Is it better to cut my family off or repair the relationship?
For some context, I am a 21 year old college student in the US. During the school year, I live on campus, and then come home for winter and summer break. I have two younger sisters and my parents are not divorced, and they all live at home.
I have always felt like the odd one out. When I was a kid, it was less noticeable because I didn't realize it as missing out/lacking connection. I was always a more mature kid, and helped raise my siblings. But my parents never cared about my thoughts or opinions beyond what was necessary. I hid who I was for a long time.
My siblings are closer in age to each other, and I've always felt excluded from their connection. They never talk to me and I always have to reach out and ask them to do things with me. They laugh when I say something and mock me. My parents don't do anything about this. I am held to different standards than they are.
I would say that my relationship with my family feels like roommates, but isn't super deep. Whenever I'm home, I try to engage with them, asking them to play games, talking to them about our days, hanging out with them. But it feels like they can be perfectly happy without me, and when I walk into the room the vibe changes. They never ask me to hang out though, and will instead ask my siblings to play games or watch movies.
I don't know if this is part of moving out/leaving the nest or not. My other friends don't have the same experience, and they can vibe with their family the same way that they used to.
I don't know if I'm making sense, or if I have all the context needed.
Tldr: parents feel more like roommates than family and prefer siblings over me
Posted Jun 11, 2026, 2:36 AM UTC