Is it normal that i don't think most people love their family?

I never loved my family. I don't despise these people or anything, I just don't love them. Every now and then we argue... but what really makes me feel this way is that I don't see much in common with my parents or siblings... I am very different from them, we have opposite views about life... I know my parents sacrificed a lot to take care of me; and I will certainly repay them for everything when they get older... but I don't think I will ever truly love them.

Whenever I try to explain this to people, everyone says the same: "family is family". Most people don't even believe me... many have told me that it is impossible to "hate" your family.

However... I notice that most of the people I know don't really act like their loved their family. For example, many of my friends hide everything from their family... they are constantly afraid of revealing certain things to they relatives... So, how can there be love if there isn't even trust and honesty?

Some other friends even lie, steal or take advantage of their relatives... And well, I don't know... I just don't believe that just because you are related to someone, you just have a magical bond that forces love to be there. For me, love is something that has to have a reason. Am I mad for thinking like this or something?

Voting Results
45% Normal
Based on 40 votes (18 yes)
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Comments ( 7 )
  • Pagan4Pride

    My family is very loving and supporting of one another. Even to me, the black sheep of the family. They're all very Christian, I'm Pagan. They're all republican, I'm somewhere between Libertarian and Anarchist. Anyway, we definitely have our differences, but when we get together it just doesn't matter. Yes, there are things which are not usually shared with family. For instance, I don't go into details about my sex life with my family, and when I was a teenager I wasn't very forthcoming with my depression.
    But on the flip side, my husband's family is pretty messed up. His one cousin is really all he has. They really don't get together for family functions, and when they do his side of the family is kind of shunned. His mother was emotionally abusive to him as a child, and yet to the rest of the family she was sweet so they all think he's the jerk. He doesn't really feel any love to them except the one cousin because she got to know the real person, not the myth.

    When it gets close to the holidays, people often complain they don't want to be around their families. So yeah, I guess it's kinda normal.

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  • macaroniheyo

    I love my family. But to be honest, my mom, i've had my doubts about. We're just so frustratingly different. But i think we have a good relationship sometimes. But everything about her feels so fake, and i feel the need to be fake around her. We dont mesh at all. I cant even crack a simple joke(of any kind) without her being offended or confused. I always feel like I have to be different for her. It sucks.

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  • SDDA

    I have never loved my family. I don't know why. I have loved boys more than my family, I have even loved friends more. Sure, when I get angry at my family, I sometimes might feel bad or want to apologize. I love my relatives outside my house, and I love my Baba (grandma). I think once they die I will be sad and miss them and maybe then I will realize I loved them, but I don't know. I know that happened with my Baba, and it might happen with my mum, but I'm not too sure it will with my dad or sister.

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  • RomeoDeMontague

    Well I love my family very much. Except my father since I dont think he cares about me anymore.

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  • lifebattler

    It is normal.Perhaps you need to take time to bond
    with them.Do stuff together!You will never know unless you try!

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  • Monkeybutts

    I hate my family too. I use to love them until I realized they really just saw me as another mouth to feed. You didn't ask to be born, you didn't ask for life and to be very honest you was not their when your dad decided to impregnant your mom so you don't have to repay them ****! That was their decision and if they are disappointed in you then its not your fault. You didn't raise yourself. If you do things they don't like then its a reflection of them and their bad parenting skills. When I finally make enough money to move away I am moving far away and I will never look back. People who don't understand how you don't love your family can't understand. They can't understand you becuz they have not walked in your shoes. Some ppl really do have an amazing family. Some ppl really do love their family wit all their hearts despite what has happend. If you have a good family then you can't possible comprehend y someone would hate their own family. I tried for years to explain to my therapist why I hated my family. She didn't understand becuz number 1, I couldn't tell her everything at the time becuz if she found out about the abuse I would of gotten put in a foster home and two I didn't even quite comprehend what was happening. I just recently started to learn what was really going on. I just recently learned about the types of abuse and about what is right and wrong. Even with that said I don't understand y ppl complain about their family when they have a complete normal family. I absolutely hate when ppl complain about their family when their mom is doing everything she can do to be a good mom and their dad is bringing home enough money to put a nice size roof over their head, to cloth and to feed their kids and make a really cozy home. If you have a wealthy family, and your home is a safe environment and your not getting beat then stfu. That is when I don't see eye to eye with ppl. If you just hate your mom becuz she tells you the right thing to do and want to see u safe then shut up. Thats her job. She may be boring and she may be old but if she is protecting you and looking out for your best interest then she is showing love. Stop being ungrateful. That is why some ppl don't believe other ppl when they say they hate their family for no reason at all. I would do anything to have a loving family. There are 7 billion ppl in this world and Even though i am 19 I am pretty sure someone will love me and want to be with me. Its so many ppl in this world that you can create a whole new family with ppl you truly love and who truly love you back.

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    • You seem to have deep issues with your family... which is a shame. I guess you should just get away from them and make your own life.

      However, in this post, I was refering more about those cases when people don't dislike their family, but just don't love them.

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