Determining family structure and dynamics, as well as defining the family, is a complex process. Personally I come from a very traditionalist family. Just like the hypotheses put forward by 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 the family structure are blurred. Children can come from different types of families, or a couple, married or not, can choose not to have children and consider themselves a family. The roots of these modern families may stem from ethnic origins, sexual orientations, or even be seen as a sort of rebellion against traditional ways. Children may live in single-parent homes, which is far more common given that the well-publicized divorce rate is around fifty percent. They can also live with same-sex parents as biological children of one partner or adopted by both. Additionally, the traditional married couple can choose to adopt locally or internationally, potentially merging ethnic backgrounds into one family. Whatever the background of the new family unit, the challenges and experiences follow similar patterns. This change in the structure and definition of the family has become a very public issue in recent years. According to the US Census Bureau, a household 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 a single household” (www.census.gov). This legal... middle of paper... creates dysfunctional environments. Whatever thread connects an individual to their family, it should be recognized and supported as this is what has shaped us all. Works Cited Family - Definition and more from the free Merriam-Webster dictionary. (n.d.). Dictionary and Synonyms - Merriam-Webster Online. Retrieved April 19, 2012, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family Frequently Asked Questions - US Census Bureau. (n.d.). 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, A. O., & Sabatelli, R. M. (2007). Family interaction: A multigenerational developmental perspective. (4 ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Edu.