The Start of My Family

Yesterday I made one of the wisest, yet hardest, choices of my life. I have cut ties with my biological family and am starting a new life, a new family that consists of just me.

Perhaps this sounds harsh to some of you who come from loving families, but my situation was anything but conducive to my emotional well-being. Firstly, though, let me note that my biological family has many traits and aspects of which I admire. For instance:

  • When all the sisters get together it is a great time filled with jokes and humor.
  • My father is well educated and I respect his viewpoints on a variety of subjects from books to life outlooks. He has always supported me emotionally in my schooling and career.
  • My mother has gone back to school and has amazed me with her determination, capturing a spot as the valedictorian of her class.
  • I have always been grateful that my mother pushed me to compete in piano performance as it is a talent that I will always be able to fall back on.
  • Barbara has amazed me through her perseverance of extremely rough times as her husband finished medical school and she raised a family while running a business.
  • Barbara is an excellent mother. She raises her kids in the most loving manner.
  • The year I took off school to live with Barbara and help with her kids was one of the best years of my life as I thoroughly enjoyed the time I was able to spend with her children.
  • Jamie’s ability to attract people through her smile and friendliness is something I have never been able to master.
  • This past year Laura has amazed me on a variety of levels, which I referenced in an earlier blog post.
  • My brother Jordan is getting ready to serve his mission and I know he will do a great job. I am also impressed by his drum skills and driven nature to create the first drum line in the local highschool.

That being said and even with all their great qualities, they are completely incapable of communication and have never learned control over their words. I know that I don’t deserve to be called a “crazy bitch”. I know that it is out of line for someone, even a family member, to tell me that I need to kill myself and try to physically fight me. I know that when someone does an act out of line, an apology is in order and that I don’t need to just accept their actions. I know that I am a person worth loving. And I know that if anyone else in the world would have done and said the things these people have, I would and should have let go a long time ago.

So I cut the ties.

Sure enough, I was instantly bad mouthed. To be honest, I love it. I love it because it is vindication, proof that I made the right decision. Their harsh words motivate me to be a better person, to kick ass in my job, life, volunteer, hobbies, etc. It motivates me to surround myself with positive rather than negative.

I love my family as human beings, but I deserve to be treated well. I deserve to be loved. I deserve for someone to be proud of me.

This weekend I am going to brainstorm goals and values that my new family will live by. I am real excited about this new opportunity. All the past years are lost and I can’t get them back, but I have learned a lot. Going forward I can create an environment that provides me with exactly what I deserve. I no longer will have these “christians” in my life and I wish them the best. But, the best for me is without them.

Perhaps this is a personal matter that will scare off any readers of this blog. But the truth is, this is who I am. I strive to be a good person and I am happy.

6 Responses to “The Start of My Family”

  1. Denise Says:

    Rachel-

    I am so sorry that you had to make such a hard decision. Maybe some day your family will realize what an amazing person they have alienated and driven away by their actions. If not, you have a wonderful family of friends who will always be there for you no matter your beliefs.

  2. Wasatch Girl Says:

    Denise,
    Thanks for you comment. I appreciate your kind words and thoroughly enjoy having you in my life. I am excited to hang out soon at your upcoming party.
    Rachel

  3. porscha Says:

    You are a very caring and wonderful person Rachel and I am very glad to have met you. I’m sorry that you have had to separate yourself from your family but I hope that it helps you truly be happy.

  4. Wasatch Girl Says:

    Porscha,
    Thanks for the comment. It is a change that I should have done a long time ago, not because they are bad people but because how they function is not conducive with my life and especially my emotional well being. I know you are friends with my sister, and though she was the final straw of why I left, I think she is a great person and hope that you would continue to be a great friend to her.

    I hope you are doing well in Moab. Can’t wait to see you soon.
    Rachel

  5. TheUsualSuspect Says:

    there’s that old saying: “there’s a light at the end of every tunnel”
    From what I can see, you’re after finding a whole new sun at the end of yours.
    I can’t even imagine what the decision was like but your friends are all there for you (as witnessed by the comments above!). You’ve already got another family.
    Keep your head up, we’re all thinking of you.

  6. jun Says:

    Just to be clear, I think you are an amazing person. And I’ve only met you in person twice. If I know you 10 years from now I am certain I will feel the same way.

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