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Between work and paying the bills, it’s easy to get lost in life and forget what it’s really all about. To quote a famous movie line, happiness is only real when shared, and who better to share it with than your family?
As a reminder that we’re nobody without the people around us, we’ve collected a list of wholesome, candid pictures where parents, children, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and even extended relatives realized just how grateful they were for each other.
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#1
Just Cherish The Ones You Love
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#2
This Photo Of My Mom And My Daughter Sharing A Special Moment Making Cupcakes Together Melts My Heart. I Hope It Helps Bring A Smile To Your Face
The main emotion in these pictures is reflected in quantitative findings, too.
In 2025, Gallup and the Aspen Ideas Festival surveyed more than 2,000 American adults about how they prioritize different things in life.
Half (49%) said family is the most important value to them, a nearly 20% lead from the next most important value, freedom (30%).
#3
Meer Seconds After She Said Yes
DennyS (denzoren) 2 hours ago
I mean, I can only hope for a reaction like this if it ever occurs in my life. That's awesome.
#4
Had A Big Chuckle At This Photo My Wife Snapped Of Our 3.5-Week-Old Daughter And Me During Our Match. How Are You Enjoying Building A Nerd?
When presented with a list of 23 values and asked to choose all that they consider important to them, more than 8 in 10 Americans selected respect, family, trustworthiness, and freedom as important values to them, and at least three-quarters said the same about kindness, health, integrity, happiness, and knowledge. However, when asked to identify the most important values, family ranked first across virtually all demographic groups.
#7
The Cycle Of Life In One Quiet Moment
#8
I Come Into The Living Room To See My Wife In Her Wedding Dress... Watching The Royal Wedding
Stephanie Did It 7 hours ago
Good for her! It's a shame that most bridal dresses are only worn once. Enjoy it!
The circle that you consider to be your family might look different from that of your friend’s.
Dawn O. Braithwaite, Ph.D., is a professor of communication emerita at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who studies families and close relationships. To determine who you include in your definition, she suggests considering:
- A person who is not a blood or legal relative
- Romantic partners who are cohabiting and unmarried
- The adopted child of LGBTQ parents
- Children who were once stepsiblings after the remarried couple's divorce
- A married couple without children
- A brother or sister who married outside the family’s religious faith
- A beloved family dog or cat
You might be surprised to learn how others respond to these different family types—but that’s the beauty of it. We choose our families ourselves.
#9
We Caught My Girlfriend's Niece Doing This At The Mall
#10
I Took My Dad To The Match Fulfilling A 20+ Year Promise
This past Sunday was the Gold Cup Mexico vs USA, my dad and I have been dreaming about going to one of the games, specifically with these two countries. We live in the US, but my parents were immigrants from Mexico. My dad told me when I was around 7-8 that he would take me to see a football match one day. Unfortunately, I lost him 4 years ago, and I told my family I was going to watch the game on Sunday (on TV).
I told my husband about the game and what I’ll be doing Sunday over the phone since he’s working out of town. I did tell my husband I was planning to do something for my dad’s birthday on Monday, which was to eat some pizza and watch his favorite movies.
Not even 20 minutes after we hung up the phone, he took it upon himself and searched for where the game was going to be held. We live around the Dallas area, and the game was going to be held at the NRG Stadium in Houston, which is like a 3-4 hour drive. My husband told me to go to the match instead. He convinced me by saying, “I will be fulfilling the promise, and you’ll be celebrating his birthday by doing something he loved doing with you.”
I’m tearing up writing this, but honestly, it was a great experience. It felt like my dad was there. Plus, Mexico winning it was so emotional, and I just wished my dad was here to watch it with me.
“It is not unusual to hear ... calls to return to ‘traditional’ family values,” Braithwaite says.
“Perhaps family scholar Stephanie Coontz put it best in her book, The Way We Never Were. She stressed that an idealized view of the ‘American family’ we should return to never existed in the first place.”
Unsurprisingly, the same encouragement is going around in other countries and cultures as well.
#12
My Wife And I Take A Picture On Our Anniversary Holding Last Year's Photo. Seven Years Married Today
#13
Our Piglet (Tan Girl) Had Surgery On Her Stomach For Swallowing A Bit Of Corn Cob She Found
She isn't allowed to run, jump in and out of bed or couch, or be uncooped. So, the family decided to heal together, so she's not alone.
#14
My Great Grandma On Her 98th Birthday. My Family Brings Her Change All The Time Because She Absolutely Loves Putting Them In Her Piggy Bank
Well, this year she got cash for her piggy bank - look at that face. She is adorable.
“In reality, there are multiple ways to be a family,” Braithwaite says. “It is easy to see those with biological ties (blood, birth) or legal ties (marriage, adoption) as family. However, this would leave out many ... [important] relationships.”
