A kinship is a tie that connect people together, it is built on the biological and social links between people. It is a network of bonds between an individual, their blood relations, marriage relations and relations through adoption. There are two basic kinds of kinship ties. Those based on blood that trace descent and those based on not blood related ties such as marriage and adoption.

My kinship networks are my close family and my extended family. Since the passing of my mother I have lived with my grandmother in her house and if there is one thing you should know about living at your grandmother's  house is that it is everyone's house. So practically I grew up in a house full of aunts, uncles and cousins very loud but very loving home. My network consists of my entire blended family.

I relate so much with them because of the family dynamic we have, surrounded by love and family values. The kinship system we have provide each person a defined role in the family. We support each other and value our culture very much. Life lessons are passed through laughs in the dinner table and life just seems worth living at that very moment. I relate softly with my aunt because of her motherly instincts and how she reminds me of my mother. In my kinship with my grandmother I find comfort in her softness and kindness  and relate to how she didn't allow life to define her journey. My extended family then extends my perspective on how I view the world. 

Through my kinship with them I can see different personality dynamics and how we all just blend together through genetics and mostly love. The exchanges that take place through them have molded me into the young woman I am together. Kinships are very important because they help maintain unity and harmony.