ATAT — yup, exactly, I was flummoxed at how Blondie describes it.

Your mention of the Greek meaning is exactly what I’ve grown up with as well (not just my family but broader norms).

And, while I understand that some of the cultural stuff is different in how it plays out (E.g. We still have a strong expectation of parents living under the same roof as the children even if there’s no specific need for it), I didn’t think the broader idea of what family means or what kids owe their parents etc is terribly different.

But, clearly from all you guys have said, Blondie’s kinda off on her own island — I wasn’t sure if that was the case because she actually told me once that in her culture (she specified “WASP” culture and made a distinction from her husband’s Italian roots), her behavior is the norm (and nor does she harbor any doubts about the validity of it!).