Family is defined differently to each person. To me, a family is any support system living together under one room. It could be a couple with children, a couple without children, a single parent and their child/children, or even a group of close-knit friends that consider themselves a family. It does not matter whether the couple is heterosexual or homosexual. As long as family members are supportive of each other, I define that as a family. Looking at all the examples of the text, they all seem to be a functioning family to me. Before, I may have only looked at a couple with children, a single parent with a child or children, or any couple as a family. But, the example “a single man who has built close relationships with friends whom he considers his family” now seems practical to me. Another thing I view as family, is an organization. I live in my sorority house, and I see each sorority sister as family. I often refer to my sorority sisters plainly as “my sister,” which confuses those who aren’t familiar with greek organizations. To many people, they’ve thought that I grew up in a huge family with many biological sisters, when in reality I have no biological sisters.
I completely agree with your post. It’s true how everyone’s definition is not the same. I had stated this in my post also. When I was writing my post I had a hard time of coming up with my definition because I was not really sure. My family is very big so I grew up with a loving, close, big family. But I liked how you pointed out that family is like a “support system”. This is a really good straightforward definition. I also believe that family is based on support and your family is not only blood related it could be anyone who cares enough to support and care for you. All in all great post! ☺
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post, and I can also admit that when I was growing up I never viewed couples without children as a family. Now that I am in my twenties and have found someone I want to share my life with I realize how much I consider her family now regardless of the fact that we have not adopted a child yet. Even this holiday season we have debated on whether to go up Sacramento to see the "family" and its so easy to forget that by doing so we are a family visiting another part of our family. At the end of the day, if we decide to have a small Thanksgiving dinner here in our hometown, we will still be amongst family.
ReplyDeleteHi Domsmcdee,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post. I agree with you that a family is any living system living under one roof. It does not matter who the people are, they can be biologically related, or not, they can be friends, relatives, parents and children, any couple of any, or same sex. A family are those who are always there for each other, that together they are one unit. They laugh together, cry together, share things with others, that people outside their family would not be able to understand. They may share financial responsibilities, and they live under one roof. Before reading this text as well, I also thought that families that were known as a couple with a few kids, or they could be a single man or woman raising a child by themselves. I never thought of until now, that a family can be roommates in college, or in Greek life, the "brother" and "sisters" consider themselves family since they all share that common interest and are a part of a family when part of a sorority or fraternity. This chapter raised my awareness of what a family truly is and how we all have our own definition of what family is. However the true definition of family is that it can be anybody, as long as there is love, support, etc in the family, that is what makes a group of individuals a family.
Great post overall!
-little miss daisy