Family?

[Csara]

Just curious of what your mindset on family is? Do you believe that just because someone is family, you have to make an effort to have a relationship with them? Do you think it's acceptable to not care or be friends with certain family members - like 2nd, 3rd, 4th cousins, etc? Do you have friends that are more important than some of your "family"?

[stacyl]

We have our own "family" here in town created from the fact that all of us have no blood relatives nearby. I often like them much more than my own immediately family, LOL.

As for 2nd+ cousins, I have too many to bother being that close with. I usually just hear about them from my mom.

[Csara]

Yeah, most people I know don't have any relationship with extended cousins. I wouldn't even consider them family. My MIL has an obsession with us being friends with all of my DH's "cousins" but neither of us care. We have our own friends and our own family....that's how I look at it. Just b/c they are somehow related doesn't mean we have to have a relationship with them.

[HeavenLeigh]

My idea of family is ......a special bond....one that is trusting, loving, giving, and respectful. A closeness and sense of belonging that is shared amoung you and others.
I have a strong sense of family and try to go by the motto "blood is thicker than water" for the most part....BUT......I do not feel that you have to care for or even like someone just because they are related to you. I do believe you should be polite and respectful if you're getting the same in return.
Yep, most of my friends are more like family to me than my actual family members. I am one that doesn't sugar coat anything and see ppl for what they really are no matter what. If they are trash, they're trash wether they are blood related or not.

[jana]

Do you believe that just because someone is family, you have to make an effort to have a relationship with them?

Nope.

Do you think it's acceptable to not care or be friends with certain family members - like 2nd, 3rd, 4th cousins, etc?

Yes, and even closer family members (ie, not just distant relatives), if there's nothing positive about your relationship besides the fact that "they're family."

Do you have friends that are more important than some of your "family"?

Yes.

I think the notion of family is wonderful, but I've seen many people put up with horrible, damaging, negative relationships/behaviors JUST because someone was family. If your family is close and healthy and happy, that's super! If it's a strain on you to keep up with 273,649 distant relatives just because you "should," then don't bother. Cards are nice, websites/blogs keeping everybody up to date are useful, but aside from something easy like that, don't stress yourself out over it. :)

[Sexy Strawberry]

My idea of family is: mom, dad and my brother. The rest (except an uncle and an aunt) have showed that being relatives doesn't mean anything. All of my friends are closer to me than those "relatives" who I talk about.
Anyway, the relationship I have with my parents and with my brother is closer than any friendship I can have.