Sibling issues

Oldmanmopar said
Hi Its Steve, You stopped in here before. One thing I can tell you is this. My dad told me a long time ago that friends will come and go, But family is forever. I lived by that and I am glad I did.

Stick together as a family you will need each other as you grow in life and get closer to death. Just some advise that always kept me where I am. I have had many opportunities and tragedies here . Also family members that dislike each other . I held fast to my roots and I am glad I did.

TrailBeast said
In a perfect world that's a nice way to be, but sometimes it's like dogs**t on your shoe, and life isn't going to get any better till ya clean it off.

My Dad used to say that also (family is forever) but he always used to ***** at me for not getting into one job and staying there for 25-30 years so I could retire with a pension too.
Instead I learned different jobs (Equipment operator, mechanic, trans builder, computer tech, carpentry, concrete and so on) and he changed his mind about that after he saw so many people getting layed off after 18 years on the job and not knowing anything else.
I also have a Brother that is a lowlife, lying, theifing, POS that spent 27 years of his life in prison and didn't learn a damn thing from it, so do you suggest I keep that in my life just because my Mother gave birth to him?
I don't think so.
Take out the trash and it won't stink forever is my motto.

Two different perspectives on a situation like this always makes for good reading.

I'm part of a family who's tight knit. Well, my immediate family. Anyone who becomes part of the family is accepted as family. My mother has accepted both my brother-in-laws and Sarah with them as if she gave birth to 'em. When she was in full faculty, she'd move Heaven and Earth to make sure he "babies" were alright. I never realized how much Pop cared about Sarah until last year. Every phone call I'd make to him to update Sarah's condition was like a kick in the head to him if the news was bad and made his day if the news was good. She was his baby, too.

I can't imagine life without my family.

At the same time, I understand the other side of it, too. In '74 my dad got sick and tired of family and family's attitudes that he packed up his wife and four kids and brought us from Florida to New York.

My visit back to Florida last year made me glad he did.

I have a close friend who calls me "Bub" and I call her "Sis." She's part of every family function. As she says, "sometimes the family you chose is better than the family you're born into."