Date: 6/6/2004 9:40:00 AM
From Authorid: 13546
*smiles* I know that I have turned to many of my friends, during my times of need, and when my family situations were not going so well. Especially through the internet, I have connected with so many people, I would consider to be part of my family , because they are all in my heart. Family can be anyone.. anywhere.. great post Pre!  Thanks for this my friend. *hugs*  |
Date: 6/6/2004 10:14:00 AM
From Authorid: 22308
a family to me is people who love and care for you. they accept you for who you are, even if you made mistakes. people who also support you and show love to you.  |
Date: 6/6/2004 10:17:00 AM
From Authorid: 15157
Sometimes a person can speak more freely to a friend than personal family member...Only because we have an established position in our rankings of our individual families. With a friend...if they do not accept...it will not bring as big as a repurcussion as if it were a blood relative. But then again...that is IMHO...You are very much Loved here by me Ray..even though we had gone through some low times...we still came out of the muck Friends!...Love Diana aka  |
Date: 6/6/2004 10:22:00 AM
From Authorid: 3263
*applauds* HERE HERE!! I totally agree with you  |
Date: 6/6/2004 10:34:00 AM
From Authorid: 5940
Bravo! Very well put, and I could'nt agree more.  |
Date: 6/6/2004 10:44:00 AM
From Authorid: 47296
I have always beieved a family is made. While I had my birth family, there were times when it seemed we were not always a family. When I joined the military, tht was my family. It was people I could depend on, talk to on a equeal footing, and live life with. Today, I still have a good portion ofmy birth family that I can call family. Even more, I have those people I know who I can talk to, bare my heart to, or when needed, find a shoulder to cry on. Thet too are family.  |
Date: 6/6/2004 11:35:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 14412
My family will always be my friends, as they do not judge you by what you do at one time, but they have the courage to accept you as a whole through everything.  |
Date: 6/6/2004 12:17:00 PM
From Authorid: 62693
I agree. I have a friend who doesn't much care for his family so he takes up with mine and calls my mom his mom. He feels comforted with my family and we accept him. I agree 'Home is where the heart is' and his heart is with us.  |
Date: 6/6/2004 3:07:00 PM
From Authorid: 12581
So very true Ray *HUGS* I walked away from my abusive family & chose to surround myself with people that are truly loving & sincere. Now that I need my friends the most, I am so thankful I did. It was one of the hardest things I ever did because I did want their love so much but they are the type of folks, I'd rather not even know. We all want acceptence from our families but really, when you think about it, those people who are true friends can fill the void more than enough with thier love & understanding. I've learned biology has nothing to do with it, my gene pool is pretty warped. I know with my current situation that my biological family will find it funny, that's the type of people they are, deriving pleasure out of other peoples pain. Yet, it's my friends, people here at USM who are the ones getting me through everything. Thanks so much for sharing & Take Care  |
Date: 6/6/2004 3:30:00 PM
From Authorid: 24924
Family, and a home, is that place, with those people who are free to be themselves; who allow each other to be themselves; who support one another, share with one another. A family is not just about having the same blood, and the same genes. I have family which consists of adopted neices, sisters, brothers, and even those I have adopted as more like a father and mother; but they've all started as friends and still are all my friends. Family is where love and respect, Liberty and laughter reside.  |
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Date: 6/6/2004 5:01:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 14412
It makes me smile to see all of you share your stories of "extended" families here. I just hope many will see this, and know they don't need to feel left out in the cold by family, when they can make one of thier own. |
Date: 6/6/2004 6:26:00 PM
From Authorid: 7574
So true! I have made friends on USM, one friend in particular, that has been with me through so much...Through four years, I've changed so much as a person and it's nice to have someone there for me, and I actually know gim better than the family in my real life. Funny, isn't it? It's so weird when your friends feel more like your family than your actual family.  |
Date: 6/6/2004 6:57:00 PM
From Authorid: 42945
a lovely post hun...sometimes I've had more support from my friends and family on here than I have within my own family...with maybe a couple excluded in saying that....this is the place that I reach out for when I have exciting news or feeling just plain downright awful...so yeah, I appreciate my USM family and friends, more than they will ever know...hugs  |
Date: 6/6/2004 8:24:00 PM
From Authorid: 998
Great post Pre ... I couldn't have said it any better myself !!! I have discovered another facet to my heart and soul because of USM and the interactions here. I feel like family here, and I know I have 'family' here that is as close to me as any genetic family member in 'real' life.  |
Date: 6/6/2004 8:33:00 PM
From Authorid: 62246
great post.  |
Date: 6/6/2004 8:46:00 PM
From Authorid: 15070
Fantastic post, PRE!  |
Date: 6/6/2004 8:48:00 PM
From Authorid: 37843
so true. ~~WP  |
Date: 6/6/2004 8:55:00 PM
From Authorid: 7952
This really strikes a chord with me. Thanks Pre i needed it  |
Date: 6/6/2004 9:54:00 PM
From Authorid: 20750
Awesome post Pre! Thank you!  |
Date: 6/6/2004 10:43:00 PM
From Authorid: 59861
i agree. my dad wont even let my friend nick in the car because of his sexual orentation. he practically disowned me today when he found my toung ring! thats not a dad, maybe a father, but NOT a dad. my mom, she's great, but not so much my dad. peace n luv and good post! (i'm accually gonna rate it!)  |
Date: 6/6/2004 11:41:00 PM
From Authorid: 26452
That was very beautiful Pre, very well said.  |
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Date: 6/7/2004 12:09:00 AM
From Authorid: 31687
I agree 100%!!! My own blood relatives don't speak to me anymore because I finally told them how I felt about what had been said about me behind my back. So I confronted them and told them they were out of my life for good. I do miss the family unit but can't accept their little secrets they have said about me. I think I have forgiven them but don't really need them In my life. As you said friends can be family and I have a few who have always been there for me. And yes, I can be difficult but those who care about me accept me for who I am. -Pinkdogwood- |
