Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

Nature vs Nurture:
Our kids grow to be their own person by watching and learning from the people around them, family and friends mostly. But what about about the kids who have one or both biological parent(s) missing from their lives...? Can some personality traits be inherited or is it all strictly learned behavior? Its kinda like the age old 'nature vs nurture' argument.
By Jennifer Matthias6 years ago in Families
Too Soon
You should be here...I haven't even been able to allow myself to cry because I'm paralyzed in shock. You deserved so much more than what you received in this life. Maybe that was due to your own decisions, maybe it was due to your environment, I'll never know. The only thing I'm left with is the good times we shared. You are teaching me to annunciate my words when rapping to our favorite rap songs.
By Travae Jones6 years ago in Families
The sins of the grandfathers
When I stopped being able to relax, I didn't even notice it happening. Between one childhood summer and the next, I went from walking to places just to be there and watching fish swim in shallow water to having a Purpose. I still knew where to go to hear baby frogs sing and why home-made ice cream tasted better than store-bought, but it stopped being important. Or so I thought.
By Anne C Zieger6 years ago in Families
My life
Always think positive no matter what life throws at you When I was a little girl, I always wondered how life can be so cruel to people. Even though my mom moved us kids around a lot because of certain situations that we sometimes can not control. I always looked at people and places and seen so much hatred in the world and always thought I would never find anyone that would love me like my family does. One day I met this guy when I was 14 yrs old and he was 18 yrs old and my mom met him she liked him. I was a shy teenager but he would never have do anything I didn't want to do but he showed me what love was. I was 16 yrs old when I decided to breakup because, I was to young to get engaged and it broke his heart. He always brought me valentine's day gifts and birthday and still showed me it was ok to be friends, but one night we got a phone call that he passed away while driving and he had a seizure and went into someone's backyard pool. I was devasted and felt lost because, we became best friends. Than has the years went on, I found someone else who I thought he was the one we got married and had a little girl. We had a lot problems so we got divorced and we raised her and now she is 18 yrs old and she is my world. I am now with the love of my life and we are about to get married and begin a new journey in our lives. I have learned through all my years growing up and all the bad things that happened to me, that I did not mention is that leave all the bad things in your past and move on with your future. Always take the negative things and turn them into positive things and keep going with life. Life is to short to keep grudges against other people and just forgive them and forgive yourself.
By Lettie Fisher6 years ago in Families
I am the Present
A Gift Guide for Dad Recently I had the enormous pleasure of cleaning out and organizing my parents garage and just let me say without any candor that you would not believe the sheer amount of stuff the typical adult human will hang onto over the course of a lifetime. Just wait- your turn will come, and this duty truly can be a pleasure if you let it. I came to understand my parents a little better this way, something I truly appreciate as I age and begin to build a relationship with my own children.
By Tonya 6 years ago in Families
Frugal Parenting Hacks
When you become a parent, your spending patterns explode. It may seem as if your child has endless needs. Children do need a lot to grow up successfully. However, you can meet those needs without breaking the bank. It comes down to how you approach parenting. First, we recommend itemizing your expenses. That way, you'll know exactly how your finances are doing. Then, you can devise a new approach to improving your financial life.
By DE Brown6 years ago in Families
Are Aunties Nicer Moms?
Aunties Are Nicer Moms because they can love you up and send you home lol.... What would I have done without my aunties? I am not JUST speaking of my mother’s sisters. I am writing this to pay homage to the ladies in my life that have taken me in and treated me as if I was their biological niece as well.
By Mecca C Eaves-Glass6 years ago in Families
Mom Guilt
I was familiar with the term “mommy guilt” long before I became a mom myself. Friends and relatives who were working moms habitually shared their worries about not doing enough. Sometimes they were made to feel that way, due to social and cultural expectations.
By Sumera Rizwan6 years ago in Families
Painting
Hi Dad, It's strange to tell you about this in this way but I can't really show you. I started painting and I really think you would have like it if you were still here. See I needed a hobby after failing at doing anything else and mum always tells me I need to do something with my free time. I always wonder what you would be doing... probably just re-watching the same shows over and over, which would drive me and mum crazy... well, until an episode we liked was on. I miss those moments but it's something I can't recreate so I have to change so: painting.
By Heather Whittall6 years ago in Families
Life after life
I've read once, that by reading books, you can live many lives. If you don't, you only live one. I can see a point to this statement, but if you're brave enough to change your life, you can have many lives yourself.
By Iwona Galise6 years ago in Families
WTF do you mean “I wasn’t wanted”
”How does it feel to know that you weren’t wanted?” I will never forget that question I was asked. I was 12 years old and started middle school at “THE” best private school in Orlando. (Hindsight is definitely 2020). Everyone already knew each other because they had been together since Kindergarten and lived a few miles apart from each other and that was only because their family homes were that big. Already nervous to find my place and try to make friends I walked into my first Bible class ever after my very lonely lunch. As I take my seat and everyone settles in the teacher opens up and asks “Is anyone hear Adopted”. Well shit I raised my hand so high and proud. I thought this was my moment, this was my moment to connect. Well I looked around and realized I was the only raising my hand. He proceeded to ask me my name and then he asked me that question that changed my opinion of myself for the rest of my life. “How did it make you feel to know that you weren’t wanted?” WTF do you mean I wasn’t wanted?? Who didn’t want me? Why didn’t they want me? You mean someone didn’t love me and got rid of me? Was I not good enough? Did I cry too much? Was I an ugly baby? What the hell do you mean someone didn’t want me?? All the thoughts that ran through my head as I stood up and ran out of classroom crying. I called my mom and said I wasn’t wanted? That’s what adoption really means? I remember it like yesterday as my mom pulled into the drop off area and ran to me as she saw her baby girl crying and heartbroken. That day forever changed my life and how I perceived myself. I had so many questions. I was so confused. From day one my parents always told my brother and I that we were adopted. Every night I laid my head down to go to bed underneath a picture that read “You are special because you were chosen”. How could I be special when this man who taught about Christ and Bible tell me I wasn’t wanted. That day is the day that I unfortunately let define me and little did I know that little moment would have brought me to where I am today.
By Jenny Davis 6 years ago in Families
My Male Role Model
I often think back to the day you were in jail, the day we first fought without me backing down because of the glass between us. The day I drove in a snowstorm to come see you and all you could ask for was if my brother was waiting in the van. He wasn’t, I should have listened to him when he told me not to bother. I often wonder if you remember what happened, what was said, and if you in fact ended up in PC for wanting to “kill yourself”. You see you have lied to me my whole life, and hurt me in a manner that I can’t seem to get around.
By Moon Child 6 years ago in Families