Genealogy Chat

Does anyone else out there get criticism for their love of this hobby or is it just me? My hubby and eldest son just cannot understand my fascination with this past-time and wanting to unearth facts about "dead people"! Helen

Yes all the time. My grandmother thinks I'm being nosey ........ just makes me wonder what she has to hide!!! Nicki

So far I have'nt had any real critiscism. I remember though when I had my college enrollment interviews the moment I told them my hobby the course got forgotten and interviewer started quizzing me on genealogy. Thats what I do now if I'm talking to a stranger I just bring up my family history. George

As soon as my husband see the distinctive green page - he groans. At least he gets to watch what he wants on TV for a change though. I have managed to persuade him to go on holiday next year to Ticehurst area so that I can go trawling through grave yards, It is after all his family I am tracing. Tracy

My Husband thinks it's great I spend so long tapping out searches and jotting down notes, I've stopped biting my nails! it's the first time he's seen me in nail-polish and we've only been married 30yrs!.

I've been told I'm Obsessed!! they're probably right!

What I've found in my family is that everyone is interested in what I find out, but don't want to do anything to help! I live in Canada. My sister lives just a few miles from the PRO at Kew..she has yet to offer to go and look anything up yet! And our only surviving elderly relative won't give me any information at all....I suspect a few skeletons in the closet!

Hi Helen, I know what you mean as soon as I mention names of the past about my relatives, I start to talk about where they were from etc they seem to look the other way they are not a bit interested Sue......... p.s. are we such a boring lot or what?

My other half and my son seem to think I am in "phase"and will get fed up when I am stuck.Might do .but it's something you either like or don't. brenda

Oh I am so glad I'm not the only one who get's stick for the interest in the family tree. Although I'm really lucky in that my Mum is just as interested as I am although even she gets a glazed look on her face when it gets complicated (and with my family I worry when it isn't complicated!!!!) My parents-in-law both think I am delving into things that should be left alone!!! Having said that I've learnt to be very clever and drop little gems into conversation's which have sparked a response and that way I've learnt some stunning information My Brother thinks I'm crackers, he is only interested in my Dad's paternal line and lo and behold this is the one I have the most brick walls on so he doesn't think I've achieved much for all that hard work!!! However my Daughter is fascinated, only 7 and she wants to be an Archeologist so is interested in anything to do with history and of course I do all I can to encourage her after all eventually she can take over as the family genealogist!! Infact both my kids love looking around graveyards for names - strange upbringing they're getting

I don't get criticism as such, just strange looks and the question "but WHY?". When I tell them it's just cos I want to do it, the strange looks get even stranger but I don't care!! I have nothing else to do with my time and it keeps me amused - except when I hit a brick wall of course, then its frustrating as hell - but it makes it all the more fun when you get a hit! My hubby has got used to the fact that he can be home a good half hour at least before I even turn to look at him - I talk to him but I don't look away from the PC until I have finished what I am doing. He usually ends up making ME a coffee, God love him. Our hubbies have a lot to put up with when genealogy takes a hold of us, eh ladies?!!! - Especially if we are on a specific trail!!

I used to moan about my husband learning to play the guitar most evenings and I didn't see much of him. Now I see even less of him, and he moans (sometimes) about not seeing me atall.

i recently found out that loads of my ancestors are all buried in the same cemetary in liverpool as my mum is buried. Last time i was home i thought about going top lay flowers on her grave and then i said that maybe we could look for the graves, my sis wasnt impressed. bri liverpool/leeds

Hi There Geneology Fans Thank goodness I'm not the only one , people think I'm nuts looking for dead people all the time . What's wrong with people who are alive they say !!!!! Well at least they don't answer back , or make the house untidy , nor eat all the food and leave piles of washing up and dirty laundry everywhere . We can do that very well all on our own whilst sitting at the computer !! Janet

I don't get criticised, I get a complete blank look whenever I mention it from everyone but my mum. It took three years for my grandmother to decide to tell me that someone had already researched her paternal ancesters. The further along I go, the more I wish I wasn't descended from these people.

my mums eyes glaze over when my dad and i start talking about family members even her own.

Hi My mother, oldest daughter and brother think this is great,my sister son and second daughter have absolutly no interest and think I'm waisting time on this. Sue

Hahaha! This really made me laugh this morning. :D My husband is always going on at me for "doing the tree". It's not that he's not interested but just missing the attention I think! Luckily my mum and sister and most of my extended family are really interested in it and are quite happy to listen to the most recent findings. We even found out the identity of a mystery photo because of my digging and my mum is now in touch with a second cousin in Australia.

My husband isn't actively interested, but encourages me with my interest. My sister likes to know what I've found, but never does anything to help. Unfortunately we are the older generation, no-one to ask. But I've mentioned my interest in family history in the on line miniatures club that I run, and now some of them have started delving. Jan.

My husband can't really understand why I find 'dead people' so interesting (especially at eleven thirty at night when he's already been in bed for an hour...)and he has asked why I want to find new rellies when the ones we've got are bad enough.....