Determining family structure and dynamics as well as defining the family is a complex process. Personally, I come from a very traditional family. Just like the assumptions made by the students in the article Defining Family: Young Adults' Perceptions of the Parent-Child Bond by Mellisa Holtzman (2008). This is what comes to mind when most people define family; a nuclear family, with married parents and biological children. However, a family is a complex system and can take many different forms. Today, in a world of “postmodern family,” the traditional lines of family structure are blurred. Children may come from various types of homes, or a couple, married or not, may choose not to have children and consider themselves a family. The roots of these modern families can come from ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, or even be seen as a kind of rebellion from traditional ways. Children may live in single-parent homes, which is an extremely common occurrence since the well-known divorce rate is around fifty percent. They may also live with same-sex parents, either as biological children of one partner or adopted by both. Additionally, the traditional married couple may choose to adopt locally or internationally, potentially mixing ethnic backgrounds within a single household. Regardless of the context of the new nuclear family, challenges and experiences follow similar patterns. This change in the structure and definition of family has become a very public issue in recent years. According to the US Census Bureau, a family is defined as "two or more people, including the head of the household, who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption, and who live together as one household" (www. census.gov). This legal...... middle of paper ...... to create dysfunctional environments. Whatever the common thread that ties an individual to their family, it must be recognized and supported, because it is what has shaped us all. Works Cited Family - Definition and more from the free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (nd). Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. Retrieved April 19, 2012 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familyFrequently Asked Questions - US Census Bureau. (nd). Census Bureau home page. Retrieved April 19, 2012 from http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/Income/about/faqs.htmlHoltzman, M. (2008). Defining family: Young adults' perceptions of the parent-child bond.Journal of Family Communication, 8(3), 167-185.Stephen, AO and Sabatelli, RM (2007). Family interaction: A multigenerational development perspective. (4 ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Edu.