DESCRIBE YOUR FAMILY

Model Answer 1:
A family is the most important place for any individual and it is considered as the root of
people. Without a family, one cannot have a decent and happy life. I also live in a family
consisting of several members.

In my family, basically, we are five members altogether. They are – my parents, my younger
sister and younger brother and me. We, five people, live in our own apartment. Besides, we
have some other relatives who are family members too and they live adjacent to us. If I count
them, the number will be more. Most of the members are related to me either from my father
or my mother. But the number of my maternal relatives and family member is more from my
paternal part. I am too lucky that all of them love me much.

My father is a government worker and serves on the District Council while my mother is a
housewife and she takes care of the family. My younger sister is a student of 10th grade while
the brother is in his 6th grade, and I am a university student. As a District Council officer, my
father remains busy always and even he is to bring some work at home to complete as he
cannot execute the massive tasks within the budgeted time of his office. My mother remains
busy with her household chores as we do not have any domestic help. My sister and brother
remain occupied with their studies while I pass my day in the university and return home at
night.

I am lucky to have such a family. All the members of the family are highly intimate with me
and I am to them too. The interpersonal relationship with all the family members in my family
is fine and we do truly care for each other. When someone is in any sort of trouble or in any
difficulty, we try to provide necessary supports immediately so the situation could be solved.
Moreover, I always try to help my siblings in their studies and sometimes my father also helps
them in completing their school assignments. Besides, my mother takes every form of care for
us all. She is the one who is the key member of the family. I have a very good relationship
with my father but the relationship is better with my mother and I pass more time with her
when I am at home on my off-days.

My family is important to me for different reasons. First of all, it is the place where I belong
to. Literally, at the end of the day, I return to my home where my family lives. I cannot think
that I am living without my family. When I was younger, my family members provided me
with all forms of necessary supports and I am highly grateful to my parents for the
unconditional support they provided me and still, they are playing the same roles as they did
after my birth. I am happy with my two siblings and cannot imagine my life without them. My
family is my life and thus it is most important to me than any other thing.

Sample Answer 2:
The majority of the families in rural India are still living in a primitive age. They prefer living
in a large family and it brings a sense of deep happiness among the family members. I am
lucky to have one of such families here in a remote state - Bihar in India. Thank you for the
question. I am happy to have the chance of describing my family here.

In many of the modern states, the number of large families is on the decline. But some of the
parts in India, they are still prevailing. The families contain a notable number of members. In
most of the cases, the family is led by the grandfather. He is the family head while his sons and
grandsons live with them. My family has also the similar scenario. In my family, I have my
grandfather, grandmother, my parents, my paternal uncles and their families. In fact, we are30
members altogether including the kids and servants.

Most of the members are adults while there are some children and youths of my age. My
grandfather is a doctor in the locality and he owns a moderate homoeopathy business in his
chamber. On the other side, my father is a businessman and deals in importing raw materials
for preparing plastic goods. My uncles are not involved in the business rather they prefer to be
service holders. One of my uncles is a government official while another one is an engineer. I
have two siblings and they are students like me. I am a student at a local college and
completing my twelfth grade. My younger sister is in her ninth grade while the older one has
completed the graduation and seeking a job. Most of my cousins are of my age and they are
also studying in different educational institutions. My mother is a housewife and she is
responsible for taking care of everything of the house. She is a typical housewife who takes
care most of the things, even the cooking and cleaning.

I am extremely lucky to born in this family. The family bonding is great here. Everyone comes
out to help the others in needs and emergencies. In fact, the entire family backs the other
family member. My one thing should be made clear here – my family does not favour any
illicit activities. If someone is found guilty of any illegal cause, my grandfather does not
support him/ her and the similar issue is for us. We do not favour anything illegitimate and in
our early childhood, we were taught to follow the standard rules and laws for everything. The
entire family spends quality time when there is an occasion or during the weekly lunch. In fact,
this has become a tradition for us to take a weekly meal together on the weekly holiday
afternoon. It has been possible only for the strong bond we maintain.

My family is the place where I return at the end of the day. This is the place that takes care of
me. It supports me when I am sick, when I am down – it cheers me up to move ahead. The
other members also take care of me in various aspects. There is a strong feeling inside me for
my family. The feeling is the same to the family members as well. We love to be happy in
contact with each other. As a matter of fact, this is the very best family I have ever seen or met
where there are no major conflicting issues. I have learnt a lot of real-life things from here.
Based on such things, my family is important to me than any other things in the world.

EXTENDED FAMILY
Composition 1
Extended families consist of several generations of people and can include biological parents
and their children as well as in-laws, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Extended
families are typical of collective cultures where all family members are interdependent and
share family responsibilities including childrearing roles (Waites, 2009; Strong et al., 2008).
Extended family members usually live in the same residence where they pool resources and
undertake familial responsibilities. Multigenerational bonds and greater resources increase the
extended family's resiliency and ability to provide for the children's needs, yet several risk
factors associated with extended families can decrease their well-being. Such risk factors
include complex relationships, conflicting loyalties, and generational conflict (Engstrom,
2012; Waites, 2009).
Complex intergenerational relationships can complicate the child–parent relationship as they
can cause confusion regarding the identity of the primary parent. Such confusion can result in
a child undermining the authority of her existing parent (Anderson, 2012) and feeling
uncertain about her environment.
Extended families often value the wider kin group more than individual relationships, which
can lead to loyalty issues within the family and also cause difficulties in a couple's relationship
where a close relationship between a husband and wife may be seen as a threat to the wider kin
group. Another factor that can add to the complexity of relationships in an extended family is
the need to negotiate the expectations and needs of each family member. Complex extended
family relationships can also detract from the parent–child relationship (Strong et al.,
2008; Langer and Ribarich, 2007).
The literature points to various protective factors associated with extended families that can
help the parents and family meet the children's various needs. Extended families usually have
more resources at their disposal that can be used to ensure the well-being of the children. Also,
when the family functions as a collaborative team, has strong kinship bonds, is flexible in its
roles, and relies on cultural values to sustain the family, the family itself serves as a lifelong
buffer against stressful transitions (Engstrom, 2012; Waites, 2009).
Kinship care as a cultural value in extended families is associated with positive child
outcomes, yet this may not be the case when such families have to take responsibility for a
child because his parents are unable to do so. In such cases, kinship care becomes similar to
foster care. Situations like the latter usually arise from substance abuse, incarceration, abuse,
homelessness, family violence, illness, death, or military deployment (Langosch, 2012).
Although children in kinship care often fare better than children in foster care, various risk
factors can have a negative impact on the children's well-being. Risk factors include low
socioeconomic status, inability to meet children's needs properly, unhealthy family dynamics,
older kin, less-educated kin, and single kin (Langosch, 2012; Palacios and Jiménez,
2009; Harris and Skyles, 2008; Metzger, 2008; Winokur et al., 2008).
Kinship care as foster care is often characterized by complex relationships and the trauma
caused by the loss of an able parent. The family member who assumes the role as parent often
finds it difficult to balance his former relationship with his new role as the person responsible
for the child's well-being. For instance, a grandmother may have to adapt to the idea of being a
strict parent instead of a loving, indulgent grandmother (Engstrom, 2012; Langosch, 2012).
The extended family member who steps into the parenting role is often overwhelmed by the
stress caused by new parental responsibilities, attachment difficulties, and possible feelings of
resentment and anger toward the biological parent, as well as having to deal with traumatic
transitions after the loss of an able parent. The relationship between the new parent and other
family members may also experience strain due to loyalty issues. Besides complex
relationships, changes in the child's environment call for new routines, the setting of new
limits, and sometimes coparenting with the biological parent, all of which can contribute to a
less stable environment (Engstrom, 2012; Langosch, 2012).
An extended family member who takes on kinship care faces many challenges, although
positive experiences associated with such care can also serve as a protective factor buffering
the child against the negative effect of traumatic transitions. The new parent may find this
transition meaningful in the sense that it adds purpose to her life, and the child may also
experience a sense of security, consistency, continuity in family identity, emotional ties, and
familiarity (Langosch, 2012; Harris and Skyles, 2008; Metzger, 2008).

