What's your definition of family? So I was inspired today to look up definitions of family and see if any of them all had a common element. So here's what I came up with!
1: Anthropologists say a culture's biological and marital kinship rules and patterns of
reciprocal obligations define family. (http://libertariannation.org/a/f43d1.html)
2: The collective body of persons who live in one house, and under one head or manager; a
household, including parents, children, and servants, and, as the case may be, lodgers or
boarders.
The group comprising a husband and wife and their dependent children, constituting a
fundamental unit in the organization of society. (http://www.brainyquote.com/words/fa/family163674.html)
3: A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their
children.
Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one
another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/family)
So these were the best one's I could find. So they all mention that you can be living together, and I believe that you could have some kinship. One does specifically address having a wife and husband unit, but the others don't. one even says boarder or servants can be deemed family! the one i lie the most is in number 3 where it talks about having a commitment between two or more people and sharing goals and values while residing in a commonplace.
Although these definitions are not all encompassing I think they are pretty open in some aspects to be applied to a variety of "family forms". These definitions give hoe to the idea that cohabits and couples can be classified as family. to me this is great! I know there are counter arguments about what family is, but coming form a non traditional family i am accepting of definitions that seem to be ambiguous in interpretation.
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I know most grandparents love their grandchildren to death. At times they might regret taking on the responsibility to care for them if they are ask to do that. Could you imagine some of them have to work 30 hours per week if they want to receive benefits? This is because of the definition of family and welfare policies which do not include grandparent as normal provider of grand children. Imagine you are between the ages of 60-70 and have a 4 years old child running around your legs; in addition to that you have to work 30 hours each week.
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