Our Tribe

Next week I'll be having some of my in-laws over to stay for a few days. I wouldn't say that my in-laws and I are besties and are super close. I don't have the same bond with them that I do with my own family, but there aren't any major issues and we do get on.

The problem is that whenever they come over they behave very carelessly and I find myself seething. For example, they leave a mountain of washing up and never offer to help (it would be different if we had a dishwasher but we don't!) they eat us out of house and home, and never ask if anyone wants the last of anything, they just gobble it up! I've taken to packing up my Emma Bridgewater bits and pieces because they've broken some of my china in the past and not even apologized. And they really…

I'm hoping someone here can give me some helpful NON-JUDGEMENTAL advice.

I've been very happily married for five years and we have two beautiful young children. We have a great life together and I'm so proud of our little family. My husband and I also get on with each other's families. He has an older sister and a younger brother which is great because I'm an only child so it's great to have got two new siblings via my husband.

The problem is my sister in law, who is a really lovely lady, formed a friendship with my husband's ex-girlfriend a few months back. My sister in law was very honest and upfront about it. She didn't try to hide it or anything and was very sensitive towards mine and my husband's feelings which I greatly appreciate. I do get it: My husband's ex was his first proper girlfriend and…

I was watching a Loose Women clip (for those of you who don't know Loose Women it's a British talk show) and they were talking about godparents and whether it was still considered an important role or not. And it got me thinking what other people thought.

I'm a Catholic and I come from a family of believers so naturally the role of godparents is very important to us. Both my children are baptized so obviously they have godparents too. I myself am not a godparent but if I was asked I would only do it depending on who the person was because I consider it to be a very important role even though others agree to do it but then take the role lightly. That's why I chose my children's godparents with care. People who I knew and trusted to take their responsibilities seriously.

What are everyone's thought on…

I only have one sibling - a younger sister who recently celebrated something of a milestone birthday. She lives on the continent and in the past we never gave it that much thought because it's not as though she was living in Australia. But then of course the pandemic occurred and the distance felt a lot greater than what it really was, and my parents and I didn't get to see her (or each other for that matter even though we're all still in the same country!) for what seemed like an eternity. It's great that we all recently got to catch up.

My sister and I have always been close and I consider her to be my best friend (hopefully she regards me as the same!)

And what about everyone here? Are you all very close to your siblings? How did you all cope not being able to see…