I celebrate Thanksgiving with my mom’s side of the family and at each Thanksgiving all our family members look forward to the delicious desserts my dad makes. My mother knew she married an amazing cook and with Thanksgiving playing such a big role in my culture, having this holiday to bond over the food that’s being placed in front of me reminds me to be grateful. My parent’s share a companionate marriage, based on love and trust. Seeing how my mom’s side of the family has welcomed my father into their family is something that I strive for in a marriage.

Ana, Lara. “Kinship.” Class lecture, Anthropology 161: World Cultures, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, November 1, 2017.