Composition 2
Extended families composed of grandparents, aunts, and uncles can be protective of children,
given a nonabusive ideology. If there is an abusive ideology, however, the extended family can
pose as much a risk as a buffer to children. Simple generalizations, therefore, about features of
family structure and their role in child maltreatment cannot be made.
There are widespread beliefs that the presence of grandparents is a buffer for children, and
probably inhibits abuse. However, research findings on the support provided by grandparents
to young children are mixed. In one study of African-American extended families children
within single or divorced mother-headed households, however, did show signs of better
adjustment when a grandmother lived with them. However, this effect did not seem due to the
grandmother’s parenting skills or direct care to the child, but to the support these grandmothers
provided their daughters. The daughters, therefore, became more effective and less stressed
during their own parenting tasks, and the children subsequently benefited. In the United States,
therefore, the nuclear family relationships remain the most critical for the children’s health and
outcome. When single mothers are nested in supportive extended family contexts, the children
benefit from the direct aid offered to the mother.
There have been some studies on what kinds of skills promote nonviolent and nurturant
parenting. For example, researchers in child development found that mothers who are able to
develop higher levels of attunement or synchrony when interacting with toddlers, and who are
able to establish a mutual focus with the child on some activity or thought, have children who
are more compliant and happier than mothers who are less attuned, so to speak, to their young
children. Flowing with the child rather than against her or him seems to be the best policy for
socializing cooperativeness and stability. Finally, the quality of the relationship between
parents has a profound impact on children’s coping and mental health.
Once again, the indicators of nonviolent parenting seem to be more lodged within parenting
beliefs than in the structure of the family. Coercive parenting engenders aggression in children,
either through modeling parental aggression or through the development of an internal mental
script or ‘working model’ of antagonistic interpersonal relationships. Although there have
been few direct studies to date, it appears that parents who espouse a ‘partnership model’ with
each other are more likely to raise children to do the same, and to develop mutual respect for
boundaries, opinions, and interests that will benefit the child, as well as the parents. The
‘dominator model’, or the traditional patriarchal family, is a problematic environment for
successful child rearing, and can diminish children’s own self-esteem and ability to forge
intimate relationships.

SMALL FAMILY

Essay 1 (250 Words) – Importance of a Small Family

Introduction

A small family is the one with parents and a maximum of two children. It is also called a
nuclear family owing to its small size. It’s good to be living in a small family because there is
better management of resources. In the essay, we will understand some of the norms in a small
family.

Why is it Good to have a Small Family?

It is good to live in a small family because it effectively sustains the need of all its family
members even with average resources. With fewer family members, there is less to spend and
much to save, making the family financially stable.
A small family can better look after its children’s education, health, and entertainment as
compared to a big family. Children in a small family get the best education and go to the best
schools and also enjoy festivals and other occasions.

Norms in a Small Family

There are some norms set by the government with regard to a small family. The most
important norm of a small family in this regard is that it should have a maximum of four
members, including parents and their children.

Though, the norms may differ slightly from place to place. Like in some places the definition
of a small family may be inclusive of the grandparents as well.

Conclusion

A small family is a happy family due to a number of advantages it has over a big family. But
that doesn't make the big family any inferior and it has its own advantages.

Essay 2 (400 Words) - Difference between Small and Big Family

Introduction

We all have heard of the phrase ‘Small family happy family’. It is a phrase that indicates the
greatest advantage of a small family and conveys that a small family is the most preferred
option than a big family.

Small Family Definition

A small family is defined as a family that has parents and a maximum of two or three children.
Speaking on theta term, an ideally small family is the one that has two parents and two
children. Though, the definition of a small family may change from family to family and
society to society. Some people may consider a family of four with grandparents as a small
family. But that sets the limit of a small family and the presence of any other family member
will categorize the family as a big family.

Difference between Small and Big Family

There are lots of differences between a small family and a big family. Below we will discuss
some of the main differences between a small and a big family.

1. Small Family Saves Better

A small family has lesser members and less to spend; thereby, saving a lot even with average
income. On the other hand, a big family with an average income will have to struggle to
survive.

 Big Family has Better Support System

Unlike a small family that has only a couple of persons to look up to in need; a big family has
a number of members to provide emotional and other support when required.
  Small Family Celebrates Better

Because a small family saves better it celebrates better. Festivals and other occasions in a
small family are celebrated with opulence. On the other hand, a big family may find it difficult
to celebrate fully as it will obviously have to cater to the needs of a large number of members.

 Small Family Lives Conveniently

A small family can easily manage an outing in the most convenient way possible. Big families,
on the other hand, drop the idea of a picnic or outings, due to a lack of convenient transport
and other issues. Small families can travel in a small car or a bike, while a big family has to
spend more money on bigger transport options.

