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Week 38 Prompt: Cousins

This week’s 52 Ancestors theme is”Cousins.” Growing up, there were a few family members that I referred to as aunts and uncles. I never really gave it much thought—until I started doing genealogy, that is. Turns out, some of these aunts and uncles are technically cousins (and some aren’t related at all!).

For example, my “Aunt” Shirley. Technically, she is my mom’s first cousin, making Shirley my first cousin once removed. And my “Uncle” Bob, well he’s my dad’s first cousin, making him my first cousin once removed.

I wonder why they were referred to as an aunt or uncle? Terms of endearment? Does anyone else have the same situation in their family?