What comes to mind when the word family is used? Well the word family can be used loosely, mainly because, when we are born we automatically are part of a family. As we grow up and age, we may grow apart from our family members distance separates us. Or we lose contact with family members, and family members pass away but they are still part of the family, right? Based on the sociological definitions below it would be easy to see that a family can consist of three to many persons.


Family--consists of two or more persons related by blood, marriage or adoption.

Nuclear family--composed of a husband, wife, and children.

Family of orientation--the family that one grows up with.

Family of procreation--consists of a couple, and their first born child.


Now lets take a look at the merriam-webster definition to see how the word family can be generalized to widen the range of persons we can consider as family.

" 1: a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head : household

2

a : a group of persons of common ancestry : clan

b : a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a common stock : race

3

a : a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation : fellowship

b : the staff of a high official (as the President)

4

: a group of things related by common characteristics: as

a : a closely related series of elements or chemical compounds

b : a group of soils with similar chemical and physical properties (as texture, pH, and mineral content) that comprise a category ranking above the series and below the subgroup in soil classification

c : a group of related languages descended from a single ancestral language

5

a : the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children; also : any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family <a single-parent family>

b : spouse and children <want to spend more time with myfamily>

6

a : a group of related plants or animals forming a category ranking above a genus and below an order and usually comprising several to many genera

b in livestock breeding (1) : the descendants or line of a particular individual especially of some outstanding female (2): an identifiable strain within a breed

7

: a set of curves or surfaces whose equations differ only in parameters

8

: a unit of a crime syndicate (as the Mafia) operating within a geographical area"

(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family)

Yes i copy and pasted,as i wanted to share the exact definitions so its in quotes the link is in parenthesis below the merriam-webster definitions. I would like for you to look over the definitions provided by merriam-webster.com if you notice the definitions include a wide range of characteristics that can be considered family. They say you cant choose your family so choose your friends wisely. Well to point out the contradiction in that statement its essential that the word family is understood from all angles. Therefore it could be possible to choose your family members. Hopefully this makes some sense.