,calls her and takes her kids out with his own,if he has worries he'll talk to her rather than worry his dad and me and I'm always delighted to see how happy they are when they get together .I cant see anything ever coming between them .

Well my daughter actually said about her brother "can you please tell him to stop that, its sooooo annoying"! He was BREATHING!

LOng may it last indeed!

I am lucky enough to have 3 DDs who are very close indeed and would walk to the ends of the earth for each other.

It may last ... I am close to my third (of four) brothers - but there are likely to be 'moments' along the way, of course when they infuriate each other too.

I take a lot of heart from the fact that my grown up children value their sense of family and are thoughtful about each other now. They do not live close to each other and are not likely to be in each other's pockets, but they do care and support each other.

So yes, long may it last!

Ah that's really lovely.
Of course it won't last, but lovely while it does!