You couldn’t have said it better!

Trust and trials in the relationship are vital. You hit the nail on he head with the reciprocated feeling element.

Last year, I came to the understanding that I was seeing a Venn diagram appear mentally with friends on one side and family on the other, this intersection kept me wondering if they even intersected at all. Conversations, trials, and trust lead to a tremendous outcome for that question.

Regular check-in’s are usually the hardest part because people take it personal, they don’t see that it’s of mutual effort for the relationship to flourish. They act to their detriment, rather than providing the trust needed to build that bridge.

I would only add it’s OK to be friends with your family. Just make sure you know what kind of friends you let into your life. 🫂