Growing up, I never realized my family was different or out of the ordinary, but now at 21-years-old, I realize that I grew up in a very nontraditional household, but I don't care.

Most of the family I talk about and describe to everyone are family that my mom and I made for ourselves. We didn't have very many relatives around while I was growing up, and those we did have were, at some points, very judgmental and disapproved of our lifestyle. Who knew that in the 21st century having a kid without being married was the most terrible thing in the world!

Either way, my mom and I made our own family. At just 8 weeks old my mom found a babysitter for me, Linda Romeo, who has since become one of my biggest inspirations and role models. When she and her family were going on vacation shortly after she started watching me, she realized that my mom had no one else to take care of me, so rather than just forcing my mom to figure it out, she packed my mom and me up and took us on vacation with her family.

For the past 21 years, my Aunt Linda and her family have become my family. I call her kids Chrissy and Philip my siblings. Her husband, my Uncle Phil, was the one who taught me how to drive and change a tire.

I call Uncle Phil's dad Poppy, and he truly is my grandfather. Chrissy and I hang out regularly when I am home and spend hours on the phone together when I'm not. Philip and I annoy each other mercilessly and are constantly teasing each other. When Chrissy had her daughter, Isabella, it was never a doubt in my mind that I was that little girl's aunt and I would look after her and take care of her no matter what. It is amazing how this family saw my mom and I and just knew that we were meant to be part of their family too.