Does anyone on here NOT consider their biological family as their family?

[The Sundae]

I should explain the title a bit. Basically, do you actually consider your blood relatives as family, or do you consider very close friends/other people (in-laws, stepparents, teachers/professors, doctors, etc.) in your life to be your real family despite not being related?

I know this is going to be a heavy topic for some people because (1) abuse, neglect, etc. exist, and (2) biological family is considered to be a very important thing in a lot of cultures. So, try to keep it civil and be considerate of others as always. Thank you.

 

[Acruoxil]

My dad is a major ******* but he still loves me in his own ways. No, I don't have anyone in my biological family who I don't consider as family.

 

[Kaioin]

I think at the end of the day whether you want them to be or not your biological family is first and foremost your family by the very definition of the word...

Not to say you can't consider your friends as family too but it's mostly a term of endearment when used that way, right?

 

[SoftFairie]

The only person in my biological family that I don't consider family is my biological mother,

as for the rest of them I consider them family but I also consider my very close friends family too.

 

[gem83]

I don't consider any of my grandparents to be my family. They're all horrible people who treat my parents and everyone else like ****. My dad's parents treat him like garbage and act like my mom is the worst mother ever.

Spoiler: possible trigger warning?

That and the fact that my dad's father is an animal abuser and my mom's father is a pedophile and a rapist.

 

[DJStarstryker]

I haven't spoken to or seen anyone from my biological family in over 10 years so... yeah. I don't consider them my family. They were pretty emotionally abusive. I haven't even lived anywhere near them in a long time, literally being hundreds or thousands of miles away.

 

[nerdatheart9490]

Mixed. My mom and sister are my family, but my dad and step dad are not. I have many siblings, with a total of 7. Half siblings, and step siblings. But I only consider my full blood little sister and younger step sister to be family. My step brother had a kid, and I consider her my niece. But I don't consider her parents family. And I have biological nieces and nephews, but I've only seen them once and I never see their parents, so I don't consider them family. I consider my maternal grandparents family, but not my paternal grandparents or my step dad's mom.

As for friends, I only consider my best friend family. We've been friends for nearly a decade, and she even spent most of one summer staying at my house because she was having family issues and couldn't stay at home. I consider her more of a sister than I do most of my sisters, with the exception of the two I mentioned above.

So basically... my family tree is filled with nuts.

 

[emolga]

My mom and dad prefer to pretend my biological Grandfather doesn't exist, or at least he doesn't have any relation to us.

 

[Mariah]

I've never spoken to anyone on my Dad's side of the family apart from my grandparents.

 

[Sleepi]

The only person from my biological family who I won't consider family is my biological dad (and anyone from my dad's side of the family). The rest of my biological family I do consider family.

 

[inkling]

I do not speak to my biogicAl father or his parents and others. I didn't grow up with them and they never attempted to contact me till my bro passed away and now I'm an adult. So I didn't really respond since it was awkward having people come to you and say surprise we are family and want to talk to you and stuff. Um, no I don't know you weirdos go away.

 

[Blythetastic]

Absolutely. I have some family that due to their frankly stuck up attitudes, I don't speak to anymore. We're related but we aren't 'family', if that makes sense. After some drama due to my grandma's estate, I don't plan on talking to them or seeing them again. It makes me sad but we're all better off like this.

That being said, my two best friends and some of their families feel closer to me than previously mentioned relatives. They've been there for me and supported much more than my rude relatives. They've made more of an effort to speak to me than some relatives and that's okay. I'm just lucky to have these awesome friends in my life.

 

[okaimii]

My father and I were never close and I've only seen him a few times throughout my life so I've never met anyone on his side of the family. We may be blood related but I don't consider them family. Everyone on my mom's side is considered family to me along with my best friend who I love and treat like family.

 

[Earth Wolf-Howl]

Yes- I will never refer to my biological 'brother' as family. In fact, I consider him to just be an obnoxious house guest, no matter what my parents may say.

On the other hand, though, I have four close friends who I think of as my sisters, even though we aren't related.

 

[radical6]

i dont like my biological dad or my stepdad and i wish they were both dead

so yeah

and i consider a couple older friends as older brothers to me

 

[Tao]

Practically everybody on my Dad's side I don't consider family. I haven't seen or spoken to any of them for years, or even something as simple as a birthday/Christmas card to show they at least remember I exist.


I still regard my Dad as family despite him not being much better because, well, I at least know at the end of the day that he cares for my well being and would be there if I ever genuinely needed help, even if he can't do anything about it (which sometimes, you just can't). I never see him but he at least calls occasionally to 'catch up' and does what he can on the rare occasion I need help.


I think that's where I pretty much draw the line on who is and isn't family, the people I know actually give a **** and will do their best for me if when necessary, almost regardless of what happens between us and how often we speak. This also includes people like my step dad and best friends, who aren't in any way related but I still consider family.

 

[cinny]

Yes. Most of my family members have a trait of being narcissistic, especially my mom & sisters.
My step-dad was the only family I had until he wanted a divorce 6 years ago.
Oh & I go on a sub-reddit called r/raisedbynarcissists.. I can pretty much relate with a lot of users who post on there.

The only family I have now are my dogs, boyfriend, and his family.

 

[mintellect]

Well, I don't even know anyone on my mothers side. And all my grandparents died before I was born.
Also, although I've visited them a few times before they went, and they were all very nice, majority of my dad's side of the family are in far away countries.
I am extremely close to my mom, though. She's the only family member I live with.
I love my dad, too, but he can be just... Eh... At times. Plus he and my mom don't get along too well.

 

[Dinosaurz]

Everyone in my family is my family. They helped me so much, debatable my mother but my dad is

 

[Acruoxil]

Oh I don't consider my grandparents and a few other family members from my father's side as family. They're one of the most ****tiest people to exist on this planet, and they've caused enough damage to us to make anyone go insane.