We All Pretend We’re Close — But Our Family Group Chat Is a War Zone

Photo by Mike Scheid on Unsplash

Everyone acts like the group chat means we’re close.

We say “good morning,” drop emojis, and wish each other happy birthday.
But if you look closer, it’s not connection. It’s control.

Someone always starts it — a passive comment, a joke that stings.
Then it begins.

I watch as words pile up. Short, sharp, defensive.
Someone “didn’t mean it that way.”
Someone “needs to lighten up.”
Someone “always takes things too personally.”

It’s the same every time.
One person speaks up. Another shuts them down.
Someone exits the chat. Someone sends ten messages explaining why they’re not the problem.

And then — silence.

A few hours later, someone sends a meme or a video of a baby laughing.
Like nothing happened.

And we all play along.

We pretend the group chat is fun. Loving. Normal.
But no one talks about the real stuff.
No one says what they really feel.
And if you do, you’re “starting drama.”