Relationship with Parents after Divorce

What is a family? Traditionally when one thinks of a family, it can be anybody that’s blood-related, but it means so much more than that. Family is one of be strong families guiding principles, starting with appreciation and respect of others regardless of how old, how youthful, where they originate from, what they've encountered, where they are, how proficient they are, how solid they are, who they love. It reaches out to a person's decisions of who they call family: what purposeful, important connections they structure. A Family is not just your blood relatives, it can be the friends you create and the pets you own; it’s the bond you create with anyone you care about, one that is loving and supporting of each other even when it’s not easy to do so.

A family usually has a father, mother, and children. It’s an idea that we have when we watch Modern Television because that’s what the norm of your generic family is. Nowadays that vision of the standard family has changed, it not your typical mother and father with two children, a family doesn’t just have to be someone blood-relative, it can be your friends. People can create a family with a group of friends with similar goals and interests. While this is untraditional it can be better than a regular family. Growing up with divorced parents I had always had two families; I didn’t have a strong connection with them because of the constant fighting so being home wasn’t ideal for me. This all changed when I met my best friend which I still stay in contact with but I would always go over when I had to visit my father. At first, I was treated like a guest but after a couple of months. His parents started to treat me as if I was their child. They would call me their son and saw me as an equal part of their family dynamic. It was not just for me that was treated like this, my parents also got involved with them and we just became a huge family of friends. As we spent more time the more we got involved with each other’s family. Even though we did not share blood I saw them as a part of my family and he did as well. Another example is my friends I play the card game Yu-gi-oh. Every weekend we gather to a card shop to play and compete. It’s a place where I can be myself and not feel judged for the things I like. It’s a place where we push each other to become the best, the trust we give to others when we borrow expensive cards, and the support we give to encourage them. We all have a common goal, which is winning a regional to get our invitation to the world championships tournament in Japan. The bond and drive we share are what I call this group my second family. People who already have a family can also have a large web of friends who they can call a second family or whatever they want. Family can be anybody you want.

Just as friends can be a part of your family, pets can also be an important member of a family. Many people may choose not to have a partner and in doing so they would choose a pet to cope with their loneliness. It’s the same for a couple who do not want children or are not capable of having them would want a pet to substitute the child in mind. Pets are great additions to any family and can bring so much joy and responsibility to them. Pets, like dogs and cats, are treated as additional family members by a lot of people and just like people they are mourned as well when they pass away. They can provide us with companionship and emotional support like any other family member. When I first moved out of my parents’ house into my apartment, it was quite lonely. I had no family in the city here in Austin but my friends. I really could not rely on them too much because they had work and other things to worry about. With this situation, I looked for options and the first thing that came to mind was a pet. The first Pet I owned in my new apartment was a cat named waffles and after 3 years I don’t think I can live without him. Yes, cats are very independent animals but he was different. He came when he was called and laid with me when I was watching TV. He was always by my side when I need him and I was always there to give him the love and food he needed. Waffles is a part of my family, and he is someone I cannot replace.

Family is someone you can rely on, someone who you know will be there for you and someone that accepts your flaws and love you for who you are. You do not have to share the same blood or last name for someone to be a part of your family. It can be anybody and anyone; it can even be a rock.