Family Bond

Often, the bond between parent and child is much deeper than words. When people live around their families for a large part of their lives, they seem to become indifferent to their family, and just treat them like people that they live with. For example, I know in much of my life, I would prefer to be with my friends over my family, and when I was with my family, I was far from enthusiastic. If they weren't my mom and my dad, most people observing our interactions would think we were distant acquaintances, and and my friends at school were the people who really cared about me. Looking back, with just over a year left with them, I regret how distant I always was from my parents, and how I treated them like strangers much of the time. Even though they were never as close to me as my friends were, there is something about a bond between a family that is different than friendship. I know my parents will stick with me and support me, no matter what. Funny enough, even though I felt much closer to my friends than family, it is my family that stuck around when my friends weren't there. In the excerpt, "Arm Wrestling with My Father", Manning talks about how "Love was a rare expression between us", but in his father's time of ominous bad news, Manning and his dad come together and are able to understand each other. This showcases the way that a family's bond isn't always clear, but in their time of need, they come together despite their differences, and they will always be there for each other.