FOX 11 parenting contributor: Mother's Day and evolution of the 'modern family'

LOS ANGELES (FOX 11) - Mother's Day is all about celebrating mom, right? Well, not so fast.

As the face of the American family continues to change, so do holidays and celebrations -- including Mother's Day.

Decades ago the definition of the "typical" family was mom, dad, and two siblings or something close to that. Now, the "modern family" is something very different.

In the 1970's the family unit began to change with single parent families, then blended families came into the mix. Moving forward we saw interracial marriages/interracial adoptions. The "traditional" family began to expand.

Fast forward now to shows like Modern Family and all the social media platforms out there. We can see the evolution. Same sex families, IVF, adoption and transgender families.

According to Dr. Stacy Wadlington, a licensed clinical psychologist, practicing in Pasadena:

"The face of the typical family has evolved- and most likely will continue to do so - but the role of the parent to promote and support the physical , social and emotional development of a child has never waivered. The way that Mother's Day is celebrated will vary by cultural / religious beliefs traditions , etc but the sentiment will always be one of gratitude and love."

According to Dr. Larry Ganong, co-chair of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Missouri:

"Children need at least one adult who looks out for their interests (safety, security, food, etc.) and who loves them. If they have that, they have a chance to do well in life. Children in all types of family structures are doing well - poverty and family conflicts have the most detrimental effects on children, far more than does the type of family in which they reside."

Check out Dr. Ganong's latest research on family here.

You can find Fox 11 Parenting Contributor Donna Tetreault on Twitter @donnatetreault and Facebook.

Copyright 2016 FOX 11 Los Angeles: Download our mobile app for breaking news alerts or to watch FOX 11 News | Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Be a citizen journalist for FOX 11 and get paid - download the Fresco News App today.