We should be very mindful about how we talk to people who want us to have a very specific understanding of who is allowed and who is prohibited to be our faimly.
“Private and public debates over what is a legitimate family has the potential to rob certain families of acceptance and support and can put them in danger as well.”
#15
I Let My Wife Dip Me At Our Wedding
At the last moment, my uncle (Minister) surprised us and told my wife she could now kiss her husband… and I loved it.
#16
A Year Ago, We Adopted Our Autistic Son From Korea. At A Recent Wedding, He Spontaneously Took My Grandmother’s Hand And Led Her On A Walk
He did that for the first time ever! She called it one of her “treasured moments".
#17
When Your Japanese Father-In-Law Gets Adopted By Your Peruvian Familia
In addition to our own personal reasons for defining family, Braithwaite highlights that there are also very practical policy-related issues to consider.
For instance, after the September 11 destruction of New York’s World Trade Center and other sites, who should have been counted as family of those who perished and given financial support?
Who should be regarded as family and allowed to visit a person in hospice or a nursing home? Who is entitled to receive a gift during Christmas?
How we interact with, show empathy for, and treat our families is an important life choice.
#19
Family Christmas Picture Photobombed
Braithwaite is one of the current authors of the original family communication textbook. It uses a broad and inclusive definition of family as “networks of people who share their lives over long periods of time, bound by ties of marriage, blood, law, or commitment, legal or otherwise, who consider themselves as family, and who share a significant history and anticipated future of functioning as a family.”
This definition is guided by a simple principle: If people consider themselves a family and function as one, then they are a family. And looking at the pictures on this list, it’s hard to argue with that.
#22
My Brother-In-Law Helping His Buddy Dobby Look For The Brain Cell
#23
6:04 AM, My Wife Didn’t Wake Up To Feed Her. We’ve Had An Automatic Feeder For 6 Months Now
No, despite having an 11-pound cat covering her face, the wife did not wake up.
#24
His Baby Wears A Head-Shaping Helmet So He's Got The Whole Family Wearing Helmets Now
#25
After Beating Cancer And Having Back Surgery, My Mom Is Finally Able To Go On Roller Coasters Again Pain-Free
She was even able to talk my dad into going with her (a small miracle in itself). This may be my favorite moment of our family reunion at Walt Disney World.
#27
My Dad Does The Fake Handshake Routine Every Chance He Gets. My Brother-In-Law Finally Got Him Back
A little extra backstory I just learned from my sister this morning: Josh, the groom, did this on the spot to lighten the mood when he saw my dad tearing up.
#28
Father-In-Law Just Sent Me This From Vegas. Mother-In-Law Told Him, "We Loved The Fast And The Furious"
#29
My Sister And Brother-In-Law Won A Trip To Iceland And Left Yesterday. My Mom And I Are Watching Their 6-Month-Old Son
This was the first email/status update we sent them.
Ariadne Toms 3 hours ago
Wow. It always boggles my mind that ppl can do this…like in theory it’s totally normal….
#30
My Son Beat Cancer (Stage IV NB) And Finally Made It To Fenway! It Was One Of The Best Moments Of My Life, And One I Didn't Know If I'd Ever Get To See
#31
Put On My Dad Uniform Today And Began The Journey Of Fatherhood! I Had To Use My Dad's Actual Shoes Cause My Wife Wouldn’t Let Me Buy Dad Shoes
#34
My Son On His First Fishing Trip With His Uncle
#36
My Grandma Has A Ring That Is Her Most Prized Posession. She's Always Said One Day She Would Pass It Down To Me
Now, I am the first person in our family to get a master's degree, and as I lined up for graduation, she handed me my own... Identical to hers and told me she was proud of me.
#37
Heartbroken, She Couldn’t Win The Trex In The Claw Machine. Uncle Max Went Back The Next Day And Won Her The Entire Family
#38
Had My Dad Watch My Daughter For The Afternoon. This Is How I Found Them
If you look closer, you’ll see the cat and little dog are also knocked out.
#39
And That's When I Knew My Son Was Done With Taking Family Photos
#40
My 2 Daughters First Word Was The Dogs Name
My first daughter's (she is now 2 and a half) first word was my mum's dog's name, Martha. Yesterday I was having a coffee with my mum when my 1-year-old baby turned to the dog, stretched her arm, and said with intent, Martha, then repeated it. Then the dog came, and she cuddled her. I love that Martha the golden retriever won their hearts. The picture is older, and the baby is very young there, but it shows their bond starting.
