Many traditionalists like to make the point that an extended family isn't really a family like a traditional family of father, mother and son or daughter is because they weren't all brought up in the same local area or community throughout most of their lives. Those traditionalists have a very narrow point of view when it comes to the definition of family and they need to take a look around their surroundings to see that many families in today's society are very non-traditional.

It's actually quite common to walk around an apartment complex or neighborhood and see extended families that all live under the same roof. The definition of an extended family is quite straightforward and we thought that using the one the dictionary provides would be the easiest way to let you know what exactly an extended family means. The extended family definition in the dictionary is as follows:
1. A family group that consists of parents, children, and other close relatives, often living in close proximity.
2. A group of relatives, such as those of three generations, who live in close geographic proximity rather than under the same roof."

So there you have it. An extended family is one made up of not just parents and children but is a family that has many generations of family members and relatives that all live either under the same roof or within close proximity. An example of an extended family could be a home that consists of parents, children and grandparents. That's just one example. Another example of the extended family could see a house full of parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc.; kind of like a real life version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

The combinations for extended families are endless and all that really matters when you're talking about homes made up of extended families is that they are all one big, happy family! As long as everybody loves each other and is there to look out for one another, just like every family does, then the type of family one is a part of doesn't really matter. Just like how it doesn't matter how each member of an extended family came to find themselves under the same roof or that they might not all have the same eye doctors or dentists. Family is family, after all! This content was brought to you by WinItCar.com - where you can purchase a raffle ticket and might win your dream car!