^^^^I feel that......
I put family first to a fault......
I consider my family the people who are with me through everything. Not just people who share my last name or are 'blood related". I have people who are not blood related in any way, shape, or form that are closer to me than my own "blood family". I treat their families as my own. As far as people who are related to me and don't give a fuck, I don't give a fuck right back. I actually got into it with my Uncle the other day (dads brother) because he told me I didn't care to be around my dad's family anymore. I told him straight up....."When my father died you all never reached out to his family. So, I am giving the same effort to be around my dad's family that they are giving me and my mom, and the rest of our family which is I don't give a fuck if you don't".......man he didn't like that shit at all. But he couldn't say anything back. I protect my family with all my effort. I defend them in disagreements but most importantly I tell them exactly how I feel about a situation. I believe your family is the people you have to be MOST honest with, not be on some make them feel good type shit all the damn time. If you can't be honest with your family, then who can you be honest with? My family hated that shit about me growing up because I would be the one to say "stupid idea"...."thats dumb"....."why are we doing this?"....etc.......but today at 31 years old my Older Sister (6 years older) tells me that she loves the way I have always been because she knows I am doing what is in the best interest of my family. Especially now that my pops is gone.
I bust my ass for my family. I work a fulltime job and took fulltime college credit hours. Got my degree got a better job and I just got started.............I am re-enrolled back into school this Spring and I can't wait to see what the future holds. I always feel like as I make "it" in life......my family makes "it" too.
The other thing, and this is what people hate about me...........if you want to be called a aunt, uncle, grandfather, grandmother, etc by my children then you better fucking act like one. What does that mean? That means you have the responsibility to build a REAL relationship with my children in whatever title you have by blood. If I wasn't there to provide for and love my children would people allow them to call me father? Fuck No. So, I say if you don't have a relationship with my kids don't be mad when they don't acknowledge you.........
I love my familia.
5000