Family relations

[katiesara]

What relation to me are my great aunts children (my great aunt being my maternal grandfathers sister) - if that makes sense??

[jjf2003]

Cousins

[Ewood27]

Sorry, jjf, I disaagree. Katie, your mother and these others are first cousins. You are one generation removed from this 'straight-across' relationship, so you are first cousins once removed. Confusingly in my view, it's expressed the same from both ends, i.e. you are their first cousin once removed, and they are your first cousins once removed also. The rule is to take the straight-across relationship of the senior of the two people being compared, in this case them being your mother's first cousin, then 'remove' down an imaginary family tree chart as many generations as necessary to reach the junior person (you). And if you're confused, then believe me you are not alone!

[katiesara]

so what's the difference between first cousin once removed and second cousin??

[Ewood27]

Katie, the children of brothers/sisters are first cousins, as I'm sure you know. Their children are second cousins, THEIR children are third cousins and so on. 'Removed' comes into the picture when the relationship is not 'straight across'. It's confusing, I know, but just maybe the page at http://www.obliquity.com/family/misc/cousin.html will help. I hope so!