Growing up??

A topic came up today, about us putting up a mask or face in front of strangers, in front of people who do not mean so much to us. I have come to understand why sometimes we choose to be cordial to colleagues and acquaitances because they do not mean so much to us. Sure, I mean it sounds understandable, but do we all need to do this? Is this part of growing up??

I have always felt my dad treats his colleagues and friends better than he treats my mom. They still do quarrel for silly little things (although less now) when, in the same circumstance, I have noticed that he doesn't treat his friends that same way, often tolerating them. Today, I have come to see that he might in fact love my mom more and hence have such actions, I have come to see that I might have missed out this whole view point. Enlightening as it may be, I'm still a little confused.

Do we really hurt the ones that are closest to us because we care? Are we really treating "the rest" better because they don't mean so much to us and that we need to maintain cordial relations? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

Will I be like that next time too?

"If you meet a loner, no matter what they tell you, it's not because they enjoy solitude. It's becuse they have tried to blend into the world before, and people continue to disappoint them."

-Words of Jodi Picoult, author of "My Sister's Keeper"