The moment we realise we are pregnant follows the darker, larger news: the realisation of loss. K is in violent, harrowing pain and a pregnancy test confirms the best – and worst – news all at once. After years of trying for a baby, the silver lining flickers past as we swing between the comfort of achievement and no comfort at all.

This year has been chaotic for many people. Tensions are running high, a lot of anger everywhere, and to top it off, it's an election year. I'm not a person who knows a lot about politics, and I prefer to keep my political views to myself. I don't vote for any party. I prefer to study what each candidate has to offer and use my gut instinct to comply with my civil duty of voting, and that is about it. But what I've seen this year among family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers regarding politics and COVID-19 is just atrocious.

Hi everyone! My name is Felicia, im 24 years old. On May 27th 2018, during a warm night of my families friends event I invited 2 friends, but one came by first we was just hanging out as usual and getting to know each other. He was pretty cool, laid back, he was African American (Haitian) a big muscular man wearing a blue or black collar shirt blue jeans, a gold watch, driving a grey dodge charger. Anyways an hour later, after getting to know each other, we made out, things got a little heated sexually my pants came off, he unzipped his pants and things went on from there. Afterwards, another hour or so went by he left, then my friends with benefit came, I left my family for a bit and made love with my friend with benefit named Quinn, he was also African american (Haitian), a little bit muscular, tall, nice shave cut, light skinned drives a burgundy or maroon Chevy Suv, anyways we made love for an hour or so, then he took me home just because I found out my family left me behind 😂. After a few days went by the day my menstrual cycle was supposed to come and at that time I was living in Clearwater, Florida with my family I was 23 years old at that time, the next couple of days went by I was walking my Chihuahua Paphilion mix and I felt like I was sick and vomit in the grass, I couldn’t afford a pregnancy test at the time nor did I have money. I was about 4-5 weeks pregnant when I found out. Everything went down hill, but at the same time I was blessed, nobody in my family noticed my baby bump, my older brothers wife was pregnant so I was fine with it. Weeks went by, when my mom was having a little cook out party at the apartment, hours went by everyone left I was doing dishes, my mom noticed my baby bump and she was mad at me, then my older brother started to get mad at my little brother the next evening, then kicked me out so i end up living with a friend of mine who now was currently my boyfriend, we started dating around December 25th, 2018 of Christmas Eve. So 2 months later living with my boyfriend, February 4th, 2019 during the Superbowl game, and making love with my amazing boyfriend G, around 4 o’clock in the morning, I had a contraction took a warm shower to make sure my back doesn’t ache blah blah blah, that didn’t work, so I woke mu boyfriend up I said “Hey babe! Can you call 911? I think Im going to have a baby” he said “Yeah, make sure you let me know when you’re in the room so I can come after work to meet the baby” 15 minutes went by ambulance came to get me , I said “Okay, I’ll call you later.” (he also knows its not his) 6 hours went by, the doctors and nurses came to check my cervix and BOOM! Next thing you know my water broke its time to go in labor, I have been pushing for 30 mins, my beautiful daughter came out a little premature at 36-38 weeks, she was 5Lb 10Oz, born at 10:40AM. She was a mixture of Cambodian and Haitian. Everything went well, she was healthy at least all I cared about and my boyfriend, his mother came to see the baby. I was exhausted, but I was so excited and sweaty to hold her in my arms. 2 or 3 days went by I get to take her home and that’s how my life is changed.

Starting a family is one of the greatest things awaiting many people, but doing so requires meeting a number of criteria. All of the amenities need to be met for your entire family, starting with a steady income and a roof over their heads. Here are some tips that can help you navigate this potentially tumultuous life even in the best way possible.

Image Source: Envato

I saw all of the windows open in my browser, and it was like watching an ice cream cone melt. The recipe for the chocolate babka I wanted to try. The pumpkin shaped hand-pies for a Halloween themed dinner.

Vacation is something we dream about all year. The beach, slow mornings, new memories and experiences, sunshine…and family. Have you ever realized how each family member has their own agenda for vacation? Those different agendas often clash and when we’re not in the heat of the moment, it’s pretty funny to look back and reflect on. That’s why I wrote this sketch. I was laughing while writing this, because it reminded me my family and myself so much! I’m sure you can relate to one of these personalities (if not all of them), and can name which family member belongs in which category.

