What do you mean by 'my family'

@alpha7 (1910)
France
July 25, 2008 12:45pm CST
Many people get it wrong when defining what a family is? To you,what do you mean by Family? Someone told me sometimes ago that her family is her parents and sister's Children,although she has her own Children as well,to this kind of people,do you think they have preferance on their extended family than their own family?
2 people like this
5 responses
• India
25 Jul 08
Hi There are many definitions for a family. If you check any dictionary you may find atleast 5 definitions of family. Family may not be people living under the same roof. It may or may not be husband, wife and their children. For me my concept of family includes the people immediately related by ancestry and also by marriage. That means my parents, parents in law, husband, my sister, her husband and children and my sister in law and her husband and children. We are not living in the same house but when I think about my family these are the people I consider as my family. They are not my extended family. I think the attachment and intensity of relationship defines the family. Some people believe in nuclear family and they consider their spouse and children as their family. For them it should be correct.
@alpha7 (1910)
• France
26 Jul 08
Thanks,let me add to your contribution. When they talk of family tree anywhere,they start from the generation before and they trace it down to the present day generation.THat is why we see some Americans paying private investigators to trace their origins.
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26 Jul 08
in my family i have my dad whom i love the most my mom who take care of me and my sis who loves me very much and i am enjoying in my family
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@alpha7 (1910)
• France
26 Jul 08
Thank youvery much,you might have to define this again after you are married,i delibrately left it open for all to contribute,but i think married or experience people will help me out with the best reply.
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@venkygec (783)
• India
25 Jul 08
For me "My family" is my father, mother, brother and myself... thats it.... And then comes my extended family... but i dont consider them as my family.... When i will be married... I, My wife and my children will be my family... So this family will be different from the one before i get married....
@alpha7 (1910)
• France
26 Jul 08
I have to wait for your definition afyteryopu married,have an excellent and wonderful day.
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@AnnaB7 (756)
• United States
26 Jul 08
I consider anyone blood related to be family, but also I have some very close friends that I also consider family, some days I feel like I have lots and lots of family other days I feel like I don't. I am not very close to my extended family as some are, but I am close to my family inside my home, (my husband, and children, although at times my husband and children can get on my nerves) I think there are two kinds of family, one your born into, the other you grow to love because you share the same view points, and like being around each other. My preferance as far as family goes is the ones of my household, my children and my husband, and when my children get married it will go on to include their new families. I look forward to many grandchildren one day.
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@alpha7 (1910)
• France
26 Jul 08
Thank you and i wish you the bast in looking forward to you grandchildren's day.
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@sunkissed (4330)
• United States
25 Jul 08
alpha, I am 56 years old and have 2 children that are both grown now and I also have 2 grandchildren. If someone askes me about my family,It include My mother, my father passed away in 2003, my sisters my brother, That raised me & I grew up with then and my children & granchildren.
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@alpha7 (1910)
• France
26 Jul 08
You are right ,i think those people will appear if you have to draw your family tree.
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