My family is the same way; we are NOT close at all (my siblings and I). The only time my sister and I argue is when we trigger each other. Otherwise, I am estranged from my brother (no interest in reconciliation with him) and my sister and I are not emotionally close but tolerate each other because she has three children who love me and vice versa.

I think it's the norm for most people to feel closer to their friends than to their family. In fact, more people consider their friends "family" than their blood relatives.


Social media is the last place you should trust where people's "posts" of living family photos etc. is concerned. It's social media after all. People use social media to perpetuate mythos about themselves and their lives to the public, which no one ever did before the Internet. I think it's a reflection of how we use technology to promote or, as you point out, exaggerate, the truth. Why? For acceptance maybe.

I don't get along with my sister but I do love her children.