You step outside your house, get into your car, start driving, and look at the stores around
you, and you see at least one of the following: family sized, family deal, family pack, family friendly, but what is actually considered a family? According to merriam webster’s dictionary, family is the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents and their children, but to many people this is not the case. From the day we are born we are told that our parents, and anyone else related by blood, are our ‘real’ family, but there are thousands of different kinds of families, ranging from nuclear families, extended families, single parent families, and even families composed of people that don’t share any ancestry. Family is not only defined by a bond of blood, but is defined by the love, trust and support that is exchanged between people. Family is made up of people who choose to spend time with each other because of their common goals or values, and because of their love for one another. In some cases, a person can feel like they’ve been stuck with a family that is toxic or harmful to them, leaving them to search for comfort in others. For many this comfort is found in friends who also share similar issues, interests, values, or anything else. This results into two families, the family a person was given and the family they chose themselves. According to a 2017 study conducted by Michigan State researchers, people with strong friendships were happier than people who relied on genetic family aone. It was concluded that, “Not all of us are born into the families we need. But we all have the ability
to make the friendships that we need.” For me, this is absolutely true, as my friends and I have
created our own family amongst ourselves over the past six years. Together, we have been
through the triumphs and tragedies of life and have undoubtedly leaned on one another for
support. We have even developed each others mannerisms like a real family would.
Aside from the love and support a ‘second family’ can provide, having two families can be very important when developing into your own individual. Being raised by your immediate family you learn the basic skills, manners, and values your family chooses to teach you, whereas in your ‘second family’ you can express your own values and opinions, whether they be different from what you had learned or not. For example, in my specific family dynamic, my brother and I were raised in a Latino household with two parents who enforce many rules and have many different beliefs. Because of this, I am very cautious in everything I do and say at home, in hopes to keep my parents pleased with the daughter they raised. On the other hand, when I am with my friends, or my second family, I have more freedom to express my true feelings and ideas with full support and no judgement.
Whether it be a traditional nuclear family, a family made up of non-blood relatives, or even two families, everyone needs a family to get through day to day life. The definition of a family is not constricted by the black and white of just parents and their children, but rather it is interpreted by the many different colors of people in ones life that love and support them.
Sources
“Family.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family.
Aside from the love and support a ‘second family’ can provide, having two families can be very important when developing into your own individual. Being raised by your immediate family you learn the basic skills, manners, and values your family chooses to teach you, whereas in your ‘second family’ you can express your own values and opinions, whether they be different from what you had learned or not. For example, in my specific family dynamic, my brother and I were raised in a Latino household with two parents who enforce many rules and have many different beliefs. Because of this, I am very cautious in everything I do and say at home, in hopes to keep my parents pleased with the daughter they raised. On the other hand, when I am with my friends, or my second family, I have more freedom to express my true feelings and ideas with full support and no judgement.
Whether it be a traditional nuclear family, a family made up of non-blood relatives, or even two families, everyone needs a family to get through day to day life. The definition of a family is not constricted by the black and white of just parents and their children, but rather it is interpreted by the many different colors of people in ones life that love and support them.
Sources
“Family.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family.
Voa. “Are Friends Better Than Family for Your Health?” VOA, VOA - Voice of America
English News, 24 July 2017,
learningenglish.voanews.com/a/health-lifestyle-friends-or-family/3952739.html.
You stated that you can create a second family through friendships. I like the piece because it is very relatable and true. i also noticed that it is also not defined by blood but also by love. Good job! - nathan
ReplyDeleteGreat work! I enjoyed how you discussed how essential it is for an individual to have two families and distinguished the bonds they hold. I also liked you how related the study to your own life and found myself being able to relate to how you defined "family." -Samantha Tabula
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed your topic and completely agree with your statements! The idea of family and the meaning it upholds was clearly defined in your piece allowing us to go farther than the generic concept of just a biological family. Families can come in whatever form, size, and place as discussed in your passage which I greatly support. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThis piece excellently outlined the idea of what a family could be across a wide variety and contained some valuable personal anecdotes that contributed to it.
ReplyDeleteI like this piece because it makes you think about your own relationships and think about who your "real" family really is.-Katryna Kerth
ReplyDeleteThis is a very informative piece, it explores how there are different types of love, which in itself is as abstract as family is. You were able to introduce new ideas such as breaking the unspoken truth that familial love is unconditional. I agree with your statements greatly! Although as someone who is very close with my biological family, there is something to be said of how different and necessary it is to have the love from your friends and/or significant figures in life.
ReplyDeleteI love this topic of family, especially the second family. Support is something everyone needs in your life, so I love how you went into detail of how family can extended past blood relations.
ReplyDeleteI really like this piece because it's super relatable. I completely agree with you that bonds in friendships can be stronger than bonds within blood-family. This piece is well organized and detailed from defining the literal definition to your own interpretive definition with personal examples of your brother and friends. Good job! -Arianna Santos
ReplyDeleteThis topic is something that should be talked about and explained the spectrum of the word family beautifully. It explains the vision of our society today as we have grown to give the word different meanings and enhances the power of it. - Victoria Giliberto
ReplyDeleteThis piece is relatable and relevant to today's society by showing and explaining thoroughly that just because blood is thicker than water, that does not mean we cannot have another family of our own choices.- Everett Avila
ReplyDeleteExtremely relatable, especially in today's culture. Ages ago it seemed like it would be impossible to have a stronger bond with someone other than family. Your piece about this is very relevant to today. Personal examples and narratives help drive the point home!
