If WE could PICK our RELATIVES we would NOT pick the ONES we HAVE??

I would have to say I do not believe this statement at all. My relatives are less dysfunctional to me than other peoples relatives. I think because we all have the same blood we are better at tolerating our relatives' quirks. I use to say when I was younger I did not ask to be born and sure did not ask to born in this family. I always wanted someone to adopt me to take me to a more understanding family. Now that I am grown and I have seen a lot of other people's relatives, I feel mine are not so bad after all. They are quirky and dysfunctional, but I can deal with them a lot better than other people and their dysfunctions. The grass always just seems greener until you get there and find all the brown spots. LOL

no I would keep them, they are cute

There are a few I would not pick. I am sorry to say that, but it is the truth. Most of them that I say that about have given me a good reason to feel this way.

outside of my neuclear family of husband and kids, i would not have chosen any of them lol. Half of my family wont speak to me the other half would rather argue with me but hey ho its a life blessed be

You know, i really do hate to say this, but it's definately true, if i had the chance to pick them, i wouldn't have picked most of them... Though at the same time, having relatives like them, tought me just the person not to be.... So now i'm just not sure....

I'd pick all but maybe my brother. EVERY body loves my mom & most people think my sister is pretty nice. Fact is, they probably wonder what cabbage leaf they found me under.

Oh yes, believe me I do! I have a mother who still to this day is abusive, no longer with her fists but with her words. I would not have picked her for a mother. My grandparents from my fathers side ignore all of my dads kids and we are always left out in everything. I would not have picked them for grandparents.

It is true. I am closer to my friends than I am my family members. However, I would still do anything for them, but I my close friends know me better than my family.

I would pick my close friends, over any body in my family. We are only a family by birth, and that's where it stops. My friends have been more loving and caring than my own blood. So, I would stick with friends.

I can't believe you started this discussion, because i do love my family, but we just had a big blow out because my one cousin is pregnant and our other cousin that does not really associate with us that much decided she wanted to throw a baby shower for her but wanted to have it on mother's day weekend which is too conflicting with alot of other family members schedule and she was so presist on having it that weekend that it took our aunt (the mother of our cousin that is pregnant) to tell her no. this cousin just wanted to have it at her house to show off what she has done to it, i told her if that is what she wanted to just have a party for another reason. or just a BBQ and invite everyone or something and she just did not understand this.

I understand what you are saying perfectly! As much as I love my family, there are many times that I would have liked them to be different so that I can get along better with them, but doing so would take away from the person I am today. I kinda like who I am and I am sure that I would not have learned what I needed to learn without them and their problems in the personlity.

I know we like to think that we would not pick the relatives we had if there was a choice, but I don't think we would find life any different even if we did have that choice. The new relatives that we would pick would have their own set of problems that we would have to get used to and we would soon be complaining about them and how much we wished we could have picked different relatives.

Just a quick thought on this topic....When we are young..relatives may be really neat folks..they amuse you..maybe buy things for you..etc...BUT....as we grow up, many of these same people will be viewed with a slightly tainted view....so..remember this my dear My Lotters...and remember it well....I call it Ponda's Postulate 33...."You don't have to be friends with people just because you are related to them....!" There...no charge for the advice...!