TYPES OF FAMILIES –

Types of Families –   

I believe there are three (3) types of families: the one that you are born into; the one that you acquire when you are in a long-term, committed relationship (an “in-law” family); and the one that you create from those people around you.

For me, all of these are important. The biological family has been there from the very beginning, through the good and bad, happy and sad times. They are the ones who know the “players” in your family tree so they understand the family dynamic and possibly how everyone got to where they are today.

In-law family is what you get when you enter a long-term, committed relationship with the person that you love. This person comes with the family that they were born into and these people become your family. If your relationship doesn’t work out you will probably lose this part or all of this family. However, if you care about your in-laws and are very lucky (as I have been), you may be able to continue your relationship with these people. If this happens, they become part of the family that you have created.

When you are young, your chosen family consists of your friends who are, usually, classmates and/or neighbors. When you graduate from high school, you believe that your chosen family will always be made up of your current group of people. You soon learn that the group is shifting and transforming, as it will continue to do throughout your life. As you age further and mature, the people who you have regular contact with ebbs and flows and your group eventually includes coworkers and other people you have encountered along the way.

One day you will start to reflect and take a moment to look at your chosen family. You will notice that living your life – having a committed relationship (maybe with children), a career, and many friends along the way – gave you an amazing chosen family that is a wonderful combination of all three groups. No matter who comes and goes from your chosen family, each and every person was there at the right time, for the right reason, and for the perfect amount of time.