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?
Our sons both still call their father’s cousin, Bob, as Uncle Bob even though they are both grandfathers.
About 15-20 years ago, when my first cousin and I had kids pretty close in age, we got together a couple of times a year and had to decide how her kids would address me and how my kids would address her. “Cousin” Elizabeth seemed odd, and just my name seemed too informal for those in a younger generation. “Mrs.” was obviously out, so we agreed that her kids would call me Aunt Elizabeth and my kids would call her Aunt ____. Of course, being the genealogist, I’ve explained to my now young adult kids what the relationship is. We so rarely get together now (all kids are young adults) that I’m not sure how they would address me or if they understand the relationship.
Thanks, Carol and Elizabeth, for sharing your stories!