Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Welcoming a Baby into the World
I was thirty-three weeks pregnant, when I went to my regular doctors appointment. I was told that I had to go to Labor and Delivery at the local hospital. My blood pressure was extremely high, that I had time to pick up my husband then be there sooner rather than later. We went to the hospital, knowing that I was staying overnight for observation. The nurses was really worried about my blood pressure it was not coming down at all. The on-call doctor came and told us that he is admitting me, that I am not leaving the hospital until I become a new mother. Let me explain something, at thirty-three weeks that was scary the baby’s lungs not fully developed yet, it’s the last thing to be develop. They did diagnose me as having preeclampsia.
By Samantha Straith6 years ago in Families
Skeltons
Still a little jet lagged from the plane ride, I wake up a tad groggy and irritable. I've gotten used to not sleeping well as my career choice as a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI), in Fresno county has me working at all hours. However, a full two weeks off is a dream come true. No phone calls in the middle of the night for crime scenes that are sometimes horrendous. Hopefully this visit won't end in disaster. Enough day-dreaming time to rouse her mom, Marie and Aunt Doris. First, I will check on my grandmother.
By ScarpettaBlaze6 years ago in Families
Skeletons
Samantha woke with little to no energy; the funeral had been both physically and emotionally draining. She had finally wiped her tear-stained face around three in the morning and fallen asleep in a fitful dream of misery. Pictures of Grandma happy and at peace mixed with angry, sad faces of family did not bode well for a peaceful night's rest.
By ScarpettaBlaze6 years ago in Families
Following My Father
The old brown-shingled house on Main Street had some fascinating features. The dingy laundry room at the back held a wringer washing machine. I loved to watch the sudsy water swish the clothes around. When the clothes were clean and rinsed, I pushed them through the wringer, then pulled them out the other side. Mom and I shook them out and loaded them into a basket to take outside.
By Caroni Lombard6 years ago in Families
A Letter to The New Year
Dear New Year, When 2020 came, I thought this was going to be the year for my family and I. We had just got two new cars, well new to us and moved in march. Quarantined hit, no- one is allowed to go to work until we get the go ahead. WHAT!
By Audie Edwards6 years ago in Families
365 days of a Lonely house wife
Today my husband woke up and acted like everything was fine, which is what he normally does when he gets overtaken with stress. However today I don't think I want to talk about our issues. I think I want to talk about how we met. Let's take it back to the beginning.
By lakishia partridge6 years ago in Families
Family Isn't Always Forever
When I was younger I thought my mum was my superhero who would come to my aid no matter what and my dad was my entire world. I was a little daddy's girl. Just like any other relationship, they argued, but they were still strong in my six year old brain. However, that all changed the day my parents got divorced. At 7 years old, I watched my dad have a baby with the woman he cheated on my mum with. This sent my mum into a dark place she never came out of even after she remarried.
By YesItsMocha6 years ago in Families
1 in a Million
This is a story not so much about myself and my Good Deeds over the past month or so. It's a story about my son, and his good deeds over this holiday season. I wanted to write about my son because he is truly one of the most inspiring & selfless humans I have ever met. (I know I'm a bit bias, because I am his mom, but just wait till the end of my story to make your own judgment.)
By Laurie Chambers6 years ago in Families
365 Day Journey.
Day 2 Today my husband woke up and acted like everything was fine, which is what he normally does when he gets overtaken with stress. However today I don't think I want to talk about our issues. I think I want to talk about how we met. Let's take it back to the beginning.
By lakishia partridge6 years ago in Families
Competing with my sister to become the ‘IDEAL’ child
Age-wise, I and my elder sister had a gap of 1.5 years, Grade-wise it was 1 year. We went to the same school and were taught by almost the same set of teachers. Apparently we shared the same section and so her class-teacher always became my class-teacher the next year! I call my sister a ‘born genius’. She had the best handwriting in her class, she won medals in almost all competitions she took part in, and she scored A+ in almost all subjects. Teachers would describe her as the ‘ideal’ student. My mother was known in the school by my sister’s name and I got ‘special attention’ from teachers when I introduced myself as ‘her sister’. Unfortunately, this ‘special attention’ felt like a ‘special burden’ to me. I was not ‘Bad’ or ‘Weak’. I scored average marks, my handwriting was legible, I moderately participated in co-curricular activities, and I was respectful and obedient! The unfortunate part was that for the teachers I was my sister’s ‘SISTER’. Hence my handwriting was “ok, but not as good as...”; my painting for the class bulletin board was “ok, but not as good as the one hung last year!” and so on for all the other things at school!! Once, in my third grade, I had made a thermocol Christmas tree. It was my best creation and I was so satisfied and happy. I took it to school, taking utmost care so as not to damage it on my way. I waited eagerly to show it to my class teacher. She looked at it for a while, looked up at the bulletin Board and commented “This one can go in there (pointing to the small board beside the main one), and I was thinking if you could get the one that your sister had created last year that could be placed here in the centre”. Was I to be happy or sad? After all, even if my sister’s work was put up, it was from ‘my side’. With that logic in fact, two and not just one painting from my side were to go onto the board!! I was neither sad nor happy, I felt frustrated. And by now, I don’t think I need to explain my frustration further! I always yearned for the praise and approval which my sister received. Once in my 10th grade, I wrote a wonderful essay in French (a third language for us). It had taken me 5 hours to write a one page essay, but when it was completed I felt proud. Excited as I always was, after any of my creation, I gave it to my sister to read it. She was not just amazed, she had difficulty understanding the vocabulary used and had to refer to the dictionary multiple times. My excitement grew and I eagerly waited for my work to be reviewed by my teacher. The comment that I received read “Is this your own work or your sister’s?” This was a red scar on my beautiful blue ink!! How did I feel- Sad, angry, frustrated? None! I felt ‘winning a battle’.
By pallavi gupta6 years ago in Families
Aiding Artisans
It's all too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Planning parties (not a good idea this year). Cooking and baking. Decorating. Having the best Christmas display in your neighborhood, perfectly choreographed to music or tailored to a movie theme. It's such a busy and stressful time of year that many people have seen as a silver lining in the pandemic a good excuse to cancel plans and have a more relaxed, toned-down holiday.
By Jennifer Miller6 years ago in Families
