Definition Essay

Meagan Wanzong
English 110 Sec. 004
Definition Essay


Family


Family, everyone’s families are a part of their everyday lives. Although they may not see them or talk to them daily, they are the ones that provide support, love, and security. Defining family is a hard task. However, looking at people who make up a family and what qualities a family has helps us to define what a family is.
When asking others who their family consists of, their answers varied greatly. Many people said that their family has a mother, a father, and siblings. Others said that their family had a single parent. Still, others said that their family was composed of aunts and uncles. Several people said that their family not only is composed of a mother, a father, and siblings, it also includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Asking people who makes up their family ended with a variety of descriptions. While talking with people it became obvious that the different type of people in one’s family does not necessarily matter it is the qualities they contain.
While trying to define family I realized that it was hard to do so in terms of whom one lives with. Instead, it is apparent that the words security, support, and love come to mind anytime the word family is said. If security, support, and love are evident then people can be considered a family. Who one lives with does not necessarily define family. The three qualities decide who is considered a family.
Security means that one feels protected and safe with those they consider family. A family protects those they care about when others try to harm a member of their family. The place where a family lives allows the members to feel comfortable being in their home and free from those who make them feel unsafe. Security can also be in terms of financial security. This means that a family is able to feed, cloth, and house themselves. These three essentials of life are valued as important components of security. Feeling secure means having a sense of safety, protection, and little financial worries.
Supporting members in one’s family is important to a family’s foundation. Supporting one another means that they are available whenever one would like to accomplish something in life or need help with a problem they have. If a family member is having trouble with a drug addiction and would like to stop his addiction, family members constantly provide ways to break the addiction. They offer their help, take the family member to a detoxification center, and always provide encouragement. When a family member says they would like to learn how to play the piano others within the family encourage them to learn to play. Families provide money for piano lessons and books. They shuttle the piano student to and from lessons each week. When teachers give recitals to showcase their students abilities, the family comes to every recital to support their piano student. Family members encourage the student to practice, drive them to and from lessons, recitals, competition, and listen to every piece of piano music that is played. Families encourage, support, and help any other family member that is in need.
While security and support are important components to a family, love is the key characteristic when defining family. Love is showing affection and having feelings towards another. Families possess strong feelings and emotions toward one another. These emotions come out in frustration, happiness, sadness, and many others. Without all of these feelings a family would not exist and they would not be able to support and provide security for those they love.
The word family means that love, support, and security are present in everyday lives. Family provides protection and safety from those who can harm. They provide financial means so one can accomplish their goals in life. Families encourage and help so that others are able to accomplish a goal or try to resolve a problem they are having. Above all, a family loves one another. Showing affection and having feelings towards others bring love to a family. A family is defined in the qualities they have; love, support, and security.