Hi @Green_Ghost , thankyou for sharing this, your post really resonates with me 🥰
I also used to have a really close relationship with one of my cousins, who is about 4 years older than me, when we were children. That relationship is still friendly, but we definitely grew apart over the years! Obviously the situation is slightly different in the sense that your cousin is still a bit younger, while my cousin and I are both in our 20s now, but I really understand your desire to reconnect.
I think it's a really typical kind of relationship progression you've described, especially when there's a 5 year+ age gap, in the tendency to grow apart, and then want to reconnect a little later once you're both more grown-up. I also wanted to mention that I think it's really lovely that you're wanting to be the one to reach out to your cousin! I definitely agree with @Ender_Wiggin about keeping the initial invitation to hang out pretty casual, just to gently break the ice. It could be really great to try and establish some new common ground or common interests to kind of bring your relationship closer in a more adult way. I also think it's always so nice and nostalgic to discuss childhood memories with my cousins too though, which is another way of reminding eachother of the common ground you shared in the past.
Your post has really reminded me about how lovely and important familial relationships which are also friendships can be, thankyou for this💜
Keep us updated! I'd love to hear how things go with your cousin!
