Two parents. One or more children. Dad worked outside of home. Mom stayed home to take care of children. Nice house. White picket fence. That's the "perfect" family right?

Not in my case.

I'm sure there are many of you that are in similar cases like me. Our families are not "perfect" to the American standard, but they are by far perfect in our own eyes.

Growing up in a divorced family is not always what it seems to be. Yes, there are two Christmas's, two birthday's, two summer vacations, and even two bedrooms. How could someone not enjoy it when there is double of everything? But along with two of everything, time spent with your parents/family get cut in half. Seeing your dad every day goes to four times a week, then every other weekend, and eventually not at all. That is the part that some people don't see about divorce.

But, I am not here to bash on that. Experiencing a divorce first-hand in a family changes those affected in both ways good and bad.

It makes you independent. You grow up doing everything on your own. You learn to count on only yourself, and not to rely on others.

It makes you fear commitment. You're double thinking and triple thinking everything with the same guy, trying to make sure you wouldn't ever have to be put in that situation.

I am closer with my mother. I would not trade my mom for anyone in the world. Seeing what she has been through and still so strong, I wish I could be half the lady she is when I grow up.

I am closer with my siblings. All siblings have that special bond, but that bond becomes stronger when you're traveling back and forth between houses and sitting there with each other while everything else seems wrong.

But there are also a lot of things that you miss out on when in a divorced family.

Not being a daddy's girl. I guess you can say I am definitely my momma's girl when it comes to things.

No father-daughter dances. I mean I do not like to dance anyway but maybe if I had the chance to go to them as a child I would like to dance now.

Tough times make tough people and those of divorced families are definitely tough.