Family relationships are a complicated thing. My family isn't the most traditional, as I am in closer in age to my aunt than my dad is to his sister.

My dad is a sibling of five from a mixed household with step- and half-siblings, but you'd never know they weren't blood-related, I've had multiple people comment that my brother looks like my father's stepdad, which is true. Blood isn't what creates a family, it's the bond you have that's like no other.

Blood isn't what creates a family, it's the bond you have that's like no other.

My family has a group chat through What's App including my grandmother, aunts and uncles, my father, me and my siblings. We communicate quite a lot, letting people know updates, happy birthday messages, and more. I love being part of this group because I believe it brings us even closer than we were. I'm so close to my four- and two-year-old cousins even though they live in Connecticut. Along with the group chat, my family celebrates every major holiday together, that's about fourteen people, with some created by us.

The first family tradition started many years ago, the annual sequence tournament! My dad creates brackets and teams are picked randomly. I look forward to this every year. For those who don't know, sequence is a board game mixed with cards. My family is very competitive. The winner and second place receive gift cards. I've brought many people to these games throughout the years that have come and go but family always stays.

Another newer tradition is our family's take on "twisted elephant." Created by one of my uncles and my father, our version of "twisted elephant" is a game show involving questions about family, riddles and so much more to determine who gets what gift. We go all out, with multiple monitors, scoreboard, and if needed, video chat.

My family is so welcoming to anyone I haven't met one person who doesn't love them.

We've also been through so much in the past couple of years. We lean on each other for support. My grandfather passed away due to brain cancer, and my dad's cousin to breast cancer. We've had other losses within the family, and sicknesses but also celebrations, and achievements, and new life.

I wouldn't trade my family for the world and want my brothers, and their children in the future to have what they have now. Family means so much to me and they truly taught me that.