Am I Wrong?Anonymous

5 Jul 2 min read

Is It Okay to Cut Off Toxic Family Members?

I grew up believing one thing... No matter what happens, family is family. That was what my parents always taught us. So I spent years forgiving things that I probably shouldn't have. When I finally got a good job, I became the "helper" of the family. School fees. House rent. Hospital bills. Food. If anyone had a problem, somehow it became my responsibility. At first, I didn't mind. I was happy to help because I believed that's what family does. But after a while, I noticed something. The only time some of my relatives called me was when they needed money. Nobody called to ask how I was doing. Nobody checked on me when I was sick. Nobody cared whether I was struggling too. The day I finally said, "I can't afford it this time," everything changed. They called me proud. Ungrateful. Selfish. One aunt even told me I had forgotten where I came from. Some family members stopped talking to me completely. What hurt me the most wasn't the insults. It was realizing that my value to some of them was tied to what I could give. Not who I was. A few months ago, I decided to stop answering some calls. I stopped sending money every time someone asked. I even blocked a few numbers after repeated insults and emotional blackmail. For the first time in years... I felt peace. But I also feel guilty. Part of me keeps asking if I've become a bad person. After all, these are the people I grew up with. They're family. Then another part of me asks... If a stranger treated me the way some of them have, would I keep giving them endless chances simply because we share the same blood? I honestly don't know anymore. So I want to ask... Is it ever okay to cut off toxic family members? Or should family always come first, no matter what?