Advancing as a writer?

I've just finished the manuscript for a YA romance that I started writing for class last year. Unlike other times when I've finished a long piece, I've only sent this one to writing friends who've expressed a willingness to be a first reader. In the past I was so excited, relieved and surprised to finish a piece of writing that I sent it off to all my supportive family. They are lovely fans of my work (or me?) and usually offer nothing but praise for it and respect for the accomplishment. That's heart-warming and beneficial if I've recently had a rejection, but it doesn't get me closer to a publishable product. This time I'm sending the manuscript out more strategically at this stage, then once it's more polished I'll send it to my family. Does this mean I'm more serious now? Maybe I am in a good place and don't need their loving enthusiasm. Perhaps I've finally learned, from sending these things to other writers, that there are many changes to be made once they've read it so it's not complete enough to send to my family yet. I don't know if this makes me a slightly less emerging writer or not.