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Definition Essay: What's The Meaning Of Family

Decent Essays

What’s the meaning of family? According to Merriam-Webster dictionary family is defined as “all the descendants of common ancestor”, but is that how do you define family? Have you ever had someone in your life outside of your family that you were able to confide in? Share your happiness and saddest moments with? Be your biggest advocate? If the answer is yes, then these people are considered family as well. Channeling personal experiences I’m able to relate to Cecile Gilmer’s believe that “Families are not only blood relatives but sometimes just people who show up and love you when no one else will.” A family consists of a couple key parts. First, the family plays an enormous role in one’s life by influencing the children. Due to the children …show more content…

To many the ideal family consists of a mother, father, siblings and relatives of various ages, but many people don’t have the opportunity to experience this structure. For others family may come in the form of friendship. Can’t a friend offer support? Instill values? Be uplifting? If the answer is “yes” the only thing that doesn’t make them family is the approved definition. The ability to love someone who doesn’t have any direct relation to you is admirable and shows an extreme level of selfishness. Showing compassion to others needs can be difficult, because we all have our own issues to deal with. However, the ability to put them aside is remarkable and can have a great impact on someone else. Think about one person you were able to connect with and foster as a family member… meanwhile I’ll share my experience with you. Being the oldest of three children to a single mother brought forth plenty of hurdles. Growing up I yearned for a father figure, sadly that void remained for years. The lack of a father figure hindered my academic progress and personal life. The sense of abandonment cast me on an island all by myself, contributing to a lot of my troubles at home and school. I honestly didn’t believe anyone would ever be able to relate to me, but I was soon proven

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