If your family lives at least a day's drive away...

[Anonymous]

How often do you see them? Do you wish it was more/less? Who travels to whom?

[Anonymous]

Transatlantic family. Annual visits on average. At least weekly phone calls.

I wish it was more often, but from experience I know I can't stand my mother for more than 2 weeks at a stretch.

[Anonymous]

Closest family lives 12 hours away, others live further. We get together at Christmas at someone's house (it varies) and usually spend a week at the beach together in the summer. There is often another visit during the year, as well (sometimes at Thanksgiving, or for some other family event). I'd love to see them more, but we're all so busy, it's not something I worry about.

[Anonymous]

Why do you ask? Are you the one who asks these similar questions?

[Anonymous]

They live in California. Twice per year--once we go there, once they come here. Usually just my mom comes here though, as my dad has limited vacation.

Yes, I wish it were more. We are in the process of trying to move out there.

[Anonymous]

Midwest. Once or twice a year. Another time or two would be good but it's OK. When we're together it's great for a few days then it's like they're ready for their own space again.

[Anonymous]

Our families are on the West Coast (mine) and Florida (spouse). We see each set of grandparents twice a year on average, sometimes 3 times per year. I feel really sad for our kids that they don't have any local family/grandparents. Holidays are really lonely for us because spouse works holidays and grandparents don't want to travel during holidays. The grandparents are all retired and could travel more to visit but choose not to.

[Anonymous]

We visit each other 5-6 times a year, for usually at least 5-7 days. We used to do most of the traveling but now that we have 3 small kids it's harder so they come to visit us more often. We Skype and Facetime a couple of times a week.

[Anonymous]

My family - 10 hrs. See them 2-3x/year for a couple of days per visit. They travel a lot internationally.

DH's family - 15 hrs. See them 3-4x/year for a week per visit.

They mostly come to us since traveling with 4 people is $$ and driving takes up precious vacation days.

[Anonymous]

7 hours away. We usually go home maybe twice a year. Mostly because my oldest son has dog/cat allergies and every single person I could stay with has a dog or cat. It will cause a significant respiratory issue for him if we stay in the home so we have to go to a hotel. Which means about 400-700/visit, depending how long we stay, if we stay in a decent hotel, which isn't really in the budget. My Mom usually comes to visit me a couple times a year. Before kids came along, I used to go home about 4-5 times a year.

[Anonymous]

My parents and sister are in CA. We go there in the summer for a week or so. My parents come here once a year for a couple weeks, either for Xmas or in the Fall. Often we'll have one other visit to my brother or other extended family in the midwest, either just us or meeting my parents there.

DH's family is 3 hr drive away. They never visit us. We go see them about 3-4 times a year -- Thanksgiving, New Year, a summer weekend and maybe 1 other time.

[Anonymous]

8 hours away, make the trip twice a year. See the odd family member here and there if they're traveling through/around the area.

[Anonymous]

DH's family is about a 12 hour drive away, and we haven't been out there in a few years. His family is scattered around the state and we have tried very hard to get everyone on board with a weekend or longer getaway so we can really spend time with everyone (as opposed to spending $1500 on hotels and flights and rental car in exchange for 4 hours of their time) but no one is that into it. Frustrating. His parents drive out once a year or so for a couple of days. It's just not a close family.

My family is in Western Canada and ironically we see them way more. They come visit a few times a year and we go out there once or twice a year. It's expensive too, but people really invest their time in seeing and connecting with us. And that is the difference.

[Anonymous]

My parents were seven hours away and we would visit 3-4 times a year and they would visit once a year.

[Anonymous]

My parents only visited when DD was born. We are very distant. Talk to each of them (they're divorced) maybe once a season, perhaps a bit less. It works fine for me.