Okay, I would like to start by identifying the definition of a true friend. A true friend is someone who no matter the circumstances will drop everything to be there for there friends. Were as fair weather friends are there when everything is going good but never around when things start to go south.
Now what is the difference between family and true friends? Honestly the biggest difference between family and true friends is blood. Using this analogy no matter whether they are family or true friends they should be there when ever you need them and visa-versa.
What do you do when your family acts more like fair weather friends?
Well in all honesty this is a really hard question to answer. Truth is while fair weather friends are fairly easy to spot and fairly easy to weed out. It is not so easy to weed out family, your options are rather limited. On the one hand you could turn around and do the same to them,... but that is not quite the right thing to do is it? You could just continue to bend over to help them,... then get upset when they don't return the favor,... while this is not a good option it is all to often the way things are handled.
Ultimately we usually get angry or upset,... although when we do that the only people that we affect is ourselves. We don't affect the ones that have wronged us in our eyes or have hurt us. We can tell those how we feel,... although this being the best option it often leads to conflict that we are not really prepared for, and all to often damaging. I do wish there was a magic button, maybe a magic phrase to make it all go away. Unfortunately that is not the way it works.
Remember the things that are important to us are not necessarily important to others. Now that is not a way out for your family they still need to step up to the plate when you need them. Just the same you should be there for them when they need you. Weather we receive the help we need or not we need to be willing to help when they need in hopes that it rubs off. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
Some times when our family's show a pattern of not being there when they are needed we need to just expect them not to be there. That way when they don't show up we don't get upset and if they do show up its a nice surprise. I leave you with this only we can control our own feelings and actions not anyone ells.
