QOTD – Do you have any non-biologically related people in your life that you would consider family and why?

I once had more than a few, but now, over time and distance, I don't feel as strongly about them. I still love them but don't count them as closely as siblings. I have a couple of friends that I trust with absolutely anything because I know I would do anything for them. It's a strange kind of reciprocity that grows out of itself. It's just love I guess.

I'm married. I have the best in-laws in the world. They're the only 'family' I've known. They each play their own role in my life. And, it's amazing to have. I also have an adopted something...Canadian and he knows who he is.The qualities that define the relationship is that we all have our roles. They're my brothers, my fathers, my uncles, they are everything that I ever missed out on. My sister in law is my little sister and my older sister that I never had. My mother in law is both a mom and a woman Hitler. Like any family we fight and have our disagreements but, at the end of the day I know that no matter how bad I mess up we're still family and no one is getting left behind or forgotten.

I met an american online almost 5 years ago. She was nice, compassionate, but most of all she listened to my anxious and depressed prattling. We grew to know each other really well, and through that I met the rest of her family...a barrage of interesting and unique people. I talk to some of them more than others, but I treasure all of them and their help in my efforts. I still talk to them daily...in fact I am speaking to one right now. I love them, and yet I may never truly meet them.

I have two friends who I consider as my sisters. In my opinion, when you're close with someone, they count as family too. They might not be my family by blood, but I definitely view them as my family. I also used to have a friend who I used to see as my brother.

Absolutely! My best friend of many many years was more like a sister to me and I was closer to her than any actual blood relatives. Unfortunately she committed suicide and it hurt more than any loss I've experienced- I've lost many friends and family and been divorced etc., so yes I had my best friend in my life and I thought of her as. A sister. I loved her- not in a sexual way- but like I do my mom and dad and real brother. I was lucky to have her and still tell people she was my sister as far as I am concerned.

Yes. I have 3 or 4 really close friends that I've known for years and can completely be myself around, unlike my actual biological family. They're the only people that I know that I can actually call "friends." They actually care about me, and I'm going to be really sad if we end up going to different universities, because then I'll really be alone, and it'll take forever for me to find new friends, because my standards for friendship seem to be a lot different from everyone else's, and I always end up getting way too close to people and then messing things up, and it's going to be terrible and I might implode. Also, my real family sucks.

My best friend is born on the same day as me and I would picture her as my sibling/twin because I really dont get along with my brother

Definitely! I met my best friend online who lives on the other side of the country, but I consider her almost a sister or cousin. Even though we haven't met, she's honestly family to me. We fight sometimes, and once and awhile annoy each other, but we always make up and laugh over an inside joke. She listens to my problems, and I'm always there to hear her problems. I literally know her bad habits, and what she's best at. (She knows me like that, too!) Even though we're very different people, we have a very close bond. I think the majority of people I met online, I consider a family figure. They all play very special roles in my life, and are very dear to my heart. These friends care about me so much, and sometimes I wish I could just fly to wherever they live. My closest friends are pretty far. (One even lives in Iceland!!!) But yeah (:

My 2 best friends, our families basically consider us all sisters anyway. just adopted waaay past the normal time :)

Yes my moms best friend and her husband. I feel that parental affection from them and i treat and love them like my mom and dad.