ReplyDeleteI like this piece, it's topic, and the message behind it. Family is not a single definition, and this piece really enforces that idea that. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed how you added your own example of what family is to you be I completely agree. Friends can be family members in a way that your actual relatives can’t. This was definitely a relatable piece.
ReplyDelete- Jessalynne Powell
The facts you've expressed in your piece is so important to spread. Everyone needs some form of a family that is healthy for their mindset. It's rare that people are blessed with a family where they can find comfort in all aspects with one another. I admire how you also shared your own personal experience with having two families. - Saidy G.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the message you give about family. Those who are our blood aren't always the ones there for us, as they should be, because that's what makes a family. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI had never considered family as something that could be interpreted in multiple ways until I read your piece. I agree with everything you said and it really made me think about different forms of family that exist. Your piece was really well-written and informative. Overall, great job!
ReplyDelete-Alexis Rosenzweig
I love the details of the families that were given and the significance of love from family and friends or the different types of bonds there are - Donavhen Palos
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has grown up with love and support from family i think family is important and for the people who do not have that will find it with someone with similar interest. -Armando Loza
ReplyDeleteThis what well developed in defining that a family is able to be expressed in different ways. This piece is very relatable, as to myself having plenty of families that aren't all by blood. This was an amazing job done with every example and with yourself including your personal parts. Good Job!
ReplyDeleteI very much enjoyed this piece predominantly because a lot of it occurs in our society today. Many people, unfortunately, are put in situations unexpectedly to where they are no longer surrounded by their biological family. So to have someone there to support you, even if not by blood, is something everyone needs in order to get through life.
ReplyDeleteLove this! I am a firm believer that blood is not the only indication of who your true family is. I especially like how detailed and inclusive you were! -Destiny Okonkwo
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the fact that you chose to write about a topic as complex as family and explain it with simple definitions and examples. The structure of the piece really allows readers to resonate more with the idea of family and love. - Serina Ko
ReplyDeleteI like how you talked about creating a family out of friendships and how you feel free when you are around them. I also like how you included the textbook definition of family and then gave it your own definition. I agree with the statement that family is not only defined by a bond of blood but also with love and trust. Great piece! - Jeryn V
ReplyDeleteYour piece was a personal and experienced outlook of what a family is and you defined it beautifully. Your outlook on the stereotyped family brought a lot of value and validity to families that do not follow the norm. The detail you gave about your second family was extremely detailed and this allowed you to express yourself thoroughly in your writing. Great piece!- Jewelianna Garcia
ReplyDeleteYou did such a great job at defining how family isn't jove a bong between blood, but by the love too. This was such a great piece! -Imany Ramos
ReplyDeleteI really agree with this piece. It was greatly written and detailed.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how when you get judged by family you care more then when strangers judge, because they are your family and you can't share everything with them, like how we intentionally tell strangers our darkest secrets and express ourselves more than family who has known you, your whole life.I liked your story and the way it was portrayed.
ReplyDeleteI loved how you talked about gaining a second family and the effect that friends have. The attachment that you discussed and how you felt around them was very relatable .
ReplyDelete-Taja Moore
The love I have for this piece is super high, that I appreciate the concepts of love and that family isn't always blood. A piece that I could really relate too.- Alexander Pereyra
ReplyDeleteI really loved this piece! The idea of writing about the definition of family is creative. I like how you showed that a family is built on the basis of things like love and respect rather than your blood relations. I also agree with the fact that family at the end of the day helps you get through the ups and downs of life. Its better to experience life with others. Amazing Job Andrea!
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed how you stressed the importance of family whether it be by blood or by choice,you were able to persuade the reader to believe that family is most important through the use of evidence as well as real-life connections relating it your life.
ReplyDeleteDescribing your friends as a second family is a very relatable thing to say. Your friends can have just as much of, or an even greater influence on you as compared to your direct family, and you highlighted that.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your piece. I like how you talked how the right friends are like family, this topic is very relatable to almost anyone and the way you described your relationship is really sincere.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how you brought to light the beauty in how a friend doesn't have to be related to you for them to become your family. Yes, blood is thicker than water, but what some often overlook is the value in the friendships you make and choose to keep. Great job!
ReplyDelete- Jeanine Franco, P.5
I like this piece because it goes over a complex topic like family and gives it multiple definitions not just connections through flesh and blood but also connections of love
ReplyDeleteI love how you discussed that many people don't have what is considered a "traditional" family. I really connected to this writing because there are many people that I consider as family but actually have no relation to me in any way. -Trenton Robles
ReplyDeleteLoved this piece! It was well written and honestly, I think we can all agree with your claim that family can go beyond blood relation. I definitely find myself turning to my friends and find comfort in the love they show me. -Leah Robbins
ReplyDeleteThis is a really nice commentary on a word that is used so vaguely and strongly. For me when it comes to considering people who were family I was always taught that it had to do with blood but throughout my life through the people nearest ,I always felt that similarity in connection, but this passage helped expand that idea. - Kahea DePonte
ReplyDelete