What's family anyway?

Family is an odd concept. Usually you would think it was one of the most normal things in the world but there are so many cases where thats not true. One of the most common reasons is because of divorce. I understand why we allow divorce, you can't force people to stay together, but in some cases a marriage is rushed into at a much to young age and they have children. It's when children come into the picture that it is really a problem as the relationship is affecting someone elses life and happiness other than your own. This is why it sometimes angers me when parents don't really consider the consequences for their children when they get a divorce and when some re-marry.
Personally my parents are divorced and both are re-married. I prefer my Dad, I realise that you shouldnt favour one parent over the other but I do. In fairness to them I can't even see how or why they got together in the first place as they are polar opposites. But the same goes for my step-parents, I like my step-mum and do not like my step-dad. Yes the parents have the right to be happy, but so do the children in the 'best years of their life' (which I think is a bit of a lie). As a result it will affect me for the rest of my life and mean that I will never really experiance what it's like to be in a 'family'. I feel like a stranger in my own home. Like I can't act how I want to incase I'm screamed at for it which is often. They seem to forget that I am now 18 and have changed a lot since I was 10, my opinion actually matters, if you don't listen to those sometimes then you're going to lose me. This is the opposite in my Dad's house, my opinion is valued in that house and I'm actually proud of what he has achieved, he does a lot with his life and is highly creative which I really admire. The things I value are not what my Mum values which is where are problems come from, some of the time anyway.
This makes me look forward to University more, I'll miss my younger brother since we are very similar as I've been more of the role model than my mum, but at Uni I can do the things I want to and act how I want to. My life will become my own and it will become a new home with new people which is something to look forward to. I can fully see what I am capable of in my own environment after I've got rid of those shakles round my ankles. I think it'll make me a much happier person than I am now. So it's a very good thing and I'm glad for it.

Sorry for the slight rant, but it needed to be written somewhere. :)