If you don't have family, what do you have?

United States
July 4, 2008 9:07am CST
I can't really remember a time when I didn't have family. I had my first child at 17, then was married at 23 and had four more children. I lost contact with my first family (parents and siblings) but still have my husband and children. My sister in law has nothing. She disowned her parents and her brother as well as me and her niece and nephews. She is divorced and has no children. I wonder what keeps her going in life. What does she have without family? If you don't have any family, then what do you have? What keeps you going each day? Could you imagine a life without any family at all?
6 responses
@gemini_rose (16264)
4 Jul 08
I could imagine a few hours or so without family if I am honest but any longer than that and I miss them. What I have discovered about myself is that I am a loner, I always have been it is just that I have not realised it until now. If I had realised it at a young age then I would not have had a husband or children. I know that might sound a bit strange but it makes perfect sense to me. I dont see much of my family as in parents or other relatives, we are not the closest of families and I am an only child which could go a long way to explaining why I love my own company so much.
• United States
4 Jul 08
I understand what you're saying. Some people are just like that. I'm not, I love other people's company, so long as it's the right people. Some people just annoy me.
@gemini_rose (16264)
4 Jul 08
I like the company on here though, maybe its because I can choose how long I am here for! Hope you are feelin OK x
• United States
4 Jul 08
Yes, you can choose how long to be on here, and in a way you can choose your company. If you don't like a person's repsonse you can choose to ignore it and only respond to your friends. I just don't think I could survive at all without any contact from another person, whether it be like this on the internet or in real life.
@SusanLee (1920)
• United States
4 Jul 08
No, I couldn't imagine life without family in it. I don't get to see my family on a regular basis, but I know they're out there and that brings me comfort. When I married my husband 13 years ago I was blessed into a huge family on both his mom and dad's side. They all took me to them like I was one of their own. I think the reason I love them so much is because they are just regular, country folk. Sadly they are all getting up in age and we seem to by burying someone every few months these days.
• United States
4 Jul 08
That is how my family has been. I've lost a brother, mom and dad. I have 1 brother left, but I think he's got some time left in him. Now my husband's family seems to be holding out for the long run. Nobody in his immediate family has passed yet, but they are all up there in age, so I know it's only a matter of time.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
5 Jul 08
i can't imagine myself being disconnected with all my family members and have nobody to live with... it will be so lonely and life is not worth to live anymore if that happens to me... i love my family and i can't imagine having to live by myself... how miserable that will be... i don't know what your sister-in-law is doing when she disconnected herself from all her family members... it sounds really weird to me... take care and have a nice day...
• China
5 Jul 08
I keep a close touch with my family,and if my family left me alone, i think i would die soon, you know family is the most important part of our daily life,and the reason why we have a job, i am not in the same city with my family, so,i appreciate every chance to be back ,and i will be back with them soon.
@DonnaLawson (4032)
• United States
5 Jul 08
I recently found out what it was like to lose the majority of your family.. My family had a big breakup about 3 years ago and I am talking about a big family.. I no longer have contact with 2 of my brothers and 5 of my sisters, I also don't have contact with a couple of my cousins that I was close to at one time.. All of this is due to one particular sister and her habit of telling lies, but it has gone too far to ever be undone.. I always loved and cared for all of my family but when something like this happens, as sad as it is, it is almost impossible to undo.. I think that it is awful that families can break up after growing up and being close all of their lives, but I can tell from first hand experience, it can happen.. I do have my own family and now a new daughter-in-law but I do still sometimes miss my family..
@successlog (3172)
• China
5 Jul 08
hello friend I am glad to discuss this problem here.AS for me, i could not imagine how to live without my families.I think if some one don't have a relative families in life, I think his life must be no fun, no meaning.Because people in the world should live with a certain relationship.No matter for the sake of life or let hinself happy. I love my families, I have my honorable parents,two wonderful sisters,and me.I feel lukcy when i think sometimes. thanks