“a Traditional Family” by Calvin Trillin

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Nathalie Eugene EN101 Professor N. Sforza 01/21/2014 “I JUST FOUND OUT that our family is no longer what the Census Bureau calls a traditional family, and I want everyone to know that this is not our fault.”(582, 1) In this excerpt from the book “A Traditional Family” By Calvin Trillin. The author here is talking in first person narrative. Throughout the book the author is talking about his feelings towards his family no longer included in the world’s census bureau about being a traditional family. His family no longer qualifies because the official definition of a traditional American family is to have two or more parents and one or more children under age eighteen (582, 5). They no longer qualify because his daughter has just turned nineteen. It’s ironic they are not considered a traditional family on paper buy in (582,3) some find them rather traditional. The author’s attitude seems to be frustrated but also in a relaxed tone. He doesn’t seem so angry that his youngest daughter is making him unqualified. It’s hilarious how he did everything in his power to keep her from turning her age. He even resulted into trying a freezing process that might prevent her from growing. Would I result in doing that? Maybe not! A lot of parents in his case in my opinion would have done or though the same. In the entire author seems to be in an accepting mood. He feels traditional just as any American family would feel’s. He even does traditional family customs like the regular outing’s families have and shares the values as well even consulting his wife in his decision making. He is traditional.
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