Conclusion

Either big or small, a family is the most important thing in a person’s life. But, a small family
provides a more convenient and flourishing environment for the kids. That doesn’t mean those
big families aren’t good. They both have their advantages and disadvantages.

SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY

Composition 1

No, because I do not have but a couple relatives left living and we do not speak. A few years
ago my twin sister and I were reunited with our blood siblings since we were adopted at birth.
Our relationship was relatively civil until my wife died in 2015 and I openly came out as gay.
My siblings on our birth-mothers side have disowned me and my twin because she backs me.
She always knew I was gay, even when I was hiding it for over 45 years.

In this last year and a half, my twin and I did DNA tests to finally discover our ancestry. We
found our birth-fathers side and five more siblings, albeit only 3 of them are living. Things
were fine until I did not hide the fact that I am openly gay. They speak to my twin, they do not
speak to me. They acknowledge I am their brother, nephew, and cousin, yet we have no
contact. I have no family left aside from my twin.

Composition 2
Ah, this question changed. It was ‘how much time do you spend with your parents’: My mom
is a snow bird, and she just left for Palm Springs for the next five months — she’ll likely come
back to town 2–3 times, and I’ll see her then. Otherwise she lives a couple of hours away, and
I don’t get along with her husband very well, so I’ll visit her once (4th of July), and she’ll
come to town w/o her husband once every month or two.

I try to have lunch with my dad once a month.

I have two kids still at home. The one who’s graduating high school this year spends more
time hanging out w/ my husband and I, watching movies or things like “Last Week Tonight”.
We end up having quite a few interesting discussions. The one after we watched “The Big
Short” was especially memorable.
The younger son spends most of his time in his room. We try to encourage him to come hang
with us, but it’s not his thing. We get it. Hanging w/ your parents is kinda lame. We do all
have dinner together most nights. That’s a plus.

And my husband and I just celebrated another post-20 anniversary — we tend to cook
together, and in the evenings if we’re not watching something together, he’ll be watching
basketball and I’ll be sitting next to him, engrossed in some book or other.

Oh, and we have “family dinner” every Sunday night at my brother’s house. It’s just my clan
o’ 4 plus my brother, but it’s nice.

And then any time a relative of my dad’s comes to town there is a family dinner, potluck style.
My dad’s the oldest of eight and has a big family. These are every 2–3 months. There are
usually 15–25 of us, depending on who’s in town.

Composition 3
That seems like a silly question, but I'll give it a serious answer.

Your family is the most unique gift that has been given to you*, so you should cherish the
moments you have with them. So of course, given the choice of one or two hours, take two.
I'm pretty sure that nobody has ever said on their deathbed, “Geez, I wish I hadn't spent so
much time with the people who love me, and who I love.”

*Yes, there are truly horrific families out there to whom this advice may not apply. If that's
your situation, choose one hour rather than two, if you're forced to spend any time at all with
them. Meanwhile, try to find another family with whom you'd be happy to spend two hours
rather than one.

Composition 4
First of all, it depends on what's is ur aim and what is it about. Many people say studying 2 to
3 hours is sufficient but it's not actually upto your 10th standard it was okay even if u don't
study for couple of days it okay

If you preparing for competitive like me, u need to study at least 8 to 10 hours daily ik it
sounds pretty much [Link] i bet u if u do in shaft it would be going a lot more easier than
you have ever thought

So here is my routine

1. I woke up 6am to 6:45am(do all the stuff like taking bath brushing, getting fresh etc)
2. At 6:45am i head towards my coaching for classes which is 7:15am to 12:45pm
3. After that reaching home i have my lunch and take a quick nap of 1 hour 1:30pm to
2:30pm ik most PPL goona say u shouldn't take it but it's my habit and i am trying to
over come it
4. After getting up i study from 2:30pm to 6:00pm
5. At 6:00pm i went to play badminton for an hour
6. At 7:00 i sat down and try to study until the dinner gets ready
7. Having my dinner b/w 8:30 to 9:30
 8. After having my dinner back to studies and it goes on for 11:30pm and idk i just feel
smtg wired b/w 11:30 pm to 12:00am i just watch some videos movitational which
keeps me going on
9. 12:00am to 1:00am to or sometimes i can extent half an hour more.
It's not possible that u goona sit one day goona study for 8 hours continuously it's not possible
it's because human nature. In the early when i was struggling to sit at the same place without
getting disattracted i used pomodoro tracker it's quite usefull and let me help to increase ur
sitting capacity.

Composition 5

Please excuse me for my long answer, however I am trying to cover the subject of family here
in a holistic manner:

A family is the very essence of human society, irrespective of place, social system, culture and
ethos. Family, of which you yourself are an EQUAL member, is of utmost importance, no
doubt. YOU form your family, along with other members, whom all of you accept and
welcome. If YOU or another member is NOT there (move out), your erstwhile family adapts
and CHANGES itself. It may then, at its discretion, may or may not accept you back again.
Quitting a family is easy, joining back isn’t.

Every grounded and self-honest person would know this truth, irrespective of age, time, place,
situation and generation he/she belongs to. One family may be different from the other (the
value system and the lifestyle may be different), however the roles broadly remain the same -
father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister and so on. Families also evolve
over time, as do YOU yourself and every one else for that matter.

A good family is one in which everyone respects each other as equals. A great family is one
whose members stand by, support and help each other, no matter what. A great family is
unshakable, come what may. Forgiveness, understanding, empathy, sympathy, trust, patience,
tolerance, perseverance and focus towards goals are some virtues of a great family.

It is important to spend quality time with family for numerous reasons. For example, you enjoy
their company, they enjoy your company and you together plan and achieve family goals. Who
doesn’t like to celebrate festivals and special occasions with family, after all? Who doesn’t feel
happy when a family member becomes successful in achieving a goal?

While family is important, what is even more important is the BALANCE of the relationships
you share with them. That both you and your family are HAPPY matters more than the quality
or the quantity of the time spent per se.

No doubt, family is important, and there are other important aspects of life too, such as YOU
yourself, your life goals, food, security, luxury, rest and comfort, relationships and inter-
personal warmth, love, career, money, health, friends, social network, professional network,
academics, travel and recreation, romance, festivities and celebrations, introspection and self-
reflection in solitude, future plans et al.

