Extended Family- Aine Byrne

  

 

     I am incredible lucky to have a ton of close extended family, and this is something that is really important to me. My mom was one of six kids, and my dad one of four, so I ended up with 23 first cousins. I'm most grateful that I am close with almost all of them. This is such a rare thing, and I try not to take it for granted. I can't imagine how lonely i would be without any of my siblings or cousins to talk to. 

    My cousins range in age from 32 to just 3 years old. I love having older cousins to look up to and learn from. I see what they do and learn what I should do(and not do haha). My younger cousins are just so fun to have around. They are crazy and creative and filled with love, and thats so nice to be around. They always make you happier when you're around them. However, I think my favorite age range is all my cousins that are right around my age. I have 7 cousins all within two years of my age. We have so much in common and can stay up all night playing cards and exploring my grandparents land in New Hampshire together. It's like having great friends that you know will always be there for you. 

    Of course, being extended family, a lot of my cousins live far away. Three in Colorado, five in Wisconsin, three in Maryland, and five in South Jersey. I love going on trips to visit them, but it always sucks not seeing them more than once or twice a year. What makes my family very special is that I have seven cousins living in Sparta, four of them in my neighborhood. With my family of 6, when we get together with their families it always like a little party, just 11 kids going wild. I see them all the time, and I pretty much consider them siblings. Sometimes I'll come downstairs and there are a few of them just downstairs hanging out. I am so grateful to have this incredible family, and it is definitely very important to me.