I'm blessed. I mean truly BLESSED when it comes to my work. I'm lucky enough to work for a small, family owned and operated company. But even with that, so many times, it becomes a dog-eat-dog world. And sure, my boss may expect a lot out of me, but in the few years I have worked for her, she has become my grandmother. Here are 5 things that happen when your boss is like family.

1. You have someone in your corner

Often times, your boss is this office dictator who you may only see every once in a while. And they don't give a crap about you, your mama, or your best friends little brother. Truthfully, they don't have to! They run this company and all you have is drama! But when you work for a small company, where your boss is part of your daily routine, that relationship is vastly different. With that, you have someone who listens to you, who knows your family dynamics, and who is open to understanding your life. When life gets away from you, and everything starts to crumble, that fearless leader is still there to help you pick up the pieces and keep going.

2. You have freedom

I don't mean that you don't have to follow the rules, but that you are able to bend them a little bit. When you have a relationship with your boss, rules go from black and white to lots of grey. And while you still may be held to the same standards, you are more than just an employee ID, you are a human being. You have the freedom to try different methods of work, to invite a plus one to company parties, and to take off early on a Thursday to pick up your best friends little brother from the baby sitters.

3. You have a shrink

Seeing your boss every day means that they know almost everything about your life. It means that you have someone who you can go to for advice or to vent about the difficulties of life. Being close to your boss gives you the comfort of knowing that you will not be judged if you just need to talk to someone. And it gives peace in the midst of struggles at home, because they have been there with you through it all.

4. You have a second family

Because your boss is like family (mine is like another grandma), your coworkers become family. You never have to walk into work, knowing that you are alone. The company is run on family togetherness, and you have found a family within it. Granted, you may not always agree with all of your coworkers on everything, but that's part of having a family! You learn to disagree silently, and stand behind each other regardless.

5. You never have to go to work

You may not love your job all the time, but it is never a chore to go to your work place. Walking into work is like walking into your grandmomma's living room. You are home. You can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that you are in your safe place, and that your work family has got your back. For me, it is especially that sassy, loving, overly generous woman that I am lucky enough to have as a boss.