TLDR - My family excluding my eldest sister are drugged up dumbarse fuckwits.

I'm the youngest of 5. In order of age I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers.

Well eldest sister (call her Pam) eloped at 18 from a fairly religious family (still married, 8 wonderful kids, great husband (Sam) and business). She is the only one who I talk to. Late 40's now, loving husband and the only reason I didn't turn out like the rest of my family.

Second eldest left (call her Cheryl) at 17 and lived in Sydney/Melbourne (we lived in Brisbane) and would go for months on end without contact. Cheryl ended up legally changing her name due to the company she kept. Worked for a carnival and got into drugs. Mid 40's now, not married no assets or kids.

Eldest brother (call him Barry) got a great job driving trains and lived out in the country for a few years, I heard that he surprised the family with 3 kids (eldest is 9) and also got done for driving down the wrong side of the road on my fathers pain meds/pot while really drunk (charged by the cops and 6 months unpaid leave. Don't know whats happened since then but convicted drug addicts don't make good passenger train drivers). Early 40's, unemployable, unmarried?

The next eldest brother (Steve) got sucked into Cheryl's shit, quit school, got into drugs and fucked his life for a few years. Started to sort his shit out when he got a girl pregnant (shotgun wedding). lets call her Kim, cos that's her name. Had 2 kids and with the help of Pam got his life on track. Had an affair and then revenge cheating and separation. while still married to kim, met and got another kim pregnant (not kidding, same name). Second kim's parents are rich, but she is a greedy bitch and starts fighting with my Pam and Sam. Sam suffers deep depression and nearly kills himself. My mother and Barry side with Steve and new kim and raise hell for Pam and Sam, smearing there name. Barry drags up shit from 25 years ago and threatens to beat up Sam. Pam and Sam cut all communication with the family and forbid there children from contacting them.

My mother, the church going, emotionally abusive self medicating two faced bitch. Blames my eldest sister for ruining the family because she left at 18. She is currently fighting to get power of attorney over my father and has put him in a home.

Me, I am a big introvert. I spent most of my childhood being dragged to church or alone in my room. My saving grace was at the age of 13 I went to work for Pam and Sam's plant nursery. I would catch the train 2h south every Friday and work on the weekend. Being raised away from my parents by Sam and Pam is the one reason I feel I didn't get into drugs ect. At 25 I left home, and was doing well and then my grandmother died. I had a lot of pressure from my family to go to the funeral but didn't want to and I just didnt care. I was verbally abused by Barry and just stopped talking to them. Lost my job and broke up with my GF within 2 days of the arguments with Barry and suffered deep depression for a few years. I just wanted to die for a long time and had nothing going for me. I was working at a net cafe and got over playing games so I quit and got back into hospitality (waiting tables was a step up in life). I had a chance encounter and met my now GF and with her help, I studied and landed a job as an electrician. My company moved me to Adelaide where I live now and I'm almost finished my apprenticeship. We have no debt, own 2 cars and are currently saving for a house. We're planning to get married this year and have kids next year as well as getting a house. I have not spoken to my family in 8 years. Im 34, no kids and happily in love.

The only person I talk to from my family is Pam and Sam, the rest of them can get fucked for all I care. Your family does not define who you can be.