Mon 8/24/2020 4:51 PM
John,
Yes, I agree with you. Jack knows the Durham George Elcik isn’t a cousin to his mother. I’ve at least taught him that much. I understand entirely 1st cousins, 2nd cousins, 1st cousins once removed, 2nd cousins once removed, etc.
An example in my family. My father had a 1st cousin Betty Jones. My brothers and I always called her “Aunt Betty” and believed her to be our aunt. Well, NO, she was our 1st cousin once removed. She was my father’s 1st cousin (their mothers were sisters.) Both my father and “Aunt Betty” were of the same generation. My brothers and I were of the “next” generation. That’s where the once removed come in to play. Age has NOTHING to do with it.
Another example: My mother had a 1st cousin, Alan, 22 years younger than her. My grandmother (my mom’s mom) and Alan’s mother were sisters. Alan was born when my mother was 22, BUT he was my mother’s 1st cousin. He was only a few years older than me, and people always thought he was my 1st cousin. He was my 1st cousin once removed.
Is this “clear as mud??”
Beth
