Except when we don't. Because we are a family and we are real. And lately, we do "leave people out, hurt feelings, yelling, door slamming, frustration, and unrealistic demands of each other". Awesome, huh?

We're a new family. We are still transitioning and learning how to be a family. Every single person in this family... from our system, to the parentals, to the youngest of the treasures.... has issues they are working through. It's like a sea of damaged people coming together and trying to mesh to become this thing called family. Only most of us have no idea what family is or is supposed to be. We all have these ideas in our head that should be good enough but they don't mesh with other ideas and it causes tension and problems. Everyone in this house is trying to learn their place, the rules, the routine. Everyone in this house is struggling with poorly set expectations, dealing with major triggers on a daily basis and being expected to be fine with that, and trying to be what each other needs despite the chaos and lack of communication. Everyone is expecting things from each other that simply can not be obtained... not because anyone is lazy or refusing, but because the skill set isn't there and full trust isn't there yet.

To most, this would look like a recipe for a serious disaster. Honestly, it kinda felt like one for the last few days.

But it's not. It's real. It's raw, its messy, its painful. It's hard and its complex. Without love, it would be doomed. But there's love in this house and in this family. None of us ever give up. We make it through and we come out better for it. We all learn. We all grow. 

This family will make it. Failure isn't an option here.