Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Bringing Home Cam
In the beginning, I started my BringingHomeCam page for a couple of different reasons. At the time, my now 14 year old son was barely 3. His father and I had recently divorced and going through the whole divorce/custody thing was not just upsetting and frustrating, but scary. Now at the time, I was at the top of my game in my career field and still loving every minute of it. I was secure; not only in who I was and where I was going, but financially as well. I was beginning to feel more and more like my old self again, and truly believed things were actually going to be ok. After all, the divorce was both our ideas, no slanderous back-story, and I'd moved only a few miles away into a beautiful new neighborhood with a greenbelt and park, allowing our son to stay in the same school district (when the time came). Incredulous as it was at the time, our custody arrangement was one of the first documented 50/50 splits in our State. Neither of us paid child support to the other (*mistake #1) and we split our time with our young son a week on, a week off. We even had a trade off night during the week so when it was my week, he'd go a night with his dad, and vice-versa. This way, noone went an entire week without seeing each other. I was pleasant still with his parents, agreeable when he had a time date or change, and did nothing to rock this fraigile boat (*mistake #2). So when only months out of signing our papers, you can probably imagine how totally shocked I was to receive more legal paperwork........I mean, weren't we done? Ha....not even close. Now tell me, why on earth, would a father who gets exactly the same thing as far as arrangements go, pays not a cent to his ex, has his son 50%+ of the time, file for a modification of custody? Full custody?! What on earth for???? I mean yea, he said he'd "have our son, no matter what" when we talked about divorcing, but I'd never threatened to take our son away, much less ask for full custody. So what in the hell was going on?? This had to be old paperwork, a typo of sorts, right? I mean, I'll just talk to him, right, and clear up this whole mess.................(*mistake #3)
By Amy Ryn Smith6 years ago in Families
MOM
The greatest lessons I've learned from my mother is selflessness. My mother selflessly gives her energy, time and focus to helping others, even after others have not treated her in that same way and may have taken so much from her without even realizing. Others like me. Learning this lesson is at the top of my list of lessons of reflection for integration.
By Kimberly Peace6 years ago in Families
What about moms?
Mom....every single one of us has one. Whether you know her, or don't, she is responsible for bringing you into this world. It is a title that holds great weight and responsibility, and often referred to as the hardest and most important job in the world. Well, I know all this first hand, as I am a mom of three children, oldest daughter 9, and two sons, 8 and 2. I naturally birthed all three of my kids, no drugs, no interventions, nothing, just me and god lol. My journey into motherhood has been hard to say the least, but to be more specific, the hardest thing I've ever taken on. While having children are a blessing and a gift, there's a lot that you can't prepare for and see coming. I am also a single mom, who has had to figure it all out, while trying to stay sane in the process. I have always had big dreams to make it big in the modeling, fashion, beauty etc. world, but once children came along, they all but died. Along came responsibility, isolation, loneliness, depression. It didn't take long after my first born for me to feel like something was off and not like myself, knowing that overwhelming sadness and depression, suicidal thoughts, loss of appetite, and the list goes on, is not normal. There was a talk show that came on one day and the topic was postpartum depression, and a light bulb came on, it felt like they were talking to, and about me!!! I was relieved to know this was actually a thing I was going through, that had a name, and that I wasn't the only one, but was also afraid that it still meant something was wrong with me. I was recommended by a friend at the time who noticed, to see someone and never did, was never diagnosed, and just lived with it, because of shame mostly. I just tried my very best and hardest to manage what I was going through. Even in a relationship I couldn't open up about it all, and just carried on with daily life, responsibilities, taking care of and doing for everyone, but myself, feeling alone, unappreciated, lost, confused, and hopeless. I have learned ways to better cope, and manage, but I still very much struggle, and some things have never quite gone away. I know there are many moms out there who can relate, but may also feel shame, guilt, inadequacy, depression, etc. I have been silent and alone with this for a very long time, and am speaking for those who have suffered silently as well. So I ask what about moms? We matter. We can often be unrecognized, unappreciated, disrespected, overlooked, and unsupported, but we matter and are important. We often do so much, and so much for others, and we ourselves are often forgotten about, even by our own selves. If you read this and can relate, or if anything resonates with you, I just want you to know that you are not alone, you are doing great, and you matter. If you know a mom who is struggling or not themselves, I challenge you to support her, ask questions, and try to be of some assistance to her. We can use more love and kindness in the world, especially in these uncertain times, so I challenge anyone who reads this to spread some out into the universe, especially our moms.
By Jessique Austin 6 years ago in Families
A suicide survivors story
It was December 17th and it was brisk outside. I had come home in the morning after working the overnight shift at Mcdonalds. I was a Shift Manager at the time. At the time it was just a normal day for me going through the motions. I took a shower, grabbed a snack and sat down to watch some TV before bedtime. I didn't want to work the following night, but I had to. A co-worker said he would cover for me if I wanted to stay home and at the time I didn't know I would need it.
By claire roco6 years ago in Families
10 Elf On The Shelf Ideas
Elf on the shelf is fantastic! It gives Christmas a different creative spin and brings something that adults and kids can enjoy. Or it does to begin with. By the second Christmas the ideas are wearing a bit thin, the elves either end up looking like they're in an X rated film or they spend December just climbing the tree!
By Rachel Dodman6 years ago in Families
Parenting & Co-Parenting with a Narcissist
Have you ever had an encounter with a narcissist, but you were unaware they were such until you got to know them? Did you already have children with that person before realizing they were a narcissist because they unleashed their charm upon you, and you were instantly sucked in? Well, if those questions became relatable to your situation, I have something to share with you.
By Jayme Keally6 years ago in Families
How 2020 Built Me
As most of you know, COVID started back in February & March. I, like a lot of people though the whole thing was a hoax, or political ploy, honestly, a part of me still does. My whole life started changing before I could crack my next joke about it, when my husband started coughing. That's when shit got real. He coughed for a week, cough syrup & steroid medications didn't help; he just kept getting worst.
By Courtney Bowling6 years ago in Families
What Are the Best Gift for Expecting Mother? Expert Reviews
Ideal Gifts for Expecting Moms: The excursion of pregnancy is consistently an uncommon piece of a mother's life. In these nine months, a lady encounters a few changes in her body, both passionate and physical. Nonetheless, during this period, expecting moms require a great deal of care. Furthermore, what's smarter to show your adoration than another mother pregnancy blessing?
By Try My Price Online6 years ago in Families
