I hate when companies use ‘family’ to mean only if you have children

[Newchangename]

I hate it when people use ‘starting a family’ to mean having children. Or when places do ‘family tickets’ or ‘family passes’ and you need to have a child to qualify.

Why are DH and I less of a family because we choose not to have children? It’s hurtful to my friend who desperately tried to have children for years and couldn’t. She doesn’t need a reminder that her family is incomplete/ non- existent because they couldn’t

So having children magically turns your spouse into 'family'?

No, not buying that.

My DH is my DH. I'm not related to him and we do have children.

In the eyes of the law, you're family if you're related by blood or you're married. Unmarried partners aren't family.

Otherwise, it really is about emotional ties. I consider my best friends to be my family, as well as my child and spouse. My blood siblings, I don't.