When I was growing up, I was somewhat of a celebrity for having 4 siblings, which was considered a large family. Today, if that's all we were counting, I would be even more famous - no one has more than three kids, it seems.

But these days, the family is so much more than just a collection of siblings. The family, as we know it, has expanded in all directions... People tell me of how involved they are with adopted kids, the ex's kids, the former in-law's second cousin-once-removed. We had dinner last night with our (not by blood-related) niece and nephews, and their two moms (now divorced), one mom's new boyfriend, her ex-husband and his daughter (by his second wife), their uncle (by blood), two more aunts (not by blood but by choice), and a grandmom. I think those kids will have to make diagrams to explain all these people. But maybe it needs no explanation - we find ourselves in the family by coincidence and then stay by choice.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 2:19 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.