Is it normal that i don't talk to my family?

My family consists of my parents and my older brother.
My brother is unmotivated and obese, who looks like a fat slob and is. He wears the same jeans every day until my mom tells him to change, and wouldn't cut his hair if my parents didn't make him. He just graduated and has shown no interest in post-secondary or otherwise doing anything with his life. We used to fight when we were kids, but it got better after a while. Then one time we got stranded in a canoe and he blamed me and screamed at me saying it was my fault we were stuck (and some really awful things that I won't write). He wouldn't ask anyone for help, but we couldn't get home so when the canoe hit shore I ran away and basically begged some random guy to tow us home. I got back to the canoe and he screamed at me and hit me with a canoe paddle when he found out I'd gotten help. He has never had a girlfriend and won't talk to anyone or stand up for himself at all but he has called me a little bitch in front of my parents several times and they don't say anything. I have stopped talking to my brother since.
My dad hasn't had a job in a year and is a control freak. My mom often doesn't tell him things because she knows he'll get mad about it. I used to be scared of him but now I don't really talk to him, and he hates his brother for no apparent reason, and if there is a reason it's something that happened years ago so it's very childish to still be pissed off about it. He made my brother take piano for 10 years and has no idea that my brother hates it. One time he said I was self-important but it wasn't a fair thing to say coming from him because he's one of those people who can't admit when he's wrong. When he tells stories he consistently tries to make himself sound like the "good guy," and basically just has this 'know-it-all' mentality. He takes things at face value. When he gets mad he yells and swears and very occasionally hits something. He is judgemental of other people.
My mom is great and we get along when it's just me and her, but she hates conflict and doesn't understand that in order for things to get fixed, sometimes conflict has to happen.
My dad does care about his relationship with me but I find I just can't be around him, as I am very honest but he expects me to tell him what he wants to hear, and be passive like my mom.
When I was younger I had a temper and was negative like my dad but when I was about 14 I decided I didn't want to be like that so I became calm and much happier. I made some new friends (another thing about my family is that they almost never go out and meet new people and I feel that I adopted this attitude as a child and that was why I didn't have many friends until that point).
They complain a lot, It sort of started with my dad, and my brother picked it up and my mom did a little too. I think it's stupid to complain about things you can't change.
As a child I broke my brother's toys and stuff but I never really meant to but just because I did things like that years and years ago I don't believe I deserve to be called a bitch or self-important.
I'm not outright mean to my family. I just don't talk to them. I'm the outsider in my family because that's how I need it to be. Otherwise I would be too pissed off about the things they say to really be happy. It's difficult to be positive when surrounded by people who are always complaining and fussing about stupid little things that don't matter.
Is it normal that I don't talk to them?

Voting Results
84% Normal
Based on 51 votes (43 yes)
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Comments ( 7 )
  • disthing

    I couldn't bring myself to read your entire post because it's a solid wall of too much detail.

    Everybody's family is different. Some are functional, some are dysfunctional. Sometimes they can be a negative influence rather than a positive one, and it can be beneficial to spread your wings and leave the nest, rather than linger around that negative influence.

    It seems to me you should maintain your relationship with your mother, but if you feel your relationships with your brother and father aren't good and can't be improved, it's reasonable you don't wish to keep them.

    So yes, it's normal. It would only be strange if you had a healthy, positive relationship with your family, yet arbitrarily decided to ditch them for good.

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    • Sorry about my 'solid wall of detail,' haha, it just seemed necessary in order to give the reader an accurate description of the situation.
      The fact that this has been voted 93% normal has made me feel about 93% better.

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  • 3rdXsTheCharm

    Understandably. I don't talk much to anyone about anything besides my mom.
    Express yourself in other ways though, it's not good to always hold everything in.

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  • Hottigene

    I would move out and get your own place if you can then maybe you could get a little piece and quiet leave hm to live that kind of life if thats what they want.

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  • kelili

    It's normal considering all you've said.

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  • Dannicker

    Sounds like you are doing a great job under some tough circumstances. We all must suffer through our troubles, including your family members. Keep an open mind but don't let them being you down. Make sure you have a good support system, people you can talk to.

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  • DubstepismyMJ

    That sounds reasonable. I commend you of that. You seem a lot wiser and stronger mentally and emotionally. I don't really have a troubled parent but brother wise i do.
    You only have 1 family so why not at least try on helping them and try to build relations if possible. They did raise you up even though it probably wasn't the best.

    Why not encourage your bro and set aside your childish past. Maybe be the positivity your family needs. You can see there negativity if you can approach it the right way with an unwavering heart you can maybe help them?

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