What is family

[DeFunkCat]

I’m estranged from one son. The other son calls occasionally. My stepsons i’m close to. Help them financially. Have lots of happy family events with family extended events. Have grandchildren call in lots. I mourn not seeing my sons somtimes. I’ve decided that family are those who want to be around you and you then. Blood ties are not so much relevant. I’m much happier having realised this. It’s been a very painful journey getting to this point with my austistic brain.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I get along great with all my family my wife chats on face book with many of my female cousins have one cousin who joined Myheritage Zeeman we stay in contact both of use looking for similar things. Only I am more successful in my search.

 

[Hazel_1914]

I love my blood family but am at a further distance from them on serious issues especially as I doubt they'd make the effort to understand more.

Estrangement is kind of happening a little bit. Love my dad, can't stand being in a "discussion" with him on some topics. But I've got to go to work right now.

 

[velociraptor]

I’m estranged from one son. The other son calls occasionally. My stepsons i’m close to. Help them financially. Have lots of happy family events with family extended events. Have grandchildren call in lots. I mourn not seeing my sons somtimes. I’ve decided that family are those who want to be around you and you then. Blood ties are not so much relevant. I’m much happier having realised this. It’s been a very painful journey getting to this point with my austistic brain.

Family is generally a large pain in the backside and best avoided as much as possible. I love my wife and kid and I tolerate one cousin and my brother-in-law. The rest are off the menu.

 

[Masked Man]

Family is who you choose to be in your life. I have relatives that I hardly ever see. I don't consider them family. However I also have friends that I have known a long time and they are my chosen family.

 

[velociraptor]

friends that I have known a long time and they are my chosen family

100%. This is how I feel.

 

[Outdated]

I'm completely estranged from my family but it was always a very dysfunctional family right from the start.

My father was incredibly intelligent, autistic, and a narcissist and a bully. My sister and I were both very strong willed and he never had any control over us so he just didn't like us. He loved our younger brother but not us. He was always a very dutiful father and he always did what he believed was right and proper but it wasn't a very happy home life.

My father never changed of course and even when I was in my 40s he still tried to treat me like I was 7 years old and nothing I ever did in life was good enough for him. Eventually I just gave up on him, he was too much hard work and too much stress for absolutely zero in return.

I don't miss my family because in so many ways I never really had a family in the first place. Sometimes I wonder if they're still alive but my curiosity is never strong enough for me to make enquiries and find out.

 

[SusanLR]

Family is who you feel comfortable and connected with. Those you know really care and show it. Blood has nothing to do with it for me. It is just a genetic term.
My parents were true family and the ones I enjoyed being with the most.

Now I consider myself as having no family. Since they have passed, there is no one I really feel close to or comfortable with. I have cousins by the dozens. All live in the northwest. Oregon and Washington. Most I've never even met. Aunts, uncles, the same. I was never close with them either. Only one even liked me.

 

[DeFunkCat]

I have family like that in New Zealand. I’m in Melbourne Australia. Never met them. Don’t know them.