I Come From a Broken Family

I come from a family of dysfunction.

My parents divorced when I was 3, and my mother had a steady string of boyfriends and 2 subsequent marriages to men who weren't that great. Dad is an alcoholic. One of my brothers is estranged from all of us, I haven't seen or heard from him in over 5 years.

The sad part is that the older I get, I really want to be closer to my family. But how do I do that when they are ALL so very toxic and will bite me like a snake at every turn?

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Mamapolo2016 · F

My approach would be to contact the least objectionable and suggest meeting for lunch. Try to build an alliance. Make it clear (without making it apparent that there's a point to your confession) that you don't have extra money for bail, fines, rent - whatever their need is likely to be.)

As time passes - try to create a snowball effect, gathering family members as you go, but make it plain that in any gathering, if hostilities begin, you will leave, or if it's at your place, THEY will leave, with or without a police escort.