Leto

Please my dear one don't read this... But no I can't imagine any of my in-laws as "family", although my husband' parents would like me to call them "Mom" and "Dad" (I've got my own set of those thank you, but no thanks). I can't even use the familiar speech form with them ("tu" instead of "vous" as "you" translation), not certainly calling them this way. Beside the rest of the in-laws are just polite with me (and each other for that matters) so no way I consider them as family.

On the other side, I've lost my grand-parents quite young and considered my cousins'grand-father as mine (including him in any of our "family" event and of course my wedding). And he treated me as such, was a very nice person.

Princess Ivy

it's a pity that sociological definitions are so narrow. in fact that is the point that i picked up in my essay, that i'm not prepared to talk about the future of the family, unless it's defined :smilie:

Allanon

my main family is my wife, son, mum+dad, wife's mum+dad.

but my FAMILY is a lot different, i have uncles, aunts and grandparents. nieces + nephews, but my real FAMILY is my family on top line plus my dads mates they've been my second dads through my whole life, they will always be there, then there's my unofficial brother, hes great the best man at my wedding and my best mate. i think my family is just the people aruond me who i feel most comfortable with, people who can be friend as much as relative, and relative as much as friend.

take my dad for instance. i used to work for him and he knows everything about me. we train together, drink together go places together and mostly just talk to each other with honesty and respect.

thats my family. :biggrin: