Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
32 Amazing Products New Parents Swear By
Babies are incredibly high maintenance, and anyone who tells you differently doesn't have kids. Part of actually keeping your sanity intact (and getting sleep at night) with a newborn is having products that make parenting easier than before.
Mackenzie LuPublished 7 years ago in Families- Top Story - September 2017
Step-Children Don’t Like You? Don’t Worry, It’s Normal
I left an abusive marriage more than 30 years ago when my three children were quite young. The following two years were spent repairing the damaged relationships with my sons, who had all but been ignored during the travesty that was my marriage. Even though I vowed never to remarry, I met a wonderful man who was the exact opposite of my former husband and eventually we were married. Our relationship was perfect and my children were very happy. In short, we had the perfect family. One-by-one my sons asked if they could call Tom "Dad" and of course no-one was happier than their new dad. Tom and I agreed at the beginning of our relationship that I alone would be responsible for disciplining the children because I was concerned they may resent him, so Tom basically became a good friend to my three sons.
Mari-Louise SpeirsPublished 7 years ago in Families Little Girl Lost
I was only a year and half when my parents got divorced. It was just my mom and me. I have a lot of memories of when I was little but most of those memories are through pictures and stories. I am not sure how old I was but I know that I was still in a crib because there wasn’t any room for another bed. Anyway I used to have a blanket that was light blue, and because I loved that blanket so much I took it everywhere. My mom and I had a female cat and she would climb into my crib and sleep with me. One day I noticed something was different. I woke and my blanket was bloody. I told mom to come here, and she did and she told me that the cat was having babies. She was having them on my bed on my blanket so she took the blanket out of my crib, and put them and the blanket on the bed so I would have room in my crib to sleep. She didn’t want me to touch them. Mom took them and the blanket and put them in the closet so I wouldn’t go near them because she told me that if I did the cat would kill her babies. So I left them alone. After the babies got big enough we gave them away.
Crystal GreerPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesAdopted Struggle: What It's Like
How an adoptee handles being adopted differs from person to person depending on experience. I cannot speak for my older brother, but for me it has been an interesting journey with a lot of ups and some downs. Physically I resemble my mother, at least in my face. My body more resembles my adopted parents; which explains why it is easier for me to lose and maintain weight. My adopted mother is an organist and has never been athletic. My step-father is very intelligent and charismatic, again not much athleticism there either. However; I grew up playing all sports and was super active; baseball, basketball, soccer, and one season of football; I bruised my right Radius (forearm) during practice and could not play the rest of the season. Which at this point, I’m not too sure if my either birth parent played sports or were athletic; I do know however, that my birth father was in the military, so hopefully I received his genes.
Nathan StottsPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesParenting Made Easy
When it comes to parenting there is no book or magazine that teaches you how to do it. You can actually make parenting fun and easy if you just follow what you know and go from there.
Relocating to a Remote Community
I'm from a huge town called Hamilton. Squished into southern Ontario with a population of at least 500,000. Not once did I think moving up north would change my life.
Parenting a Teenager
The night around them lay heavy. Every sound was something sinister... Oh, wait. Wrong story. This one is much more terrifying, I'm afraid - and there are no heroes. No one to save you. All you can do is walk slowly through the darkness, and pray for the light to come - and come it will, but it will take its dear time. "It can't be that bad." You think, scoffing at my title as you gaze lovingly at your rosy cheeked, adorable chubby fingered toddler. "My baby could never become the stuff nightmares are made of." I was that naive and delusional once - and then my child became a pre teen. She was so sweet, thoughtful, and considerate; every bit the angel that yours is right now. If I concentrate hard enough I can still remember the sound of her giggling, and how it felt to be her best friend, respected, the center of her world. Then, the inevitable happened. She became twelve, and Aunt Flo found her. Suddenly my sweet, considerate child became this hormonal, moody thing that only wanted me around if I was a convenience for her. Not just during "That time of the month." Oh no. Don't delude yourself into thinking it's only then. I went from momma to mom and when she's annoyed (which is oh so often) or mad Muh-Therrrr. Just like that. Just like how it's spelled. I assure you. Now instead of hugs, kisses, and smiles I get eye-rolling, huffing, and stomping, or - my personal favorite - the sarcastic, rude remarks and ever popular "must get the last word in no matter the cost."
Jennifer CulbrethPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesParenting Without Using Physical Punishment
As promised in my last article, I’d like to share some ways of parenting children without using physical punishment that I learned both as a parent and a grandparent. This article is not designed to change your beliefs about smacking children: if you believe physical punishment works, then my goal is not to change your opinion, because as I stated in my first article I too used to hit my children. However, I do believe there are many parents out there who are looking for an alternative way of raising their kids. This one is for you!
Mari-Louise SpeirsPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesAn Open Letter to Drugs
I remember sitting in a freezing car in the middle of Los Angeles, looking out of the car window at the homeless people that passed. Many of them walked by without a second glance, but a couple of them made direct eye contact and stared. Eventually they moved along, but my heart raced as I waited for my father to return to the car. As every homeless person passed, I imaged my dad in their torn clothes, begging people for money on the streets. To this day, I'm not sure why my young mind had placed him there, maybe it was just one of my worst fears playing tricks on me.
Kasey LomaxPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesMother Games.
“Tell me about your mother.” My relationship with my mother is an interesting one in the fact that it doesn’t really exist. And for everything one would assume couldn’t be said about the estrangement, there’s actually more than I like to admit. People are always saying I look exactly like her, and I never know what to do with that because they say it as if our comparable appearance is enough to constitute a relationship, or worse, as if I should somehow feel privileged. I guess it’s supposed to be a compliment; what girl wouldn’t want to be compared to her beautiful mother? I however find that looking at my mother is a little like looking at a reflection that moves when you do not. Rather than having some deep-rooted knowledge that allows us to know the other’s movements, there is an empty abyss leaving us completely disconnected. I realize that at some point I dwelled within her, everywhere she went and consuming every corner of her mind. Breathing her air and existing within her existence. But on that fateful day we were to separate she let go of me completely. A division that left a cavern somewhere in the center of my chest.
Kim GainesPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesKrypton's Finest
Kal sat in his car waiting for the crew to arrive. With the music off and the air conditioning on, he could pretend he was far away from Miami. He watched his diamond shaped air freshener with its square jawed hero flying on it. The blue eyes looking at Kal with pride, because the boy who took his name had grown up to be strong and proud. Kal smiled back at his hero and got out of the car to greet his crew.
I Will Raise My Children the Way My Mother Raised Me
I've heard a lot of people say this, but my mum is my favourite person in the world, there's no doubt about it. She is an older (and wiser) version of me, and she's always had my back, no matter what. I know that ordinarily, parents don't turn on you for your mistakes, but I also know that sometimes, we know they shouldn't be so forgiving.
Jemma O'DonovanPublished 7 years ago in Families