My family consists of my mother, my father, and my two brothers. My parents immigrated to America in 1991 when my brother was 6 months old, and have lived in New Jersey ever since then. My father is a practicing physician in New York City, and my mother is a retired nurse. My parents are both very different in their parenting styles and approach to situations, but their differing personalities work together to provide a very well-balanced home for us. My mother is very talkative, emotional, and expressive. My father is very reserved, level-headed, and calm.

I have an older brother who is 28 and currently in medical school. I have a twin brother who is 21 and a senior at Lehigh University. My older brother and myself, similar to my mother, are both more emotional and talkative than my twin brother. My twin brother, similar to my father, is very reserved. Because my twin brother and I have such differing personalities, it is oftentimes hard for people to believe we are twins.

I consider these four people to be my family because they have lived and grown with me during my entire life. My parents have sacrificed more than I can even imagine to give me and my brothers the lives they could only dream of providing us. My parents and my older brother have served as role models for me throughout my life and are still the ones I go to for advice or comfort in stressful situations. My twin brother is my most unique family member because of the special connection we have. Although we are polar opposites in personality, hobbies, friends, etc., we have a unique understanding of each other that no one else has. We have a unique bond that is inexplicable, especially because we are so different. I have always been curious how someone who is so different from myself can possibly understand me so well, but I am certain we are not the only twins who have this special type of relationship. The most basic definition of a family is those who are related by blood and live together. I would consider my family to be a traditional family consisting of a married heterosexual couple with multiple children and a breadwinning husband. Because my family fits the “traditional family” definition, I have never been conflicted over the question: “who is your family?”. Although my family is traditional, I don’t think every family has to be, particularly because I find myself agreeing with the inclusionist ideals in Counted Out.