Family can tell you (in so many words) that you need to get on a diet because "you're looking a little round and puffy in the face." Family can tell you that you need to do better in school so they can have something to brag about and essentially take all of the credit for your success. Family can hold things over your head because they will always want something in return and won't do anything because they love you. Family will expect you to pick up the phone and call them 24/7, even though they're retired and you're the one working and in college. Family will expect you to call them on your birthday because that's what you need to do in order to hear them say "happy birthday."

But that's still your dad-mom-grandparent, so it's okay.

Family will expect you to sit under their nose at their house all summer rather than spending time with your friends from high school. Family will expect you to call them when you're stuck outside of your car and they drive past and just honk the horn; they wanted you to call and tell them to turn around instead of thinking for themselves that maybe something might be wrong. Family can tell you that when you get to college, you better not come back with a boyfriend because they'll take your car keys away and they haven't paid a single bill towards the up-keep of said car.

But again, "I'm still your dad-mom-grandparent." Well, I guess that makes it okay.

Breaking up is hard to do. Breaking up with your S.O is hard, especially if you've loved them and have been there for them for a long time through thick and thin. Friendship breakups hit differently and take a while to bounce back from. The one breakup people don't talk about is the family breakup and I'm not talking about a divorce. Family can be toxic, too.

When you leave them alone and begin to live your life the way you were meant to live it, they get mad because "that's not like you." In other words, that's not how they trained you to act towards them. You can cut other people off in your life, but because that's dad-mom-grandparent, you can't do that; it's a no-no.

They'll sit and talk about you, wonder were you went wrong, and displace the blame on you rather than turning around and looking deep within themselves for the problem. They're perfect so there's no way they're the reason you stopped calling or going around.

You are not the problem; it is not your fault they're too high on their ego and feel like they are God to sit and listen to you when you try to talk. Everything you say goes in one ear and out the other for them; they will talk over you because you have no idea what you're saying and that's still your dad-mom-grandparent, so you better shut up and listen to what they have to say because they're feelings are so important and yours aren't.

Don't put your health (physically and mentally) in jeopardy to please people who would only kick dirt in your face while you're down and make you feel lesser than. Leave them alone. Pack up everything and leave the family you do love and can trust if you have to.

Take it from me when I say that it's okay and you'll be, too.