Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Short Story: Memoir of Boonk Moonks
It all started on Eighth Avenue, Lower-East side of Manhattan, Hell’s Kitchen, apartment B-11. I was heading home from school. On my way home I would always stop by Pablo’s Hut to pick up my day-to-day paycheck. Two slices of pepperoni pizza. Financial instability would be one of the many words that I would use to describe my childhood.
By Carolyn Johnson7 years ago in Families
Deserted Playground
Ten o’clock in the morning is a lonely time for a playground. It doesn’t matter the time of year it is or what school schedules look like. It’s just not typically a time when children are out and about. My particular child has the need to get his sillies out at this particular time of day. It wasn’t that long ago this was nap time. This works out for me, too, because it is mid-morning when I find the day at its most brilliant. It’s a pity more people don’t get a chance to enjoy more beautiful spring mornings like this in such a way.
By Paige Pitcher7 years ago in Families
Stress at a Young Age?
Have you ever seen anyone that was so stressed out that they changed, including yourself? As I remember as being a young girl and helping my mom watch my younger brothers, I have seen it a lot in my family and friends to identify it. To see anyone you love go through harsh times is not fun to see nor tempting to bring out of the blue, mostly being at the age of four. Looking back, I had been affected and now look at me, my emotions take control of me more than it should.
By Putting It Out There7 years ago in Families
Family Ties
I am in a long distance relationship. I know what you're thinking, long distance never works out and anyone who thinks it can is crazy. But hear me out. When I met my girlfriend, we didn't know anything about each other. We had no connections, we didn't have presumptions, we didn't have anything. When we met, it was meeting a blank slate and there was nothing to hide because we never thought we'd actually meet, we never thought it would turn into what it has — in our minds there was no reason that what we shared with each other would ever leave the conversations e had, and so we shared everything. Our hopes, our fears, our battles, our scars. I was real with her in a way I had never been with anyone else. I was 100 percent, completely unfiltered, me. And that was everything. We have been together four years now and I wouldn't trade what we have for the world. Yes, we have to go long periods without seeing each other physically, yes everyone tells us we're crazy, and yes we have our issues. But I feel like this kind of connection doesn't happen every day and who am I to pretend like something like this could ever fall into my lap again? She is mine, and I am hers, and we are happy. We push each other to do and be better, we hold each other up when needed, we love each other, unconditionally. She is my family. She is my home. My only hope is that everyone can experience this kind of connection with someone in their lifetime because it absolutely blows me away, every single day.
By Final Thoughts7 years ago in Families
Importance of Tummy Time
Every new parent is eager to learn parenting tips and new things for their baby, because he/she only wants the best for the baby. How do babies sleep? What types of foods can you give them, when to stop breastfeeding, etc. From pediatricians, to close family members and friends, they're definitely the source of finding new ways to strengthen your baby. They can show and educate you on certain methods to strength your baby and allow them to gain new experiences.
By Rachel Blanchard7 years ago in Families
Gone Too Soon
It’s been almost three years since you decided to leave us for greener pastures. I still don't understand why you felt that was the only way to fix things. I thought that you were happy and finally able to cope with your pain and longings to be somewhere else but it would appear that I was wrong.
By Sherri Ruoti7 years ago in Families
Writing Empathy, Influenced by Loss
Warning: May be hard to read if you've lost a loved one. It was certainly hard to write. Before I start, I want to mention a song: "Lithium," by Evanescence. It's not really fitting to what I want to talk about, but... it's a song that means a lot to me, for a lot of reasons. As I may write about someday, my mother and some other members of my family struggle with addiction, which is one reason why the song holds a lot of weight with me. It also makes me think of depression, which is another subject I believe I have a good understanding of. And, in truth, my favorite character ever written suffered from manic depression. But this song is also one that I listen to when I'm in my darkest spots. I listen to it when I'm feeling rejected... I listen to it when I feel low. And I listened to it, for a very long time, when my grandfather died.
By Summer Rain7 years ago in Families
Kids: Babies
"Why are you doing that?" "Nope. Put it back." "This is mine, not yours.” “Give it back, please. Thank you.” This is the conversation that I have had with my children since the dawn of time (Well, at least for the past 12 years). I have had to discuss, debate, argue, and reason with the children that I had decided to conceive — for subjects that I never thought would be an issue. Believe me, it can be an ISSUE.
By Eboni Lobley7 years ago in Families
Why The Foster Care System Needs to Be Improved
When I was eight years old, my siblings and I entered the foster care system in Florida. Being in foster care, I saw and had to overcome the daily problems and flaws of this broken system, which is why I'm going to inform people about the issues that need to be changed. I will be providing information on who’s involved, the problems with the foster care system, the problems with the foster parents, and why there ultimately needs to be change.
By @GabbyMiernik7 years ago in Families
Crying Over Spilled Milk (Poop)
I want you guys to think of me when you have a bad day, then your day will seem so much better. I wake up on a Friday, like any other 19-year old teenager. "Yay, it's Friday fun time!" HA! No. Wrong-o! I get up out of bed and use the restroom (the night before was taco night). I went to flush, and it wouldn't flush. It's okay, I'm calm. I ask my "wonderful" husband to fix it. "Yeah babe, when I get up."
By Jenonymous Pagonymous7 years ago in Families