In my experience, friends have never really replaced family, but they've been the best thing I've found to try and fill that void. I view them as MY family, but it's not really a reciprocal thing because I am not, and probably never will be considered theirs. It's not that I don't feel loved and valued by them - because I really do feel that. And they do include me in their family functions, but I know if it ever came down to "who I really need to be there for," I wouldn't be top on this list. I'm not saying this is wrong, just that it IS. And I think that's where friends are never really like family - because you know you'll never be their number 1, unless maybe they are estranged from their family as well.