Boy, do I have a lot of cousins.
I’m just talking about on my mom’s side of the family. I’ve only ever met three of my cousins from my dad’s side. To be fair, most of my mom’s family still lives in our hometown and she had more siblings than my dad. Thus, more cousins.
As far as first cousins are concerned, I have just over 20 of them, but then when you count cousin-in-laws and second cousins… it totals to well over 50… maybe even 60.
That’s me on the right… the shy one.
Growing up as an only child, my cousins substituted the role of siblings. I spent a lot of time at my Nanni and Poppy’s house with a clump of cousins around my age when we were kids. When I was in high school, I was closer to more of my younger cousins because I would watch them or see the ones who lived nearby more often than my old gang of cousins.
My “little” cousin Matt and I in North Carolina
Cousins are pretty great, at least mine are. But you know what the best thing is about cousins…?
They’re siblings that you don’t have to go home with.
I love mine anyway.
orangeowldiaries 
My relationship with my cousins is okay on my father’s side, but we aren’t super close. On my mother’s side there was a lot of family drama and abuse. It’s really rather sad. I’m glad you have a good relationship with your family.
Even though I get along with my cousins, there’s a fair share of drama. I just opt to keep my nose out of it and let them fight themselves, lol
I am a few years older than you Tabby but I still yearn to connect with my cousins on occasion. I am working on trying to get a dinner date worked out with one and his wife now. We did not spend as much time together growing up due to proximity, but now that he lives in the same town I want to make it happen.
HAHHA… I feel the same way about my cousins, they’re great but I still go to be an only child :)
Glad I’m not the only one who feels that way! Lol :D
Cousins are awesome!