question time: family

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Created Nov 3, 2019 11:34:24

so the dictionary defines family as "a group consisting of parents and children living together in a household"
but growing up, i was taught that anyone you were related to by blood was family, even if it was super distant.
i guess i just had that definition in my head for a long time, allowing there to be no wiggle room or anything, so i guess it forced me to see a lot of people that i don't know or particularly like as family, even when they've done things that are not very family-like

as i grew older, though, i found that i've started shifting my own definition of family to include: people that i've known almost all my life; people who i've known for a really short amount of time but left such a profound effect on my life that i'll never forget them; people who, in some cases, i've never even mET before but i love with all my heart and pretty much consider to be my family. heck, even some of my classmates i'd consider family.

idk, i've been giving this topic a lot of thought lately bc i took a break from Life and decided to help my mom and siblings move to another country and to spend some time with my dad's side of the family.

and truth be told, except for a handful of cousins, i really don't consider anyone here to be my family, even though we're all related by blood. i've lived all my life not knowing them, not even knowing that half of them exist, and now i'm thrown here and expected to just give them all of my love like i would my own siblings. idk if that makes me seem heartless or whatever, but i really don't love anyone here. i don't even like any of them. i'm just counting the days til i get to go back home lmao

now i'd say that my personal definition of family is a group of people that you choose to have in your life, sharing a bond of love and mutual respect (good god dis is a big one) and appreciation for one another.

so i guess my question to anyone reading this is: what does family mean to you? i'm interested to see what people think about this, because i know it's gonna be different for everyone.

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2fe5ede837b2e51c94a2 4 years ago

hmmm we've always been told that those related by blood are family but i don't think that's what family is to me (i learnt it the hard way). family are people who stay by your side, constantly supporting you, making you feel loved and owned and you definitely feel blessed to be with them. and of course when you do something wrong, they tell you and correct you, not by dragging you down. :D to me blood relation doesn't even means family to me anymore, the actions and feelings are way more genuine. when you are at your worst state, they are there for you.

acuteassmess 4 years ago

at first, years ago i thot family meant by blood but now i think it's not just by blood but anyone who you feel that is a family to you if that makes sense?

dubulge 4 years ago

you're so cute :<
there's a lot of people who i am related to by blood, but do not class as family because of the things they have done to me directly/indirectly
i think all of us can relate, tbh
maybe you should give these cousins of yours a chance ?
ik a lot of our family don't really act as "family" since we have people judging our every move and chatting about us behind our back
regardless of us being related biologically, those kind of people are not what one should consider family. those who fully support you in your worst times as well as your best deserve to be called family :")