by Barbara FeliceHowarth

Created on: June 04, 2009

If someone asked me 40 years ago what the word "family" meant to me, my answer would be; Dwellers of a home that consisted of a Mother, Father and siblings who share the same bloodline. Today it can mean a whole lot more with so many different types of families cohabiting today. There are Foster families, adoption families, blended families and the ever growing Grandparents taking in their Grandchildren. Of course there are non bloodline families like Church groups, Prison families and other long term living facilities that consider their roommates family members.After 40 years of existing in this world a family could mean anyone dwelling in the same household who cares about each other and contributes to the day to day needs financially, emotionally without conditions.

When I hear the word "family" oodles of thoughts flow through my mind bringing back wonderful memories of yesteryear. Family to me means unity, love and acceptance. Agreement on every subject is not necessary, in fact family to me doesn't make sense without those squabbles every now and again. Television shows like "Leave it to Beaver" and "Ozzie and Harriet" use to be the example for what was suppose to be the "ideal family. At the time, if your household didn't portray these ideal families you thought something was wrong with you. The problem was that these families rarely existed giving added pressure to the non conforming television family types. It wasn't until the shows Family Affair and Courtship of Eddie's Father aired on television before we, as Americans, realized family was not about having both parents and one of each sibling to be considered a happy family. A happy family does not mean you never argue and the sun is always shining. It does rain and that's OK because without rain flowering plants would be non existent.

Family to me is being able to ask for help without feeling inferior. Calling your Mother or Father when you need a shoulder to cry on or just need a positive boost. Making yourself available to siblings or other relatives that may need advice. Sometimes families can have a falling out and go months or even years without ever speaking but if help is really needed and a difficult problem exists you can bet your life that a true family will come together and support the member who needs assistance with their dilemma. Family comes in many colors, shapes and sizes but in the end there are only two words that comes to mind when I hear the word family; Unconditional Love.

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