Family are the people who love you and care about you and support you. I consider my best friends to be my family, along with my husband and children. I count two actual immediate members of my FOO as family, but that's it. And I've never been happier. When people find out that my mother is still alive and that I haven't talked to her since July 2012, they act as though I've committed some cardinal sin. She birthed me, but that doesn't give her any rights to my life. She's gone, and I am so much better for it. (((Hugs))) for a great recovery and good friends. You deserve happiness.