When I made the decision to postpone preschool for my twins after COVID-19 hit, I was definitely overcome with a mix of frustration and happiness. I’ve truly loved teaching Ames and Joules new things at home, but—to be totally honest—it can be a little tiring when there’s nobody else to help. For the past ~3 years, the twins have been at home with me. They’ve never been to a mother’s day out, daycare, or any type of organized schooling during the week. We tentatively plan to put the twins in preschool this next Spring 2021—but, until then, I am doing what I can to keep Ames and Joules learning at home. That said, through research online, reading reviews, and talking with other moms, I’ve found some very useful educational material to ease the process of keeping my twins learning at home in the interim.

It is difficult to celebrate a heritage that is constantly rejecting you. You never felt Dominican enough. You always felt a need to overcompensate for some of your “undominican” behavior. You took classes to learn how to dance bachata and salsa. Still, your latinadad was constantly in question. You don’t look Dominican. You don’t sound Dominican. Those words were often spoken to you.

For my entire life people have always been surprised to learn that I speak Spanish. This is typically followed with something along the lines of "No way, you don't look Spanish at all." I know, right? The blonde hair, blue eyes, it always throws people off. This never bothered me, in fact, quite the opposite. From a young age speaking Spanish was like my secret superpower. I'd love to surprise people with a simple "gracias!" or casually dropping in to conversations in Spanish. On a few occasions I've actually pulled out my cell phone to have a pretend conversation with "Papá" when unsuspecting victims were saying things they probably would have preferred I didn't understand.

It was never an unusual sight to see my great grandmother handing out homemade papa rellena to everyone in her Queens neighborhood. The community would pitch in money to buy bulk foods like potato, rice, meat just so they can give it to her to cook it. You may have even seen my grandmother running her own concession stand in the busy bustling streets of Puerto Rico where she would put her own touch on pastelillos that would make anyone stop dead in their tracks just to taste. When I started my own food journey through The Bronx Vegan, it may have been a surprise to my family that I was taking on a new approach to food but when you look at the dedication and passion for food that runs through my family history, this work really isn’t so surprising at all.

When I was around four-years old, my family and I moved into a rented home in El Paso, Texas, a city a mere mile or so north of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Having moved to El Paso from Juárez two years prior, I was introduced at an early age to the binational, bicultural, and bilingual phenomenon that people living in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez are accustomed to.

Starting a family is one of the greatest things awaiting many people, but doing so requires meeting a number of criteria. All of the amenities need to be met for your entire family, starting with a steady income and a roof over their heads. Here are some tips that can help you navigate this potentially tumultuous life even in the best way possible.

Image Source: Envato

I found myself standing in the bathroom of the house I shared with my best friend early one morning, in late November 2008. I was brushing my teeth, trying like hell to ignore the pregnancy test on the counter next to me. I counted down the minutes as I brushed, anxiety churning, my stomach in knots.

Well, it has been a very eventful year, to say the least.

I'm not sure when exactly it happens or specifically remember when the transition happened but why do our kids especially my little boys, need to grow up so fast? Someone once told me when my kids were little: "The days are long, but the years are short." That quote resonated through me and actually made my arm hairs stand up. I didn't know why at the time I was so moved by those words, but now looking back, I get it.

She has died twice in her lifetime. Once was when her 30 year old son took his own life almost 7 years ago and the second time was today, as she watched her 23 year old walk out the door. The honesty in her words and sorrow in her heart had placed a wedge between them for over 3 years now and today, the umbilical cord that has held them so close for so long was severed. She couldn’t be silent. You would think she would’ve learned by now just say nothing. He doesn’t understand how when he hurts, she hurts. When he is happy, she is happy. When he is depressed and has anxiety issues...she feels it too. It is a mother/child bond. Maybe not for everyone but most certainly for her. She feels all that her boys feel. The ups, the downs and the in betweens. The joy of their loves and the disappointments of their failures.

