Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

The Little Black Book
I just saw her yesterday. How can she be GONE, if I just saw her yesterday?! This had to be a joke; an uncouth prank, but it just couldn’t be true.
By Heather R Weisbarth6 years ago in Families
Runaway
Most children run away from home at some point. One of my student families had a laugh about their son’s plans the last time I was there, how they offered to help him pack food and clothes, and he complained the suitcase was too heavy. My experience went… a little differently. No one knew I’d run away until years later, when I laughed about it in front of my parents.
By Elizabeth Hunter6 years ago in Families
Beneath the Clay
Under the Clay The universe was out of kilter. I was coming to Tennessee to say goodbye to my dear mother … three years late. It was unconscionable that she had slipped through my fingers into the red earth while I was three thousand miles away. Damn that pandemic! Damn my illness that followed. A preacher saying words at the cemetery promised to Face Time the service. But there was no signal at the graveside. Painful silence and a blank screen in Seattle. It was as if I had gone from the beloved … to the nothing.
By J Michael Jones6 years ago in Families
Parental Alienation Ruined My Life
February 9, 2021 If you want to know, then this is my story. Read it if you like. If I ask you to, I’ll tell you what I want from you. My story is all true and I would like for the reader to take away the fact that parental alienation destroyed me entirely over the course of the last twenty years and if you can help me in any way, I would greatly appreciate it. To reunite with my children would make me forever grateful. Let me begin by ensuring everyone that I am not a criminal. I have never been charged in a court of law for any crime other than a misdemeanor crime. I have not been convicted of a felony or federal crime. Some of the charges were charges brought about during the parental alienation period of my life. When I was divorcing my ex-husband, he had me arrested falsely, and turned wanting to be a mother into a crime. How is it in the best interest of the children to ruin their mother emotionally and financially? I have no felony charges. These are all misdemeanors, all are alcohol related, all except one are over 10 years old and most can be linked to this traumatic event in my life. I’d like for you to read my narrative explaining how parental alienation has ruined my life. I am unable to find work because of my record with SLED. People will hire me, but then retract the offer when they run my background.
By [email protected]6 years ago in Families
Introduction
So let me introduce myself, I am a bonus mom to one and a mom to another I won't be giving my name or my kids and or family. But my story started a few years back. I first met my awesome step daughter when she was 3.5 years old. It was my birthday, and on my birthday I go to my parents, I had asked my boyfriend if he wanted to come with me but he ended up having his daughter which was a rare occurrence with his baby momma. I told him that it was obviously okay, but then he asked me if I wanted to meet his daughter. I didn't know what to think do I say yes? Would my parents mind if I brought my new boyfriend and his daughter? So I called them up and of course they said it was okay, and that it was my birthday so I could invite whomever I wanted. When we first met I was under the impression that she wasn't good at meeting new people. I've been babysitting since I was a teenager, so I knew that this meant. You pretty much have to earn these little boogers trust. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, all I knew was that I've always loved kids and if my current boyfriend wanted me to meet his daughter then I wanted to as well. When I met her I got down on her level and introduced myself to her. What I expected was for her to shy away, and not look at me and I was okay with this. But what I didn't expect was for her to jump in my arms and give me a hug. I was shocked, however I hugged her back because what was I supposed to do? Push her off? I don't think so. So I stood back up and looked at her father and he was just as shocked as I was. From then on we had her at least once a week, like I said the baby momma is a handful. I remember one morning waking up at 7am to my boyfriend answering his phone, and baby momma was screaming her head off, that if we didn't then he wouldn't see her again for awhile. At the time he didn't have a vehicle and his mom would pick up his daughter. He tried explaining this, but she wouldn't have it. I wasn't a morning person so it pissed me off really quickly, I told him to tell her we would be there in thirty minutes. When we got there, she wanted to talk to him alone, I was fine with it and when he came back to the car with his daughter he was mad. I asked him what was going on, and come to find out she wanted him back and for them to be a family again. I didn't know what to think, but if he wanted to make it work with her, then I would have to be okay with it wouldn't I? So I pulled over and told him just that, if he wanted to make it work I would bring him and his daughter back and they could make it work. He looked at me then his daughter and back to me, then he told me flat out that no he didn't want her back. That he had given her a chance to make this family work and she didn't want to. I took that as my opportunity, and made my decision that I wanted this. There are so many other stories I want to tell and I am going to use this platform to vent and let it all out of what I have been through. I hope you enjoy my story and I have to bring.
By Bonus Mom6 years ago in Families
Duck, Duck, Goose
It was Christmas Day, -10 degrees and my anxiety was so severe, my ears wouldn’t stop ringing. The morning was spent at my aunt’s house with my Dad’s side. Afternoon came and my brother and I got dropped off at my Mom and Stepdad’s.
By Krissie V Moore6 years ago in Families
LOSS TRANSLATED
December 26th, 1996 Dear Diary, I can’t believe Christmas was the last time I’ll ever see my Bella Baba. She was such a strong woman. She brought our family to this country and I will always have the most wonderful memories from playing at her house. My cousins and I always had the best time. Picnics in the yard. Grapes on the vine. Berries from the garden. Jumping the creek. Running through the corn and swinging from the willow tree. I’m sure they will sell it as soon as we empty it out. How quickly life just stops. I think I will weep in my pillow a little before bed.
By Amy Szuta6 years ago in Families
Love Letters from Heather
To my middle child, Candice. Hey, Red! I remember the second I set eyes on you. You were just the cutest seven-year-old ever—your perfect tone of red/auburn hair, your incredible smile, and your intelligent eyes. Your foster mother gave you the nickname “Grandma” because even at such a young age, you were looking after your siblings.
By Heather Down6 years ago in Families
Gigi and granny
First day of winter this girl name Gigi, went to her grandmas house for a vacation. Of course her grandma stayed in Miami that’s the only reason she “really” wanted to go. She laughed at the thought of going because it was free for her to go and stay. She was thinking she could save money And hang with her friends. When she arrived she was greeted by her granny, they went for lunch since it was the afternoon when she got there.they talked and got all caught up, when they got to the house she told her grandm it was so nice to be there with her. Her grandma (Jean )Said yes indeed it is, she told her granddaughter she was glad because she had something to tell her.
By Sparkle Hawkins6 years ago in Families
Rob Me
My mornings aren't usually as gloomy as they are today, but today's a weird day already anyway. I'm laying in bed still, and I look over at him and he's so beautiful when he sleeps, so I quietly swing my legs over the bed and put my robe on to start my day off.
By Kaitlin Anderson6 years ago in Families
Stick
I want to start by saying that this is the best thing that I have read so far this year. Granted, we are only in the second week of February, but I would be remiss if I did not give this book the accolades that it deserves. It is no secret that I love reading Andrew Smith’s work, but there was something in this book that truly grabbed me and left me with an emotional connection the likes of which I haven’t experienced in quite a while.
By Kurt Mason6 years ago in Families
Sarah's Promise
"I'm sorry Sarah, but if we don't receive $5,000 by the end of the week, you will have to withdraw from the class. It's not fair to those wait-listed who have the funds." Sarah hung up the phone and dropped her head into her hands. But no tears fell. There were no more tears that could fall.
By Margaret Howell6 years ago in Families