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Most recently published stories in Families.
The ties that bind
My grandad was the apple of my eye. He spoiled me, I wasn't his only grandchild but I sure was his favorite. He took me everywhere with him, fishing, golfing, you name it I was Granddaddy's baby and whatever I wanted I got. But my grandmother on the other hand couldn't stand me and I always figured it was because her and my mother could never get along and I reminded her of her. She was cold towards me. She never hugged me, she forced a smile whenever I came over and tensed up whenever I hugged her. I loved her but felt she never loved me. My mom would always say "Oh she's just old and mean baby" so I took it as that. A few months ago my granddaddy died. I took it really hard and after my grandmother became even more cold. I went to see her one day and finally asked her why she didn't love me like she loved her other grandkids. Her reply was "I hate your father for what he did to your mother and I hate your mother for having you!" I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Crying and full of hurt I left. The next time I saw my grandmother was at the reading of my grandfathers will. The lawyer read " I Randy Lawson leave all of my worldly possessions, money, and land to my beautiful baby girl, my daughter Leah Lawson...What was I hearing??! MY name is Leah Lawson...
By NyQuisha Randle 6 years ago in Families
Time
Things change. Time goes on and yet we have, only, right now. This present, current moment in time. Slowly but surely and yet as quick as the sands pass through the hour glass, time passes. For each of us we have a certain kind of security. We have a type of fervent wish or tamed desire pushing us through each day. We find ourselves stuck in time or as fast as the river rushes, down stream, we wonder how we got there. My fondest joy as a child was going to my grandmother's home. Her name is Maw. Maw and Pop. The adults would have coctails and either BBQ next to the pool or a nice roast would be sending aroma arrows throughout the house. I would play with my cousins. We would swim in the pool, swing on the tire swing or adventure in the woods behind the house. I can smell all the smells and feel the coolness of the air conditioning on hot summer days. My memories. When I close my eyes I can smell the eggs and scrapple frying in the morning with the sound of the Bunn dripping the coffee. Pop left us many many moons ago to Lynphonma. Maw, now nearly 89 currently resides in an assisted living home for those with Damentia. Things change. Time goes on and yet we have, only, right now. My right now is sitting at my kitchen table, listening to ABC songs on youtube as my toddler runs around and I write this piece for you. My right now is fairly comfortable. 100 degrees outside, my window AC unit is keeping it bearable in my home. On this Ranch on the border of Mexico that I call home. My almost 19 year old son is in his new bedroom, my old room, now his. He is gaming online. My right now also consists of my two other children, 6 year old son and 10 year old daughter, from my ex husband, sitting in their grandmother's small stuffy appartment in the city probably staring at their phones on Tik Tok, playing Mindcraft or whatever other such mindcontrolled distractuions eat up thier time. Parental alienation preceeding my divorce has segwayed to a damaged relationship with my 2 middle children. This has brought me much heartache. Now, my toddler is biting my nipple as he nurses and I type these words. I am frustrated and angry now. All I want to do is get these words out of my mind and onto this screen. Yes, I can ween him off at any moment which will have its own slew of conflict resolution scenarios. Single mother of 4, never easy, always hard. I can always close my eyes and think of the days when I was a child running around in the grass at Maw's house. Maw's house was sold some years ago, however still stands on the same street in the same town on the same coast, East. I now live on the West coast. Over 3,000 miles away from where I grew up. My right now, a few weeks ago, took myself and my toddler back home. I have missed it so. Craving some familiarity, comfort and security from the past which has slipped by as quickly as ice melts. I saw Maw, in her new home. She did not know who I was. Her question every few minutes was the same. "I live here?" My aunt and I would answer her the same. "Yes, you live here." Then she would ask, "where is my husband?" We would answer, "He is in heaven." Her next question, "Well, how long has he been there?" Our answer, about 20 years now. Then, she would ask, "I live here?" And our answer would be, "yes, you live here." And on and on we went. Same questions with the same answers. Things change. Time goes on and yet we have, only, right now. It had been three years since I saw Maw last. She was is a gradula cognitive decline, living in her new condo, still knowing who I was and where she was. On this recent visit, I drove by Maw and Pop's old house. The new owner was mowing the grass. I almost pulled into the drive way, however, chose to keep driving past. I could see Maw doing cartwheels in the front yard as she did whenever we would leave. She was always full of energy. She kept the house sparkling clean. The fresh towels in the linen closet folded and stacked neatly was always one of my favorite things to admire. Maw will always be my most favorite person. Maw will always be the woman and grandmother I aspire to be. Even though she does not remember me now and will depart us one day in the near future, I can always close my eyes and smell her roast in the oven. I can always close my eyes and feel her standing next to me as she taught me how to make her famouse mashed potatoes. Tears roll down my cheecks in this now moment because things change. From childhood to adulthood, things change. That of which we could physically be in the precence of and experience does not always last forever. In fact, most things do not last forever. Driving by Maw and Pop's which is no longer Maw and Pop's reminds me of how slowely yet quickly time goes by. Being in those moments of Joy and then years later looking back, we realize that our confort and joy must come from within. Our security must not be bound by material things in time and space. We will always have our memories to look back on. Clinging to the now moments of the past for comfort will only lead us to the abrupt stop sign of this current moment. Looking back on what was and now is currently not. This time that we seek, we will always have. Our memories. Our workings in this precent moment. Everytime I make Maw's mashed potatoes I bring the past to the present moment. When I smell bounce dryer sheets I am immediately standing at the linen closet admiring Maw's maternal handywork. When my children have children and they come for dinner, I will be Maw. I will be the Maw to them that Maw is and always will be for me. The all encompasing joy of my childhood that I can still have in adulthood. Even though I cannot fully have those moments back, I can recreate them. I can close my eyes and relive them. Things change. Time goes on and yet we have, only, this moment. Enjoy it. With love: Erin
By Erin Warfield6 years ago in Families
Making Life Easier For Your Elderly Loved Ones
Although it's possible for many seniors to continue living independent and productive lives at home, that doesn't mean that it's always easy. For elderly family members, some simple tasks may become more difficult, and although they would like to continue living on their own, they may not be able to function by themselves in the same way that they once were able to. That doesn't mean, though, that it can't be done, or that there aren't ways for you to make their lives easier.
