Reply #5: how central is family to your life? [View All]

[AlecBGreen]

my family has always been very...'independent.' We love each other but I think we prefer to live separate lives and get together every now & then. Except my mom, she wants to be fully in the loop. Ive never felt that way but I can appreciate her desire. Its hard for me, it feels kind of foreign. I have an independent/self-centered view of the world that is often at odds with her desire for a closer relationship. Im trying to break that habit but after 30 years of practice its hard to undo. My wife's side of the family is Chinese and obviously they have a very different view of things. They are ALWAYS getting together and talking up a storm. Its fun for me to be a part of because its so foreign to the way I was raised. Its refreshing to see and participate in. My wife and her mother have the strongest, most beautiful parent/child bond Ive ever seen. It gives me something to aim for :)