#41
Just My Mom And Aunt Doing Family Things In Wales
#42
I Let My Niece Do Make-Up On Me. Yep, I'm Her Favorite Uncle For Sure
#44
My Boyfriend Only Gets To See His Family Dog Once Or Twice A Year
#45
My Wife Says Our Dog And I Look The Same While Napping
#46
My Wife Loves To Take A Nap Whenever Possible. Her Mom And Grandma Came To Town To Visit And Now I Can See Where She Gets It From
#48
My Wife Always Dreamed Of A Convertible, Now She Finally Bought It. First Ride
#49
Just Donated My Kidney To My Dad
He actually has 4 kidneys now. This is his second transplant.
#50
Playing Hide And Seek With A Toddler Is Always A Thrill
#57
I Married Into This Awesome Family This Year!! You Can Probably Tell Which One Is Me
#60
When A Family Argument Gets Out Of Hand
#61
Father Son Bonding
While the father was actually fishing, the son innocently held a piece of wood which didnt even have a string attached to it, however, he seemed to be putting in a lot of effort. Wanted to keep it for myself, but it's too wholesome a picture not to share with the world.
#62
Wife Wanted A Family Portrait For Christmas. This Is What She Got. Face Swap
#64
Even Though I'm 21, This Is What I Get When My Dad Makes Me Lunch
So, my dad has been making these for me for as long as I can remember. We call her Mona, and she changes a lot. His favorite was when I was about 14, and he used a carrot for a nose and put dip on the end. When he gave it to me, he said, "Sorry about the snots. Couldn't get her to use a Kleenex."
Never fails to make me smile.
#66
She Can't Understand Why She's Loosing
#67
When The Waiter Accidentally Spills An Entire Glass Of Ice Water Down Your Back And Your Brother-In-Law Just So Happens To Have His Camera To Capture It
#68
Moments After Santa Got Kicked In The Privates. Santa Had A Vasectomy Last Week. I’m Santa
We’re in our 30s, I colored my beard grey and had aging makeup.
#69
Sober For A Year. Boyfriend's Family Finally Accepted Me And Invited Me To Their Thanksgiving. I Feel Like I Have A New Family
#70
My 98-Year-Old Grandpa Faked Renewal Of His Driving Licence. Drove Around For 3 Days Tormenting The Whole Family Before Revealing Prank
#71
Missing My Family Wish We Could All Get Together Like Last Year
#72
Matching Sweater Boys! I Made My Husband And My Cat Matching Argyle Sweater Vests
These are self-drafted (my second and third time making up my own patterns). The human sweater took about 6 weeks, and the cat sweater took 12 days.
#73
My Cousin Made Jell-O Shots That Looked Like Deviled Eggs And She Was So Proud Of Them
The whole family ate one, and they were delicious!
#75
My Wife's Halloween Costume
#77
My Kid Sleeps Like He Fell Down In Family Guy
#78
Left This For My Family To Find On Rapture Day
They won't fall for it, but it's good for a laugh.
#79
I Told My Wife No More Cats Or Cat Paraphernalia… She Found Her Work Around
I fell in love with a cat lady 14 years ago, and she showed me the love of thrifting. She has since opened her “Cat Lady Corner” at an antique mall where she displays all her rescues.
#81
My Dad Gave Up The Rights To My Brother Twenty Years Ago. Well, I Found Him At A Gas Station Six Months Ago. Since Then We’ve Become Best Friends
Well, my dad had me at a young age and then remarried. About two years later, my brother and then he and my brother's mom had a terrible Divorce. Her family was rich and threatened to take him to court until he gave up the rights so that he could be adopted by the guy who ultimately ended up adopting him.
Well, I always knew about him my whole life. So I always looked for him online when I had some free time. I didn’t really know what his last name was; no one really told me. I did that for years until I found his grandpa, grandma, and his mom. I messaged all of them, but only his grandpa got back to me. We tried to meet up a few times, but our schedules never really worked out, so I kinda gave up and let it rest.
About three years later, I got a new job. I didn’t really know where any good food places were, so I went to the gas station I knew about, and as I was walking in, this guy looked like an exact replica of my dad when he was younger. I tried nonchalantly to get a good look at him. I kept trying to build up the courage to go ask his name, but I chickened out and walked to my car. He started walking out at the same time, and I told myself, now or never. I asked his name and explained who I was to him. He didn’t seem to believe me, but gave me his number anyway.
Well, about four hours later, I got a call from him, and he said: “I thought you were some crazy dude that knew my older brother passed away and made up a story. I talked to my parents, and they confirmed it, so I guess you aren’t that crazy”. The rest is history.
We started hanging out and talking. We now hang out regularly, and we are even starting a business together.
#84
My Friend Wanted Her Family To Take Her To An Art Museum For Mother's Day
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