When you hear the word "family", what comes to mind? Do you think of your biological relatives? Do you think of an adopted family? Do you think of close friends? Do you think of other people that are in special groups with you? There is no perfect family. Even the Brady Bunch had its share of problems. As Coontz explained in her argument, television sitcoms like I love Lucy and Leave it to Beaver weren't the way families were in the 1950's. They were simultaneously advertisements, etiquette manuals, and how-to lessons for a new way of organizing marriage and child raising (59). Therefore, we should not use these programs to form our opinions on what the perfect family should look and act like.
             I believe each person has a different concept of what the word family means. The way a person defines family is relative to that person's surroundings and circumstances. In my opinion, family is not necessarily a biological relationship or the people you work with. This seems to be a fairly new outlook according to Graff who stated that until very recently, not love, not biology, but labor made a family (28). My family is made up of people who have similar interests, goals, and beliefs. The people that I consider to be in my family are my biological relatives, a few close friends, members of the church I attend, and teammates from sports that I'm involved with. Why do I consider these people to be my family? I feel that a true family is composed of people who display genuine concern and love for one another. The people that make up my family have a true concern and love for me. I also have the same feelings for them. In my opinion, members of a true family exhibit their genuine concern and love for the other members by demonstrating the following: unconditional love, selflessness, respect, and trust.
             I feel that sincere love for someone is the most important factor in establishing and maintaining a family...