As society progresses, so has the term family. Families are defined as cohesive units whom oftentimes, but not always, live under a common roof and express love, affection, and support for one another. Some families are romantically involved, and some are not. However, a man, woman, son and daughter no longer are the four main figures in a family. The stereotypical 1950s “perfect” family has evolved. Some individuals experience gender identity and/or sexuality issues, and they either receive care from their family or they do not. Family roles are not what they once were. Moms may work, and dads may stay at home. Typically, people do what works best for their own family. Families have unique needs, and they must address these wants in a collaborative and unified manner.
Moreover, my family is small, and my mom has always said to me that friends are the family that individuals choose. Families are not necessarily required to be related by blood because admiration and dedication for and to one another are the glue that usually keeps families together. Unfortunately, these principles are sometimes not enough because dysfunction can erupt in families dependent on the individuals involved. Most families have conflicts and differences of opinions, and if they settle their contrasting viewpoints in a negative way, then it is more likely that their family dynamic will suffer. My dad and his brother do not get along well. It feels tragic that some individuals are unable to coexist after they are brought up together in a common household. Living apart is not enough for some families to maintain their relationships.
Oftentimes, when families either split up and/or family members grow up and move out of the house they were raised in, communication dwindles. Strong dissemination is a basic building block that all families must possess in order to experience success. My family is small in size, but we are mighty in intimacy for one another. My mom, whose parents were divorced, came from a broken family. She has taught me the value of family. If parents implement the significance of family relations to their children when they are still young, then hopefully, children will practice these virtues in their own future families.
I have been exposed to different familial situations as I have aged, and I understand that all families operate in different ways. I have been introduced to family connections through the media and through my personal life when I learn about various situations in my own family and in my friends’ families. My perception of what consists of a family altered when my dog entered my life. One day my dad announced that my family was going to be getting a dog, and I was petrified of dogs at the time. This news was further heartbreaking because I was an only child and did not want to share my parents with a furry creature. However, I have grown to love my dog Reggie. Perhaps, when people and/or animals spend ample time in a mutual environment, their bonds become tighter. I formerly thought that I could never consider my pooch a part of my family, but I now could not see my life without him!