Date: 6/7/2004 12:33:00 AM
From Authorid: 19460
yep... you choose your true family i think. i have kidnapped my husbands grandma! lol I told him I didnt have any grandparents left, so he better get used to sharing his grandma with me. He said oh well I have to share her with everyone else! LOL I have also adopted my sis in law as my sister. We always drop the in-law part. I love my real family dearly, but they live 1000 miles from me, so they understand how I take on to my sis in law and my husbands granny.  |
Date: 6/7/2004 1:14:00 AM
From Authorid: 62752
very true ~*KristenKay*~  |
Date: 6/7/2004 1:45:00 AM
From Authorid: 62383
Family is just whatever you go home to I guess Related
Got Mike?  |
Date: 6/7/2004 3:35:00 AM
From Authorid: 30229
I am very fortunate to have experienced the best of both worlds... my growing up family, Mom and Dad were awesome, wonderful childhood memories, loads of love, bunches of support. My very own family, my kids/grandkids are wonderful also, we all have a very close and loving relationship. My friends are terrific, I feel so blessed to have met all the people in my life, or people who have been in my life whom I choose to call FRIENDS!!! To have good friends, one first has to BE a good friend, the cycle works that way for a reason. You have such a wonderful way with words PRE, thanks for making me "think" this morning... I needed that... I needed to take this morning to count blessings. As Kronk would say, write on!!!  |
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Date: 6/7/2004 5:38:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 14412
I really only wrote this to reach out to those that needed to see the reality of a family. We don't have to accept the abuse, or any other disrespect within a family, when we can go out and make one of love and respect for ourselves. |
Date: 6/7/2004 5:58:00 AM
From Authorid: 19869
this post is excellent! i'd love to have someone as wise and open minded like u in my family! everyone deserves a true family that loves and respects them.  |
Date: 6/7/2004 6:48:00 AM
From Authorid: 62423
Great post. I couldn't have said it better myself  |
Date: 6/7/2004 7:02:00 AM
From Authorid: 11097
Family to me means unconditional love and understanding, and I have been blessed to have been born into a wonderful and loving family. But you are right, there are many people we consider our family that really are our friends, but they have been there and loved us through it all, no matter what. This was a very heart-felt post, thank you for sharing  |
Date: 6/7/2004 7:20:00 AM
From Authorid: 61013
Great post Predictor.....
Keri aka ~  |
Date: 6/7/2004 9:36:00 AM
From Authorid: 27534
The definitions have changed as the nuclear family has changed. It is now on a clinical level that those people with whom in a residence you reside that give you aid in your physical, emotional, spiritual and chronological development. A family is no longer a mother, father, and approximately 3 children born of that marriage. It can be a single parent, grandparent(s), gay couple, as head of the househould. Other siblings with biological attachments or blended attachments. So you are right in asking about what is a family. And all families should be a "matter of the heart". One thing I have admired about adoption. The parents who adopt chose you and wanted you. Most biological parents want you....but they did not know what you they were getting. A very thought provoking post my friend.  |
Date: 6/7/2004 11:17:00 AM
From Authorid: 15228
This is so true. We've lived many different places. Every place we've lived, whether it was overseas or here in the US, we've formed a family unit with others in our situation. It doesn't make our own families less important, but it was important for the kids and important for us to feel close to other people. We've shared holidays, birthdays and weekends with people from all walks of life, very different from my own biological family and I feel all the more blessed for it and I think the kids are lucky to have known such people.  |
Date: 6/7/2004 11:23:00 AM
From Authorid: 16061
Sorry predictor but you are WRONG. Families that abuse and do all the other bad things that you have said are still families. I have come from a family like that and though I may never speak to my father again for what he has done he is still my family. My Mother, Brothers and Sister are a stronger family unit because of what we have come through. I have friends that are close to me than my family but they are still friends. If I had a choice between family and friends (taken into account I come from one of your dysfunctional family units as you put it) FAMILY still comes first and my FRIENDS understand that.  |
Date: 6/7/2004 1:19:00 PM
From Authorid: 56489
Nice post Predictor.  |
Date: 6/7/2004 2:16:00 PM
From Authorid: 62367
I am very fortunate to have a blood family that is in the truest sense "my family". I also have a best friend that stands in for family as well. Times when I can not go home for the holidays, I celebrate with her family, so I am not alone at such times. I have also stood in for her family as well. When she married 20 years ago, her own family except her father, could not attend the wedding. I was her maid of honor and my brother and mother stood in for her family. She has never forgotten this. It is wonderful to have both friends that are family and family that are friends.  |
Date: 6/7/2004 4:28:00 PM
From Authorid: 55789
Good post. It made me think  |
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Date: 6/7/2004 5:26:00 PM ( Admin-DNL )
aww this is sweet |
Date: 6/7/2004 8:25:00 PM
From Authorid: 48250
I Agree wholeheartedly.. Great Post!...T/C  |
Date: 6/8/2004 3:14:00 AM
From Authorid: 53558
Here, here. I whole heartly agree with you.  |
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Date: 6/8/2004 6:21:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 14412
Stile neither one of us is WRONG. We see it as a different thing entirely, you have your opinion of it and so do I. To say that is wrong, is a little bit much to goto right off the bat. You need to look at it as a broader spectrum of what others may see also. My post only gave a few examples, and a solution to such for those lookingt for a family where they have not found one. |
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Date: 6/8/2004 7:52:00 AM
From Authorid: 61013
yeah i agree, neither of y'all are wrong y'all just have different opinions. |
