How close are you to your family?

As someone who is estranged from all family on both sides, I'm curious to know if there's anyone else in my position. Perhaps you grew up in foster care, or come from just a plain dyfunctional family?

For those of you who are connected to family, how close are you?

I am extremely close to my mom's side of the family. My dads side, we see on holidays and what not. But I talk to my mom's side all the time, even tho I live 2 hrs away, we are always together doing big family events all the time, if I didn't have my family, I would be lost!

My mom's side of the family is really the only family I know. My dad has 4 sisters scattered throughout the country from what I understand but I've never met or spoke to them...and I would really love to meet them

I have a brother and sister that I go out of my way to see as little as possible.
I adore my daughter and granddaughter, and wish I lived closer to them.

I only lay claim to my Mom and she and I live together

I'm close to my parents, but even though I have 9 brothers & sisters, they're more like cousins because I didn't grow up with any of them because they're a lot older than I. We used to visit my mom's side of the family a lot when I was little, but I don't think I'm very close to any of them. Same for my dad's family. It's weird too, because there are SO many. I have over 30 neices and nephews, and I feel closer to some of them because they're closer to my age.

My husband and I both come from not-so-pleasant families. What is left on either side - we have no contact with. It is just us and the furries and featheries.

Our entire family is sooo close! Family is really important. Although we do have our dysfunctionals that we still go see, but not as often. It is great, my mom's parents and my dad's parents have known each other since way before either of my parents were born(they were stationed together in the military). Even though we dont have any extended family in Okla., we go to visit everyone often!

Originally Posted by Talon

My husband and I both come from not-so-pleasant families. What is left on either side - we have no contact with. It is just us and the furries and featheries.

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That's all you really need.

I love all of my family, both sides. Unfortunately, we live a five-hour plane ride from my side (with the exception of my Dad, who is here), so our contact is largely phone and email, and not a lot of those either. My in-laws live a lot closer, but it's still a 90-minute ferry ride, plus the driving to and fro, and the waiting in the ferry compound, so there's no such thing as droppin' in. We see them a lot more frequently, but still most of our contact is phone or email. It would be great to see any of them lots more often, but we live where we want and they live where they want -- c'est la vie.

Honestly, I don't see my family all that often. My mother is controlling, bossy and emotionally abusive and I don't need it. So I don't deal with them often. I feel for my 15 yr old brother who still lives there. She is good to him because he is her baby boy and he hasn't started to rebel against her yet. I just don't succumb to her way of thinking. She also treats my husband like he doesn't exist which is NOT cool to me since it is his money we use to buy the presents with. She sure would take his money in a heartbeat but send him something, even a card. Nope.

His family is the one we will visit often. They treat me like thier own daughter.

I'm pretty close to all my family. There is an aunt I could do without, and her daughters are not my favorite people, but I still like catching up with them from time to time.

I'm not the norm in my social circle though, I tell people "My family is dysfunctional, we all like each other!"

I picked other.

I actually live with my whole family practically.

We live in a 5plex, my grandma and grandpa in one apartment, my aunt and uncle and cousins in another, and then myself, mother and sisters in this one. and some unrelated people in the others. I never knew my father.. so. -shrugs-

Well I had to vote other because my family by all means is VERY different.

I live with my Mother but we don't get on that well. I don't really get on with her boyfriend or his family either. I'm close with my mothers family.

My birth father lives in Europe somewhere and I don't have contact with him nor his family.

The father figure in my life is my Mothers ex boyfriend of 13 years. We still see each other monthly and are really good friends. He is like a father to me. I'm really close with his whole family too.

The person I call Dad was my Mums boyfriend at the time when she had me, we are really close too and his family are my family, most of you will know my "Nana" is his dad and she's more like my mother then my actual one.

That's enough about my unusual family for now!

I rarely see my aunts, uncles and cousins.
I wish I saw my brothers and their families more.
I see my parents often
We see my husband's brother and his family about once a year
My husband no longer speaks to his parents.

I say if you actually, genuinely, care for your family, then great! Too often though it's just a big guilt trip and a lot of b.s. when you get together. If my parents want a relationship with their children, well, they should've thought about that when they were "raising" us.
Tell it like it is. Now I'm a grown-up, I'll decide for myself the people who I consider my "family".

My Dad's family is freaklishly close. So with that side of the family I'd say I'm very close. I'm twenty-nine and I can count on one hand the number of weeks I've gone without seeing a member of the extended family.

My Mom's family on the other hand can't get along so we seem them about once or twice a year.

both my parent have died,i have a sister who i will NEVER ever talk to again!! i 1/2 bro who i see on accasions.1 full brother who i see often,
as for my kids.er 1 lives nearby.the youngest lives quite away but we meet up about every 3 weeks or so.
my oldest wont talk to me (her choice not mine) and my son wont talk to me cause my ex wont let him??
i get on well with my MIL,see my BIL sometimes and dont have anything to do with my SIL