Family

What is the true definition of family?

For me Family is defined with love, acceptance, compassion, honesty and respect. These are the things that make a family stand out and stand strong.

When my oldest daughter was in the first grade she was assigned a nite write assignment that asked her to define family. As I sat down to help her with her assignment, I began to write the familiar words like mom and dad, brother and sister. At the time my idea of "family" included mom and dad, grandparents and siblings.

As I began to discuss what family meant, my little girl looked me dead in the eye and challenged my beliefs. She told me I was wrong, families weren't about moms and dads only, families were about love. I agreed with her, but I stated what I thought was obvious, that families were created out of the love of a mom and dad.

My precious daughter opened those beautiful brown eyes wide and shook her lovely curls at me and again challenged my belief of what defined a family. "No mom, not all families have moms and dads, some families have two moms or two dads only and they still have love! My friend in class has two moms and no dads and he said that love is what makes a family a family."

I bowed my head in shame, for I knew she was right. Families today are made from many combinations and belief systems, but that doesn't make them any less of a family.

My young daughter taught me a life lesson that day and opened my eyes to what goes deeper than appearance or ideals. These aren't the days of Leave it to Beaver and families aren't comprised of moms and dads and children. Some families have moms only or dad's only, some families have two moms and two dads, some families have sisters and brothers, half siblings, step-siblings or foster siblings, or even all of the above.

The sex of the people in the unit or the strength of the blood ties aren't what make a family unit a family, it's the values and strength of the group that make them a FAMILY!