anyone else not live close to either set of parents?

its so hard!! when we got married, i moved 2 hours away from my parents. i had a rough time in the beginning, but i've adjusted and doing great with it. and we had DHs parents living close by to help us, etc when we needed things.
BUT this summer, DHs parents moved almost 5 hours away! so now we're not close to either set of parents we have a huge group of friends who are more like family to us so its not like we're lonely... its just so hard around the holidays trying to see each set of parnets and be there for all teh "family" stuff. we don't even have kids yet! i can only imagine how that will be!
i guess i'm just looking to see if anybody else is in the same situation and how you handle it... any advice??

Re: anyone else not live close to either set of parents?

My ILs live in Florida....honestly its hard because I see DH missing them during the holidays. Sometimes they can make the trip up, sometimes they cant.

Re: anyone else not live close to either set of parents?

Our whole family other than a brother and wife on each side lives back East. We split the holiday with five days in NY and five days in DC with DH family. It's not that hard, except when you need help, then it can be really difficult.
My parents are actually moving out here to be closer to us but I have mixed feelings about it. It will be great to have them here full time but I will miss my return trips 4 or 5 times a year to NY.

Re: anyone else not live close to either set of parents?

Me. Usually I'm totally fine with the situation, but it stinks around the holidays.

It cost us $1000 to travel to see my family at Thanksgiving, and it's costing $1200 to travel to DH's family for Christmas. (Because we don't have kids, we're expected to do the traveling.)

Re: anyone else not live close to either set of parents?

We live in Colorado, DH's family is in Alabama and mine is in New York. It wasn't that bad when we first moved here, but once Jackson was born it was a got harder. If we need help, there's no one to help us. We've made some friends, but it's not the same as having family to rely on. We've got this big beautiful house and would love to host the holidays, but no one except DH's parents can afford to come here. So it's a little depressing, not to mention costly since we're always the ones that have to travel to be with family. It's also not easy flying cross country with a toddler!

We're thinking of moving back east in a couple of years, because it's just kind of rough being so far from family.

I should add that when DH and I lived in Virginia, it wasn't bad at all because it was at the most, a 6 hour drive to NY. Even if we had had Jackson back then, it would've been much easier. Plus, my sister and my best friend only lived an hour away. So it all depends on where you move to.

Message edited 12/17/2007 3:01:00 PM.

Re: anyone else not live close to either set of parents?

We aren't close to either sets of parents, doesn't bother us at all! I had the inlaws here this weekend and my parents fly in in a week. It suits me just fine!! Its expensive and time consuming, but its fine by us!

Re: anyone else not live close to either set of parents?

My husbands Parents live ion the West Coast and e are lucky if we see them once a year....and my Parents have passed away.


So, Holidays are tough for the both us.