So you're the child of a single parent? So you're adopted? So your grandparents raised you? So your mom travels a lot? So you have a dozen siblings? So you live with your friend's family? So you don't have the average family? Well, I'm here to say, "so what?"

According to the United States Census, the average family consists of about three people; however, that is not saying that any family larger or smaller than three people is irregular. As Americans, we think a lot about the American Dream. We see old sitcoms which send underlying messages about the "normal" American household. Classic shows like I Love Lucy and The Dick Van Dyke Show reveal the stereotypical, American family: a stay-at-home mom, working dad, and single child. Don't get me wrong, there isn't anything wrong with that family model, but it isn't a realistic reflection of American families.

Since the time of our Founding Fathers, the United States of America has prided itself on diversity, and there is nothing better to show diversity than families. With a range of size and race, there is no average. No family is inadequate, because they aren't like the family next door. So the next time you feel like you're the child of a weird family, think about Lorraine Hansberry. Hansberry was a black writer and social activist whose family was forcibly removed from the neighborhood they lived in by a mob. I can guarantee you she felt like she had a "weird" family. Her family was not odd; they did not have odd professions. In fact, they were just like every other family in the neighborhood, but they faced extreme hatred because of the color of their skin.

You may wish you could change things about your family, but you wouldn't be who you are without them. It's likely you have gained your strength, patience, or any admirable quality from them. Families grow and evolve together, and you're lucky to be a part of that. You can never know all the sacrifices your family has made for you.

So the next time you get told that you have a weird family, I dare you to question what is a normal family? As far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing. Families come in every shape and size. Families are made of love. Just because you aren't related to someone doesn't mean you aren't family. Your family is the people you can turn to at any time for any reason. They are your rock. They are also the people you can't just shrug off. It's okay to be mad at them. Any family, no matter how diverse, is irreplaceable. So pick up the phone, make a trip home, or just walk upstairs and tell your family how much you love them.