The interesting fact is - all of these are inter-connected and inter-dependent. Any development
or setback in one area impacts all the other areas to varying extent, and vice versa.
Every evening, when you RETURN from college or office, where do you return? Where do
you belong? What is your identity and who do you identify with? it’s your FAMILY and your
home that gives you a sense of comfort and lets you answer all of the above questions.

If you are ill, your family takes care of you and if they are ill, you take care of them. No family
stays ever immune to quarrels, misunderstandings and even ego-clashes, however someone
wise has rightly said, “If you want your relationships to work, cut the EGO, not the
relationships.” Relationships are never one-sided, and both partners need to understand this
fact well in case they want to work towards building a stronger relationship.

A one-sided relationship is, in fact, not a relationship at all. It is nothing but one partner
ALLOWING the other partner to exploit him/her, to meet selfish ends, for own good.

I will try to explain my point considering both the sides of the coin - family is important,
family isn’t important; family is good, family is bad; good family turns bad, bad family turns
good et al.

Family never runs on auto-pilot mode. Every member of the family needs to work towards
making the family successful - meaning you achieve your individual goal while your family
achieves its collective goal too. That’s why sometimes you need to spend time with your
family and at other times, your family needs to spend time with you.

It is wise to spend regular time with family because man is a social animal. To socialize is one
of our basic needs (Maslow describes this need as ‘love’ in his hierarchy of needs), though the
extent may vary from person to person.

Remember the movie ‘Cast Away’, where the character played by Tom Hanks was left
stranded on an island, alone for years? By the time he managed to return to society, his wife
had married another guy, believing he was dead and would never return. And he moved on
after meeting her once. He had become her past and he accepted that, even though they held
the same love for each other as before.

You may ask - we can spend time with outsiders too, why family then. That’s a valid point, but
not complete truth and would leave a huge emotional void inside you. It is extremely
important to balance your family time with the time you spend outside with your friends and
other social network.

Ignoring family is not-at-all advisable for the conservative realms of India (especially rural and
semi-urban places) in which we live. Please not that if the head of family leaves it physically
to fetch livelihood, then he is NOT ignoring the family. This implies that relationships are the
essence of any family.

In contrast, in many western nations, and sometimes even in the metropolitan cities of India,
social experiments such as live-in relationships and open marriages are on the rise. As another
conservative example, 2 divorcees from separate marriages re-marry and start a new family. A
widow and a widower from separate families get together and start a new family. It’s possible
and it’s happening. It’s been happening since ages, in fact, and will continue to happen till
human society exists.

In India, the bride weds the groom and shifts to his house, where she meets her new family
comprised of her in-laws. Grooms too find new relationships in the form of their in-laws. The
point is, families are not meant to be shunned, they are the very relationships which let us
celebrate life. Even if your family environment is not right currently, it will do so with time.
Change is the only constant and it happens to families too.

Spending time with family is not always essential. Once you’re a grown-up adult, it’s lawfully
your choice whether you wish to do so or not. However, it’s also a question of the
relationships, needs, priorities, commitments and responsibilities involved. For example, a
husband has a legal liability towards his wife in India. In some other countries, the specific
laws may differ.

Those who work in a foreign nation away from family, really know how important is their
family to them. Chances are, if very those people get to stay with their family for long, the
family might seem to lose the initial importance that they once held for them.

Everyone looks like a family/friend in your good times, however those who stand with you in
your bad times, deserve to be your true family. This fact is harsh, but true nevertheless.

It’s YOU who decide how important is your family to you and the time you want to spend
with them. If I am a member of a family filled with constant misunderstanding and discord, I
would not like to be a part of it. If I’m depressed or still not independent, chances are I’ve no
option but to rely on my family.

Many families encourage their children to go out and make new friends and relationships.
Other families are more conservative and expect you to be in house at nights. If I’m the sole
bread-winner of my family and I love them, spending time with them will matter to me not just
because they are my family, but also on humanitarian grounds.

The point is, the importance of spending time with family is contextual and also varies with
time. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam once said, “I am a global citizen and the world is my family.”

Hope the quote drives home the point. Please mind, however, that the world consists of the
biological family too :)

Composition 6

I've spent a lot of hours of my life playing video games and spending time with my friends
rather my family when I was younger. I suppose your family does understand that you're a
teenager who has things to do but it's always nice to be able to spend time with them.

It's unfortunate that we usually take the people closest to us for granted until it's too late. The
way I try to remind myself to spend time with my family is imagining if any of us were to go,
would I regret not spending enough time with them? Most of us will end up spending more
time with our friends, colleagues, classmates, and partner than our family.

An advice from my grandmother, “ It's better to bring flowers for the living than the dead.” Let
your family know how much you appreciate them once in awhile. It goes a long way.
Composition 7
Unfortunately, most of my actual family live far away. I do make it appoint to call my family
members on a regular basis. I base how often and long on my established relationships with
each person. Currently, I am trying to build stronger relationships with my sisters especially,
so I am working to communicate with each of them more often.

In terms of the “family” I have chosen out here in Colorado. I have different groups of friends
that I see pretty regularly. I dedicate at least a few evenings and even some afternoons a week
to really growing deeper and stronger relationships with particular friends or groups.

Not sure if this helps, but feel free to ask a follow up question or be more specific in terms of
what you are looking for.

Composition 8
Professionally, I use Twitter and LInkedIn. I spend 30 minutes each morning on social media,
connecting with followers and setting up posts. During the day, I have 2 10-minute check ins
(around lunch and at end of workday). And I check in again right before bedtime.

I also use WhatsApp but only as a communication tool for clients in Europe because it’s very
popular there.

And I check Quora on Saturday mornings and a couple of times during the week.

I highly recommend taking this type of structured approach. It helps to keep social media use
“in control” (while still being active enough to reap the benefits) and it reduces distractions
during the rest of your workday.

Personally, I use Instagram. And I have a Facebook account although truthfully, it’s only there
because I have older relatives that rely on that platform to see photos of family. I also really
like SnapChat. It lets friends and family share the moments they want to share without the
permanence of other platforms. For example, I have a family member who sends lots of
adorable videos of his baby via Snapchat. (but he keeps her photos OFF Instagram, Facebook
et al)

Also… TikTok is SUPER FUN!

But, perhaps because I am online all day as a professional, I don’t feel any sense of urgency to
be online in my personal time. I check in when I feel like it, but can go days without touching
social.

Hope hearing my social media schedule helps you in some way. Ultimately, there is nothing
BAD about social media, but you do need to make sure YOU are in charge.