It was early March 2020, about one week into the CV-19 lockdown, when I heard the news of my Great Aunt's passing. She was indeed, at 104 years old, more than ready, and had lived her life to the fullest extent. She passed peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by those nearest and dearest. How apropos, for she was more than deserving to not suffer long. I cannot imagine a kinder, gentler spirit, which shone where ever she went. She herself had never married or had children of her own, but was a great aunt to over fifty, and a great great aunt to dozens more. For most of her life she lived with her sister, my Oma, Henriette, and brother-in-law, my Opa, Corniellius. A temporary visit to England from her native Holland at the start of the occupation, led to an unexpected, permanent stay. She was employed as a bookkeeper for Rodwell Nursery, my Opa's expansive horticulatural business. She also became a tremenoudous support for my Oma, who mothered eight children. Loes outlived both Cornelius, who passed in 1988, and Henriette, who passed in 1996. I once asked her what her secret to longevity was, and without hesitation declared "never getting married", with a smile.

I’ve got a burning question that I can’t ask my parents because it would hurt their feelings. It’s the kind of question kids shouldn’t ask their parents without a darn good reason. I’ve got lots of reasons but they’re all jumbled up in my head like a tangled ball of string, so I’m not sure if they’re darn good or just stupid. I asked my brother Dave once but he just glared at me like I was a total dork and told me to get the hell out of his room. He’s nineteen this year and going away to college in the fall . . . I’m not sure if I’m going to miss him or not.

The Family Tree of Flowers Tattoo

This year has been chaotic for many people. Tensions are running high, a lot of anger everywhere, and to top it off, it's an election year. I'm not a person who knows a lot about politics, and I prefer to keep my political views to myself. I don't vote for any party. I prefer to study what each candidate has to offer and use my gut instinct to comply with my civil duty of voting, and that is about it. But what I've seen this year among family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers regarding politics and COVID-19 is just atrocious.

In the 0400 hour, on September 19, 2020, I put my 8 month old baby down to bed for the umteenth time this early morning. Although I love all the little moments with our baby at times I feel like I lose myself. This time I thought I felt awake enough to go outside for a few minutes and sit in the rocking chair and feel the cool morning air. Have a quiet peaceful moment.

Liza:

If you are not a parent yet, or have just started having a family. When you hear the word grandparent, what comes to mind? I'm not going to enjoy being a grandparent, that'll mean I am old. I used to think the same way, until I had them

We all have that one meal that brings back memories or that we only like when cooked by a specific person. The meal that you were obsessed with as a kid and if your parents let you it is the meal you would have picked to eat every day. The meal you would either never get sick of or will eat until you became sick of it. The meal that comes to mind for me is my grandmother’s macaroni and cheese with ham. It was my favorite meal as a child and when I eat it now as an adult it brings back so many memories. It is simple and not the most unique meal, but as a child, it was the best meal I had ever eaten.

Pecan Pie was one of my Mémère’s all-time favorite holiday desserts.

The moment we realise we are pregnant follows the darker, larger news: the realisation of loss. K is in violent, harrowing pain and a pregnancy test confirms the best – and worst – news all at once. After years of trying for a baby, the silver lining flickers past as we swing between the comfort of achievement and no comfort at all.

After leaving my mom, everything was different. I felt a bigger void than the one that was already there. I missed her now more than ever. Since I left I felt like we talked every week, instead of every month. It was great to hear her voice, and just hear her say I love you. About a month later, my mom made arrangements with my aunts to have me travel to Vegas for Thanksgiving with her side of the family. Thankfully, my aunts agreed. The plan was to have me spend Thanksgiving with my dad's side of the family and travel to Vegas the following day to spend the weekend with my moms side of the family. I was excited and beyond grateful, I was going to see her again, sooner than I thought... OR so I thought.

The year I turned 16...

For centuries, the month of October has been marked as a month set aside for the observing dark traditions and mysterious rites. Candles have been lit, gourds have been carved, spirits have been communed with, and many a stormy, overcast evening has been spent chanting incantations to appease the spirits.

