Larkin hesitated, unsure of how to express the depth of her feelings. "It's like I've found a part of myself there, Mom," she said finally. "And someone I care about deeply."

. Once dominated by the "evil stepparent" stereotype, recent films increasingly focus on the "found family" and the slow, often messy process of forging bonds through choice rather than just blood. I. The Shift from Archetype to Authenticity

Validation & normalization