Kids who grow up with cousins have this innate sense of family over everything that no one can influence. Sure, having siblings makes up for a lot of the familial bond a child would ever need, but growing up with cousins in the mix hits differently.

I haven’t always been close to my cousins from the start. Most of them lived too far away and during holidays, we never spent time in each other’s homes. I met them on a few occasions and we were like strangers trying to endure each other.

When I turned 11, things changed for the better. A cousin moved back home with her parents and since she was the only child, my mother told me to look out for her. She was my age, soft-spoken, terribly kind and thought the world of me. She transferred to my school and that was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

Of course, we hit it right off and became BFFs more than cousins. We did everything together, even well into our teenage years, and having that solid connection with family meant a lot to me. I never felt alone or unsure of myself. My sisters were my role models and strong backups, but my cousin became a partner (in figuring adulthood out). 

Today, she still lives close and we still get together as much as we can, and I can only wonder how the coming-of-age transition would have been if we hadn’t braved it together. 

As a parent, you would be doing their kids a huge favor by raising them close to their cousins. Even if you have only one child, cousins can stand in for siblings in nearly every way. 

Read: Why Raising Kids Without Extended Family Nearby Sucks

Cousins protect one another

Of course, cousins are going to fight and have rivalries. When we were 15, my cousin and I fought for almost a month over a cute guy, but we forgot about all of it the day she saw me in an argument with an older girl. She squared up and defended me like we hadn’t been beefing for weeks.

Cousins have a strong sense of obligation to each other and you can be certain your kids have their backs covered while growing up.

They’ll understand your kids more

Your kids are safe to be themselves around their cousins because they are from the same family. They understand one another and they all know where they came from. Cousins are often more tolerant of each other than siblings. They can joke about the dysfunctional aspects of their families without anyone getting offended. Essentially, there’s no need to pretend around one’s cousins.

They’ll have familiar faces at family get-togethers

Your kids may see their cousins frequently but nothing beats having people to ‘gel’ with at family gatherings. They see their siblings every day and it would be good to have other people to talk to and giggle with while they point out Aunt May’s weird hairstyle!

Read: Family Honors Grandma’s Memory By Displaying All Of Her Quilts at Her Funeral

They can complain freely about their parents 

The truth is, your kids are going to think you’re annoying and ‘bossy’ at some point in their lives. They are going to nag so much about you, especially when they become teenagers and don’t want anybody “telling them what to do”.

 It was difficult to open up to my other friends about how my parents were driving me nuts, but to my cousin, I could tell her everything because she was family. It’s easier to spill your guts to family without feeling ashamed or insecure.  

Sleep-overs are a sure-game

A lot of parents don’t like their kids sleeping over at their friends’ homes for safety reasons. I mean, you don’t know this family or what they do. You don’t know what the parents and siblings are like, and it’s just too difficult to leave your kid at their mercy for one night. However, your child can stay for as long as she wants in her cousin’s place and you’d have nothing to worry about. You’d be sure she’s safe and in good hands.

Unconditional loyalty and love.

You can be certain your kids would go through life with the best support anyone could ever have – a loyal, loving, and supportive family. Cousins are like knights to one another, and no matter what comes along, you can be sure they’d defend each other till the end. They will always be connected to one another because that’s what family is. Most importantly, they’ll always be friends for life.

Keep Reading: The Sunday Family Dinner Is Nearly Obsolete, But it’s One That’s Worth Bringing Back

The post Raising Your Kids Near Their Cousins is One of the Best Gifts You Could Ever Give Them appeared first on The Hearty Soul.