Social media is not a replacement for face-to-face interactions. And that applies to business as
well as personal!
 WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO TOGETHER AS A FAMILY?
Composition 1

I believe that anything that you do together as a family is beneficial. A family can play games
either inside or outside. Travel is fun either local day trips or vacation trips. Day trips are good
because there are many things to see or do that don't cost money or very little.

Reading books together. Doing homework together can be a huge help. Even if the parents are
reading books or something and the child or children are doing their school work. But
everyone around the table at the same time tells the little ones that the Child and the work are
important.

I don't think that activities need to be fancy they just need to be together.

Composition 2
I don’t know the tradition of it, but it is a season that falls between school semesters and
breaks, and this leaves more time for people to travel to see the loved ones they don’t often
see. Those in school don’t have homework and projects to complete - they have time free!
Through the year we choose our vacation time, and mine not be the same as yours, but during
the holidays numerous people have the same days off. It makes sense to grab a visit when you
can.

I don’t think people click more easily during the holidays. Getting together with family is
stressful for many, but they do it out of feelings of responsibility, obligations, and yes, caring.

Composition 3
What I love is that Koreans are always out with their families, and they are always
eating together. It’s something that has diminished in America.

Public parks are all beautiful, safe, and well kept. The basic playground parks to national parks
are all wonderful and free with very low parking costs. There are two major parks with
suspension bridges in Paju. They are different and both appealing with different things. I
always see a lot of families on weekends, so I tend to go on weekdays to avoid the crowds.
The parking was 2000 won, unlimited time.

There are many traditional parks and cultural centers throughout Korea that serve great food
and have great walking paths. They are educational too, showing how Koreans lived in the
past.

Most apartment complexes have community fairs once a week with food stalls, rides, music,
and a bunch of tent markets selling many different things. These places are the highlight of my
week because I always go to a different area. We have an app where moms put up reviews and
announcements. A lot of kids just come out without their parents and I always run into a
student or two. My favorite is chicken heart skewers with a dash of salt n pepper.
We have some amusement parks, zoos, and aquariums. I was Ilsan today and saw their
suspended water park, but my wife wouldn’t let me ride it. I’m going to go back and try it out
soon. It wasn’t Raging Waters, but it seemed really cool.
Public bathhouses are pretty cool for families. You shower separately and then put on pajamas
and meet up in a big communist parea that has hot rooms, salt rooms, and an ice room. They
are all different and pretty nice. Eating food and watching tv is cool too. Some lounge around
for hours, even playing games. There’s one in Busan that is like an amusement park in spa
water. It’s huge and doesn’t allow little kids, so it’s quiet too. I was pretty loud but I was
having the time of my life there. We spent 4 hours there, but it closes at midnight. Most of
them are 24 hours 7 days a week.
We eat, shop, visit spots, visit our old neighborhoods, hike, go to pools, rivers, rent out
camping units, and then eat some more. Every season dictates what we do, and it’s great
having 4 seasons. I haven’t gone snowboarding yet and I’m going to try to entice everyone to
try winter camping in the snow this winter.
Composition 4
Eat dinner. Without TV, radio, any media interruptions. This is a huge loss for the generation
that we are raising at the moment. And while I know this is a cliche that's thrown at a lot of
things, they truly don't know what they're missing. If you ask a sixteen-year-old today how
often he or she is together with his or her family just talking and relaxing for 45 minutes at a
time, they might be completely stumped. And it's not just the kids faults, parents are often too
busy either on their phone or doing something else to make sure the family sits down to
dinner together. It's really sad.
Composition 5
It depends on the culture of that family. If they are Chinese, they make slurping noises
while eating, which shows appreciation for the food. If they are from a Western country, this
would be considered both rude and annoying.

In some cultures, it’s polite to not eat until the oldest members at the table have started first,
etc.

It also depends on the actual family. A religious family might say grace before eating and
would consider it rude if you ate before they did this.

Composition 6
I’m amused that I’ve been given this A2A because my family never sits down together to eat.
In fact, the only time I can remember us sitting together as a family at our dining table has
been as a class assignment for our daughter’s home ec class which required photographic
evidence that we had actually done it. It’s an awkward photo because this was not something
we normally do. Yes, I do a lot of home cooking, all from scratch, nearly every evening, but
we don’t sit down at a table to eat together as a family. And yes, we do actually have a dining
table, though right now there are only two functioning chairs and four members of our family.
So how do I answer this question? Well… when do we sit down at a table to eat? That’s pretty
easy, holiday meals with family and dinners we eat in restaurants. So I guess that’s your
answer.
Composition 7
The sad truth is that most families don’t eat together very often even when they are very
young, it saddens me when I see families eating out and they are all playing with their tablets
or smartphones, even the photographing of food from all angles is just so depressing just to
upload their social media to show that they are “spending time with their families”

My favourite meal with family was a simple Traditional Sunday Roast, whether it was Lamb,
Chicken or Beef, with Roast potatoes, peas, carrots or any vegetables, with the gravy made
from the stock, followed by simple Apple Pie or Crumble with Custard all made from scratch
not a packet or tin in sight.

I make it myself now when I get time for family and (local) friends here in Malaysia and they
often ask when I’m cooking it again, probably because much of the “Western Food” on local
menus bears no resemblance to what we remember of moms (or grans) cooking. That’s
probably why I think of it as the best food, as the aroma when it’s cooking reminds me of
happy family times when people always sat at a table and ate a meal together, even TV dinners
were not allowed in our family, mom would go ape if we allowed TV to interrupt family time.

WHAT TYPES OF TASK DO YOU DO TO ASSIST YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS?

Composition 1
Well I’m in the same boat as you are in but I’m turning 26 next year. So there is immense
pressure on my shoulder to get a job and sustain myself. Before 2020 happened I was staying
in a rent and studying going coaching classes but I think I was wasting time more with my
friends going out, hanging out with them and couldn’t say no. As of now I’m in home and
trying to figure out things and leaving bad habits of mine. Now I don’t even feel like going out
to have fun, though I miss sometimes going out, nowadays I am more focused in studying and
getting jobs. I have left using social media, just that I have my sketch page in Instagram, a
hobby of mine, I have deleted all my personal account. Therefore I say you firstly be focused
in your career path and helping your family because later down the road you’ll not regret of
wasting time, atleast while helping your family you’ll feel content. So it’s okay to give more
time to your family and studies now after you have your career you can enjoy your time with
friends cause you’ll be helping your family financially therefore you can have you time.
“Uncle Ho once said small working age is small, depending on their strength.”
Composition 2

Our older family members watched us grow up. They’ve seen our best (and not-so-pretty)
moments, and we theirs. At times, this level of familiarity can create a unique tension,
especially if you're living in the same space.

