I read these articles about the dismal nature of dating for 20-somethings, and thankfully I'm older and I just can't relate to any of them. EVERY relationship around me defies superficial ideologies. The people of all ages around me are building...

-blended families with multiple generations,

-queer families,

-chosen families of friends/"framilies",

-adoptive and step families,

-families of happenstance,

-polyamorous families,

-families built through the crucible of serious illness

Modernity has allowed us to form relationships and families in so many interesting and beautiful shapes now!

Those of us who aren't upper-middle class, single, young people don't really have the luxury of following some old school ideal about what our relationships are "supposed to" look like. Maybe time disabused us of our Disney dreams, but I see adults around me relating in ways that work for us as individuals, even if we have to make it up as we go along.

If you trust the internet, your hopes for relationships are truly bleak. But down here in real life, with the phones put away, we just love who we love. And most of us are grateful when we can find and sustain it—regardless of the package it comes in.