3 Fun Activities You Can Do With the Whole Family!

Climate change-let’s make this world a better

Hi my name is Keshia, I was born in a place called Guyana. I am 31 years old, my birthday is December 23. I'm a Christian, I'm a wife and mother to 4 beautiful children. Me and my husband have been married for 13 years December 2, 2020. My kids are 11,7,4 and 1. I am a house wife and a stay at home mom. I like to draw, paint, sing, dance, watch movies and tv shows, play video games and crochet. I don't have friends like i would like to have but i have people i talk to from playing video games. Life is hard, being a wife and a husband is hard because you don't just have u to think about, but I manage with the help of my husband, mom and the smiles from my kids face. I became a mom when i was 20 years old but got pregnant when i was 19. I would have 6 kids now but due to circumstances i only have 4. Me and my husband went from working to being homeless to living in a shelter with out at the time daughter. we had family but didn't always get along with them. So we did what we have to do and just moved into a shelter where we stayed for about a year or 2. Then we moved to Tampa where my husband was able to get a job and support us. We moved out of his parents house where we were living at the time to a 2 bedroom apartment where we live for 8 years until out family got bigger and had to move to a 3 bedroom apartment. We have been here now for about 2 years now. Thing are better not but we are still not where we would like to be. My husband used to work for Walmart but lost his job because of a car accident so he is currently out of work. I don't currently have a job but it would be nice to find a job I can do at home and still have time to spend with my family. I use to work for Instatcart but curtain circumstances cause me to have to leave. I also do Avon and YouTube to try and make some money but its hard to do that when u don't know a lot of people. So I am trying what I can to make some money to help bring in some income. With all the things I like to do I am trying my hand at everything. Trying to sell art work, and crocheting work. But so far nutting, I don't know what I want to do or be in the further, I know that I would like to one day own my own pet store or arts and craft store but I am scared to do it. It all sounds so easy to do but scary at the same time. I have questions like how will I do it, what will I do, what will I sell, will people support me and if so will I be able to stick with it. All these things play a part of why I feel sacred. I often ask myself who am I and what am I doing with my life besides being a wife and mom and I can never answer myself because to be honest I don't know what I truly want to do with my life, and how to go about doing them. Me and my husband are both currently home school our kids because of the virus that is currently going around. In the beginning it was hard because of how much we had to do with them and because it was all new to us. Our kids are always full of life and are always hungry. My kids are my job and my stress and i wouldn't trade them for nutting.

EXCITED TO BE SCARED

If you are a mother, then you can probably relate to this photo. I have four children, two girls and two boys. And the love of a child is unconditional; this is a fact. I have learned to be a better woman because of my children.

Hey guys!

When we are born , we don’t know in what kind of family we will grow up in . But as humans we each have a purpose in this world , and from the experiences that we live through we learn from those mistakes and lessons. I wouldn’t say that I had a broken family or have one currently. But when we’re kids we don’t fully understand the situation until we become older and see the actual truth . Honestly I do say that I am grateful for the people I was able to grow up with , because without those people I wouldn’t be who I am now.

Saturday afternoon, 2009, Nan’s living room slash dining room slash craft studio. It’s whatever we want it to be, really. Doc Martin is playing in the background, but we don’t hear it. Our laughter is louder.

I moved to Prague when I was six years old. I was born in Kazakhstan in 1986, but my nationality and origin are Tatar. There are more than 130 nationalities in Kazakhstan, so it is quite common to see people from China, Korea, Ukraine, Russia, and other neighboring countries to be in the same class. During that period, my country was part of the Soviet Union, and speaking the Russian language was mandatory. My father only talked to me in Russian. Therefore it became my first language. When you picture me, you can imagine an Asian, looking Korean girl with an almond shape light blue eyes, pale skin, long brown wavy hair, thin nose, and look with a cunning sight.

In July 2019, my father was 74 years old, and he had a stroke. For the first two days or so he couldn't remember the names of his kids, couldn't identify a cell phone, a clipboard, which was something he'd used six days a week for decades, or a number of other simple things. Personally, I couldn't bring myself to go see him while he was like that. When I initially found out he had even had the stroke, my wife was at work, so I was on my own since I don't talk about things like that with her parents. By the time she got home, I had stopped talking, wouldn't eat, and didn't sleep. I was scared. My father had been showing signs of dementia for years, whether my family wanted to admit it or not, and even my neurologist confirmed it. A stroke could do a lot of damage to his already deteriorating mind.

Thank you and welcome to my first story.

Billy Dee Williams is his name no joke, I still remember when my mother came home from the hospital with his chunky butt June 17th 1989 two days after his birth.

Hell hath no fury like a first-born daughter! At least, growing up with a big sister, a slightly less big brother, and being... Idk... the last cousin in my generation of my entire family, I guess you could say I had a lot of eyes watching me.