Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

Everyone has such different ways of relating to family.
For example, hubby's family, they say "cousin John" "cousin Mike"
we NEVER said that ever. It just sounds silly and so "brady bunch"
not to mention "Auntie Anna" makes me feel like a real old fogie

Now another one, how do you view this.
Lets say
Your moms first cousin
Is that your aunt/uncle.
or also your cousin?

Ive seen this differ so much.
My parents first cousins, I consider my aunts/uncles.

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

2nd cousin. I agree referring to a person as cousin John s strange. That's like saying Nurse Karen, or teacher Jill, weird

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

Posted by emilain

2nd cousin. I agree referring to a person as cousin John s strange. That's like saying Nurse Karen, or teacher Jill, weird

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

Posted by anna

Posted by emilain

2nd cousin. I agree referring to a person as cousin John s strange. That's like saying Nurse Karen, or teacher Jill, weird

yep, its so annoying!

But 2nd cousin, is the person whos grandparent is your grandparents sibling!
this post is gonna start getting confusing...

off to bed

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

2nd cousins


and we sometimes say Cousin Chris in my family

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

Ok in my family I have no cousins. But my fathers cousin (who is even a bit older than my dad) refers to himself as Cousin Richard. Since we don't see each other much I just assume its so that we know who this strange Richard is that is leaving a message LOL.

In DH family his moms cousins are all referred to by their 1st names, Dan, Paul, Janis, etc. (all are younger than his mom though)

BUT I think to DH aren't they (his moms 1st cousins) technically called 1st cousin once removed?

Do we have a resident Geneologist?

Message edited 11/10/2006 11:39:20 PM.

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

As I come from a huge Irish Catholic family I'm an expert in the cousins dept.

MY grandmother was one of 13 and many of her siblings and their children lived in the states. From a very early age I knew the difference between first and second cousins and even... hold on to your hats second cousins once removed

When I met my DH I actually made him a family tree equipped with the head shot of all of my aunts, uncles and cousins, where they lived and what they did/do for a living. He was so cute "studying" it the morning of that Thanksgiving

We don't say "Cousin" but there are so many repeated names in the family that sometimes we have to say "Danny G" (Dad's cousin) instead of "Danny" (which would imply my first cousin) or "Michael George" instead of "Mike" (my Dad) and "Michael" (my brother) or "Michael G" second cousin once removed in Ireland

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

I consider my 2nd cousins to be the children of my parents cousins. Am I alone?

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

Posted by anna

My parents first cousins, I consider my aunts/uncles.

Message edited 11/11/2006 8:11:18 AM.

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

Posted by LiPo

I consider my 2nd cousins to be the children of my parents cousins. Am I alone?

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

Posted by Meaghan729

Posted by LiPo

I consider my 2nd cousins to be the children of my parents cousins. Am I alone?

we have endless family debates on this subject, so my mom and I actually did research, lol.


you are correct - your second cousin is the child of your parents cousin.

your second cousins parent (your parents first cousin) is your first cousin once removed.

then the child of your second cousin is your second cousin once removed.

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

My Father's cousin marsha and Reggie are My second cousins and their daughter Dawn is My third cousin. Now my mother's Mother Sister is my Great Aunt. Now thats what i was told By my parents in how that works.

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

They are your second cousin

If you call them aunt and uncle....it means that they spawned their own children and grandchildren.

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

My parents 1st cousins are my aunt and uncle.

ETA: I know they are really my 2nd cousins, but, we were raised to call them "Aunt and Uncle." I will be doing the same with my children, most likely.

Message edited 11/11/2006 9:44:11 AM.

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

I do not call cousins (whether first, second or third) "cousin". I call aunts, uncles and great aunts and great uncles by those titles.

I have first cousins that are old enough to be my parents. My oldest cousins were junior bridesmaid and ring bearer at my parents wedding 50 years ago. Their children, though not technically my "generation," are my "peer group". There were only two times in my entire lifetime that all 10 first cousins in my family were in the same place - my Bat Mitzvah and my wedding. It was truly special.

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

I call aunts and uncles by their titles, but not my cousins...

my moms first cousins -i consider "cousins" not aunts and uncles

my cousins' children are also my cousins

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

this is too confusing to read right now, I knew Id create a monster post

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

Never really thought about it, but on my dads side everyone is cousin so and so..cousin Peter, cousin Bobby, cousin Anna..Ha HA HA...When we're going to one of their houses, it's "we're going to THE COUSINS" My moms family and DH's family all cousins are by first name only!!

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

Growing up we would say Aunt/Uncle b/c they were so much older - some of them we still do. Now most of them are just their first names and referred to as cousins.

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

Only one of my Dad's 1st cousins do we call Uncle Johnny.
All others are refered to by 1st name only.
I don't really know how that happened But he loves it & he jokes that some day I'll be old to cal him Uncle!! It's cute & I would never not call him that!!

Edited for spelling!

Message edited 11/11/2006 8:22:09 PM.

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

My parents cousins are my 2nd cousins. I just say they are my cousins, and their kids are my 3rd cousins. Still just call them cousins. I never refer to someone as cousin Jenna of cousin Joe

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

Now another one, how do you view this.
Lets say
Your moms first cousin
Is that your aunt/uncle.
or also your cousin?

Mom's first cousin is always your second cousin....unless you were born in Kentucky where it is legal to marry kinfolk ( the family term not the homosexual term...Nicole! ).

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

Re: Cousin or Aunt/Uncle ?

Oh boy, blonde moment Im confused