Our relationships with our older family members can, in this sense, differ greatly from those
we maintain with others in our lives; we can choose our friends and SOs, but we can’t choose
our family of origin.
Here’s some advice for getting along with your older family members at home:

1. Start by recognizing that you may not have a picture-perfect family

Reading about ideal familial relationships in my childhood planted in my mind many idyllic
expectations of how families should get along.

However, when we step away from the fictional realm, we realize that we may not have
“perfect” family members. We can’t insert our parents into AutoCAD, redesign them so they
reflect our views and values, and 3D print revised versions of them. We have to live with this
reality’s fixed state—and be okay with it.

If you have been finding it challenging to get along with your older family members (like your
parents or grandparents), know that many of us share these feelings, myself included.

2. Communicate your personal boundaries

Building healthy boundaries isn’t restricted to just friendships and romantic relationships.
Communicating your boundaries to your family, including what conversations you don’t want
to participate in or what choices you don’t want to make, can help you feel respected as a
grownup in your household, with the agency and autonomy you deserve.

Setting boundaries early with your parents and/or your grandparents will prevent relationships
from snaking into grudge-holding territories down the road, where conflicts are likely to arise.

How to communicate boundaries with your older family members

If your parents or grandparents (among other family members) are presenting you with “here’s
what’s best for you” information or showering you with unsolicited feedback, it might feel a
little stuffy—perhaps especially so if you’ve lived away from home for a while.

As the independent adult you are, here are some tips you can try:

a) Keep your cool and respond when you feel ready

b) Express your appreciation of their good intentions—and show that you genuinely
understand why they’re doing or saying such things

c) Tactfully communicate how you feel and what you’re comfortable with, and work out a
solution that sounds satisfactory for all of you

d) Discuss and agree upon specific actions you each will take if you overstep one another’s
boundaries in the future (in a gentle, non-threatening tone—think Bambi); examples include
exiting the conversation and going out for a walk

e) Follow through with your consequences when your boundaries go unheeded; if you overstep
your family member’s boundaries, offer an apology

See if you and your family can find common ground: On your end, strive to listen more, to
take an egoless approach when interacting with them, and, if they’re causing issues, to adjust
some of your habits to accommodate their needs. If you disagree with a family member’s
actions, respectfully let them know why you may think or feel differently from them.

Yes, your family raised you, fed you, clothed you—but that doesn’t mean you can’t say
“No” to what they want for (or from) you. You deserve to make choices for yourself, and
you aren’t “selfish” or “spoiled” when you do.

You are valid—you are entitled to your personal truths. So, know that speaking up doesn't
make you a Cordelia (i.e. a “thankless child”), and you don’t have to feel guilty for voicing
your comfort levels and being an adult.

However, make sure that when you’re communicating your feelings, you are taking on a
compassionate perspective.

3. Give it time with (some) hope

It may take a while for you and your family to adjust to one another’s boundaries—none of
you are superheroes or magical anime characters who can transform immediately, after all. Be
content when you see your family giving their best effort and making progress, even if it takes
more time than you’d hoped for.

It may also be possible that little to no change takes place. Although it can feel like a bummer,
know that it’ll be okay. Knowing when to give up trying to get along with somebody (even
a family member) is a skill that many of us have yet to master, because...

...sometimes you can’t have everyone’s support or respect, even when they’re the people
closest to you. Even the strongest superhero or manga protagonist can’t always save everyone,
especially those who don’t want to be saved.

Continue to treat these family members with respect—and, if it helps, to invest less
emotionally in your relationships with them. It is okay to act neutrally around them, to stop
feeling obligated to go out of your way to get along with them.

4. Know when to let things go, and when to stand up for yourself

If there are topics—like politics, for example—that you and your older family members have
previously had heated discussions about, consider the following before starting the
conversation anew:

 Is it really worth it to pursue the topic again?

 Is there evidence that this time around their views will change?
 What do you stand to “lose” if you allow them to be entitled to their opinions?

In the crevice created by generational gaps, there often dangle different, even opposing,
views and choices of action. But remember that although letting other people off the hook
can feel like a Herculean task, doing so is *letting yourself* off the hook.

However, there are situations where it’s really not that easy. In cases where a family member
crosses a line—for example, by using derogatory language or verbalizing dinosaur-like
views/stereotypes—here’s an approach you can try:
  Ask them why they think that way—and what makes them so certain they are justified
in their views
 Be direct in communicating your own principles and—note here—budget
a limited amount of time you’ll spend reasoning with them before exiting the
conversation; this way, you can dodge a) the sunk cost fallacy and b) high blood
pressure, and move on to doing something more worthwhile (and enjoyable)
 Get others in your family (and mutual friends) to help support you throughout your
reasoning process—and inspire your one special family member to follow this
sage saying and really consider mindset-tweaking

If you find your family hurtful and unaccepting of what you consider an integral part of your
identity, and you really want to get some distance from your family, you are entitled to it. Just
stay safe and communicate your plans to your family.

Spending time away can help relieve you of familial tension and improve your mental health.
Try to surround yourself with people who you know care sincerely about you, and with whom
you feel comfortable talking about your family. (If you’re looking to actually move out, be
sure to follow COVID precautions where you live to minimize the risk of infection.)

Living at home with your family may feel like a dicey time—I get you. Still, try your best to
stay positive and trust that things will work out in the end.

Composition 3
So my cousins came from Sweden and they were the biggest nightmare. I just couldn't believe
how horrible they were. It was six people, my great uncle, my great aunt, my aunt, my uncle,
and their two miserable sons.

So my family is kosher and we usually have one day meat and one day dairy, because we
cannot combine the two.

For the first day, we had the cousins come so we had a big meat meal (roast chicken, lamb
goulash, and soup) and then 2 hours later they wanted Pizza which was a problem for us
because we keep 6 hours and they only keep one. But they insisted, meaning my family had to
order in and watch them eat.

Then the next day they refuse to use public transportation and expected my mother to Ferry
them around New York. My mum did so, and was in a horrible mood all day.

So when they arrive home for dinner, my mother decided on Shakshouka for dinner, along
with leftover pizza.

Composition 4

Well, i think the topic should be split into 2 parts: [Link] and [Link]

Firstly,i am quite on good terms with my parents, especially my mom. She is a very kind-
hearted person and she has made a lot sacrifices for me and my family. I extremely respect and
love her. But for my dad, sometimes he’s quite careless about family, maybe he’s too busy at
work. However, i still love my dad.
Secondly, to siblings, it’s quite difficult to discribe clearly. I am the second sister from a large
family which has 6 people, including: my parents, my older sister (19); my younger sister (11);
my younger brother (8) and me (17). When i was little, i and my first sister always have
sibling rivalry. We argued all the days . My mom was really sad and we were always punished
by my dad about that. Now, she is a freshman at FOA, so we have less chance to meet than
before. Honestly, i still can’t say ‘ i love you ‘ to my sis, cuz it sounds so disgusting. To my
younger sis. she is very lazy and not obey. Sometimes, she makes me go to bananas , at that
moment, i just want to hit her strongly. BUT when it’s over, i am very regret , after that i sorry
her and she is not a easy-going person. To my brother, he is so cute but he is also really
mischevous. I love my two younger siblings more than they imagines.

Composition 5

I am!

I never really thought I was any closer to my family than other people are to theirs, but after
listening to my and boyfriend (who have everything from just quarrels and constantly feeling
annoyed with their families, not spending time with them or valuing family time to horrifying
abusive families)

I love my family more than anything. I may not always spend a lot of time with my aunts or
grandparents but whenever we are together everyone laughs and gets along, have deep
conversations and just enjoy each others company. I still live with my parents (as I am only
17) and at home we never fight or get more than a little annoyed at each other. I enjoy
spending time with them; hiking with my father, sunbathing and shopping with my mother and
playing games with my brother.

When I revealed this to my boyfriend & my friends they were shocked; how can you Not fight
with your parents Ever? And ENJOY spending time with them? This seemed like such a
foreign concept to them.

I think the reason I never fight with my parents is because what I value above everything else
is respect; I live in my parents house, so obviously I'm going to follow their rules and I should
listen to them(within reason, of course). I do the chores they ask me to do and the ones they
don't ask me to do.

Also, my parents are not strict at all, laid back and have few rules for me-they trust that I am
mature enough to do what I want (and deal with the consequences)

That might also be a factor as to why we are so close; trust. They trust me and I trust them.

I feel like being this close to my family doesn't really have any downsides (except for when I
was younger and Hated going out with friends on the weekend nights because I lost my
precious family time)

Also, my boyfriend is Such a negative person sometimes. He has these episodes where he
hates on everything and anything - the world and this age usually- but he has these times
where he hates on my family and it's horrible because I don't really know what to say to him or
anything. Earlier today he told me how ugly he thought my aunt's hair is (she has dreads) and
how he told his family and they spent over half an hour laughing at and insulting my aunts
hair. Then he got mad at me because I wasn't as happy as before. I love my aunt's hair; it’s
unique, and it might not be the prettiest hairstyle but it suits her and her personality.

Also he spent several hours a few nights ago ranting about how idiotic my family is for going
on a two-week-vacation to Portugal this summer. He kept telling me they were idiots and that
relaxing isn't a human right, how I an going to fuck up his vacation by not being with him the
whole time and how fucking idiotic going to a warmer country on a holiday is.

He also said he told this to his family and that they all just bonded or something over hating on
me and my family's holiday plans.

I feel like I can't argue against him because it does harm the environment and even though we
have an amazing time there there are more environmentally friendly options…

Honestly I don't know what to do:( I get really upset when he starts these rants because I love
my family and yes, I know they are not perfect, (who are?) but I love them and I don't want to
spend so much time listening to him insulting them.

Sorry about the long post. I was just going to write about how my relationship with my family
is but it turned into a long rant. Oh well, I just needed to get it out. I don't really have anyone
to talk about this to and it felt really good just writing it out.

And also-sorry about the grammar. I am Norwegian and English is not my first language. I
hope it makes sense anyways:)

Composition 6

It’s a complicated relationship, but I also overthink things.

I have long argued with my little sister. Siblings will do that, of course. Yet we get along at
times, and share many interests despite more overt differences. When we begin to talk about
something, we will continue talking for a long while.

Then again, she is still quick to violence and, as my mother would put it “a classic teenager.” I
remember Mom telling me she used to introduce us kids as “the good daughter” and “the other
one.” She was only partially joking.

My sister is on Quora, so I ought to leave it at that. Just wait until she sees this answer—I’ll
feel her eyes rolling through the wall!

For a long time now, I have had some animosity toward my mother. We argue about silly
things, because we share many of the same flaws: we think we are always right, and when
challenged, we argue vehemently. We also tend to be a bit self-absorbed and think of other
people second or third.

While I can never know for sure, I think I may be more introspective than my mother. I
analyze her logic intricately. I come up with responses hours ahead of time. Once, several
years ago in a fit of anger, I wrote a long piece about my mother’s shortcomings and hid it on
my computer. It’s still there. Many of my complaints are still the same, though I have more
insight now.
She is quick to anger, and judgmental. I avoid bringing up difficult subjects with her as long as
possible because I cannot predict whether she will snap at me or suddenly get quiet, both
reactions bringing me near tears. Then she acts as though I am overreacting, though I do it
every time. She is the only one who does this to me.

But when there is nothing between us, we get along wonderfully.

We took a college visit trip a few weeks ago, out East. Lots of driving with the music turned
up, both of us singing along to everything. We talked about politics, the colleges, how it would
be when I left home. I was happy. It was all wonderful.

I share my parents’ love of crosswords, but not their experience. I watch crime shows like
them, read mysteries, love food. We have a lot in common.

With my dad, everything is fantastic. Dad is what gave me the compassionate, thoughtful side
to my personality where Mom gave me my wit, analytic thinking, assertiveness, self-interest. I
have even more in common with him in terms of interests: the same kinds of foods, the same
kind of music, same instruments we play, athleticism, humor.

I have nothing against my dad except that he is often quite shy.

My grandfather is what you might call my role model. We get along fantastically in terms of
personality and some interests, though the generational gap changes some things.
Unfortunately, he is getting old. He forgets things sometimes, has difficulty hearing. He
always responded to stress badly, and now it is worse—but I don’t blame him. I just wish I
knew him when he was younger.

My grandmother might also have been more sympathetic at a younger age. She always means
well, but often comes across as patronizing, in the way, unnecessarily rigid. She loves me
dearly, and it pains me when I snap at her, though she tries everyone’s patience.

Both my grandparents have always tried to impose strange rules on my sister and I. Not bad
rules, but different ones than we were used to. These days, I know better than to provoke them,
but I often speak up in support of my sister when they get angry over a misunderstanding.

This answer turned into a bit more than how I get along with family, but you can see the
results are mixed. I never bonded much with my mother. My dad is closer now than ever. I
wish I were closer to my grandfather and sister.

Family is something that always comes second to me behind friends, with the possible
exception of my grandpa. I think the people we choose to spend our time around are those who
deserve the priority. If those people are family, then so be it. But one should not place family
ahead of their own happiness, however it may come.

Composition 7
Oh my goodness, yes. And no.

I get along with them most of the time, I'm super close to them and my mom's like my best
friend. This is still a major work in progress because in high school, the guy I was dating
convinced me to distance myself. He brainwashed me into thinking they were bad people.
There are still major rifts between us, and tension whenever my court comes around, or I have
to make contact with my ex's family.

It's stressful, but they helped me through every step of pregnancy, and single parenting for the
past few years, and have held me while I cried. They have watched my daughter while I was
upset, or while I had to go to court. They have taken my daughter for the day so I can go have
"baby free" time to run errands, go to dinner, get some sleep. They have helped me in too
many ways to begin to speak about.

I couldn't have done it without them, even when we argue.

Composition 8
Why do you think so many people don’t get along with their family?
Who a person is in their own home with their family is not always the same as what others see
when they are at work or out with friends. In our home we see the best and worst of our family
members. Unfortunately bad memories tend to stick more in the mind than good memories so
we can get a skewed idea of family rather than seeing them for who they are.

Also there are people who are just vile to their family through control, physical, verbal and/or
sexual abuse. Those kinds of people don't show that face outside of their home. But the people
who had to endure this treatment won't have too many warm fuzzy feelings about their family
members. It may not just be the abuser they despise but the other parent as well for not
protecting them and for staying in such a toxic situation.

We can be easily hurt by those we love and trust especially our parents who are supposed to
love us unconditionally and unfortunately that's not always the case. Parents are human beings
and often make mistakes. What might seem to be a small slight to the parent can be
devastating to a child.

In my life what has helped me to heal wounded relationships with my family members is to go
within and let go of the pain and resentment over the past. After I had really truly forgiven
them in my heart I was able to see how grateful I am to have them in my life and reach out
from a place of love. With my mother I wrote her a heartfelt letter telling her all the ways I'm
grateful for her and how neither of us were perfect in our relationship. We took a weekend trip
and really bonded. Now we have a much healthier relationship and I feel lighter just lifting that
burden from my heart. If the person you are resentful towards isn't the kind you can have a
healthy relationship with then just forgiving them in your own heart and moving past the pain
will free you immensely and let you live a healthier life.

WHO ARE YOU CLOSEST TO IN YOUR FAMILY?

Composition 1

My mother, because she is the one who has been with me the longest. Also both husband and
son have to go to their respective jobs and she is the one who keeps me company. I share most
of my thoughts with her. She is 82 yrs now with many ailments but has not lost her sense of
humour. I can't imagine my life without her. She truly understands me most of the time.
Closely followed by my husband and son. But I get to spend time with them only on sundays.
Most of the time they are busy catching up with friends and relations on social media,
watching serials or completing office work during holidays. So I get to spend only limited time
with them.

Composition 2
Definitely my grandma.

She basically raised me herself since my parents worked all day when I was a child. She
always defended me when I fought with my mom (or rather when my mom kept yelling at me
and/or hit me with a belt, she was stressed and I understand it, and I get that first children are
basically test subjects for all parental mistakes and that it was a hard time but I’m still Bitter),
supported me and loved me unconditionally. even if i could be nasty (i had a temper and a p
turbulent childhood so tantrums Happened) she still forgave me, she never accepted my
atheism but still supported me and loved me. it wasnt like friendship, really, but she was my
pillar for years and i was the apple of her eye, she made me feel loved more than anybody in
my family ever did, she’s my gran. even after her dementia got so bad she could barely speak
she still recognized me and only smiled at me when i was in the room and always wanted to
hold my hand.

shes still alive but she doesnt move too much aside from eating and it hurts to watch her in this
state, i barely remember the times when she still was up and about but even if its like this i
know she still loves me and i still love her too.

Composition 3
Weird that I saw this today; just last night my husband and I were talking about our
relationship with the kids. I don’t believe in the “who do you love more” talks: love grows the
more it is given.

But. We both admit that Andy has a greater connection with our daughter, while I understand
and connect with our son on a level that he does not.

Jean is like her dad: physically, mentally, and emotionally. She does not plan for the future
(neither did he), she does not believe in doing a job that is not fulfilling and enjoyable all the
time (ditto) and she is perpetually late (ditto….drives me nuts!)

So, it was up to Andy to calm me down when she had the gall to drop out of college after two
years. Andy who reassures me that no, she will not starve to death and be homeless. Andy who
constantly tells me, “Hey, she’s ok.”

When James came along, we discovered at around two that he had autism. Much like
Hermione Granger, in any crisis, yours truly can be found in the library.

I read everything I could find about autism; I explored every treatment and therapy available. I
sought the advise of the best experts I could find. And I “got” James. I understood his stress
levels. I understood his non verbal communication. Andy loved (and loves) him every bit as
much as I do, but he does not connect with him as I can. And I can’t connect to my hippie,
bright blue haired daughter in the way he can.
Composition 4

My mother.

I feel close to my mother. As my father was working away from us and my brother too away
from us due to his place of study, it was only me and my mother who were always together.

I used to share all my school and college talks with her and she never used to judge me or find
faults with me as such for anything. She was supportive and more like a good friend to me.

Now that I'm married and away from her, I talk to her once a week and I feel good and happy.
There's always something peaceful about mothers that makes them special.

Composition 5

The family member that I am closes to is my sister. She has been my best friend for most of
our lives. When we hit our teen years we weren't as close. We just couldn't relate for some
reason. It even resulted in a fist fight at one point (this Is normal in our family lol that's just
how we handle things sometimes). After, I graduated high school we became close again and
we haven't seperated and our oldest kids love each other the same way since they are 4 months
apart and have been raised more like siblings than cousins. I wouldn't trade our friendship in
for anything.