By Kari Oakley6 years ago in Families
Music for Young ones
As a music educator, I have always been an advocate for engaging children in music from an early age. I myself started piano lessons when I was four years old, and those music skills have stuck with me for 26 years now. Engaging kids in music is not only good for their cognitive skills, but it can also help them to come up with their own creative environment. There are countless amounts of times that we hear kids singing a song they made up...let them! Let those creative skills show!
By Stephanie Fernsler6 years ago in Families
How Personal Safety Device is the Best Option for Child Safety?
Having a personal safety devices can save a child during situations where the parents may not always be present. Children like to play and to explore their world and wonder off in their own thoughts. In that process, accidents could happen and the possible sustain of injuries or worse is ever present. Unfortunately, in some cases those injuries can be fatal with more than two million children under the age of 15 are estimated to experience injuries arising from accidents in and around the home every year. It is also estimated that 62 children under the age of five lose their lives yearly as a result of injuries sustained during accidents.
By Mike Bojack6 years ago in Families
The Revelations Of Gramps
I’ve got a burning question that I can’t ask my parents because it would hurt their feelings. It’s the kind of question kids shouldn’t ask their parents without a darn good reason. I’ve got lots of reasons but they’re all jumbled up in my head like a tangled ball of string, so I’m not sure if they’re darn good or just stupid. I asked my brother Dave once but he just glared at me like I was a total dork and told me to get the hell out of his room. He’s nineteen this year and going away to college in the fall . . . I’m not sure if I’m going to miss him or not.
By Jeff Countryman 6 years ago in Families
Single Parents: How To Stay Productive When Working at Home With Kids Around
We have all had to get adjusted to working from home over the last several months, and we all know the trials and tribulations that come with trying to be productive in an environment usually reserved for relaxing, unwinding, and spending time with family.
By Christina Elroy6 years ago in Families
Beyoncé Mother's Maiden Name Is Beyoncé
It is not unusual for a parent to name their children after them. However, it is usually their first name. There is something unique about Beyoncé's name. It is her first name, but it is also her mother's maiden name. Another thing about the name is that Tina Knowles Lawson did not like Beyoncé as her last name.
By Margaret Minnicks6 years ago in Families
CHAMELEON
There are two sides of the coin: heads and tails, two sides of the moon: bright and dark, two sides of life: ‘in’ and ‘out.' Under the law of physics, these parts are never to meet. Any contact may result in the universal system failure and cause a massive paradigm shift: there would be no more black and white, right or wrong, true or false.
By Victoria May6 years ago in Families
In Memoriam
When I was 20, my grandmother on my dad’s side passed away. I spent my birthday driving from Nebraska back home to Illinois for the funeral the following day. My grandma was easily my biggest supporter in life. At the time, I was in college majoring in music performance on the saxophone. As a part of this degree, I was required to learn the piano and had a year and a half of this study under my belt. Second to the saxophone, my grandma loved listening to me play piano. When she passed, I knew I wanted a dual meaning tattoo; one to showcase my love of music but also one that I could use to memorialize my grandma in some way. I spent weeks image searching potential saxophone, piano, and general music tattoo ideas because I was blanking on a design of my own. I already had a music one I’d designed myself but there wasn’t a way to incorporate it or add a design to help remember my grandma. I finally decided on the heartbeat that blends into piano keys. The more I thought about this one, the more I appreciated how it would showcase my love for music and I considered how I could incorporate some reminder of my grandma into it. I decided on simply inscribing her birthday onto one of the piano keys. I realized that, the more keys I used, the more I could use the tattoo to remember all my grandparents. Once I decided on the tattoo, I was itching to get it done. However, being in school full time, I didn’t have a job or any significant income. My grandma was my main source of money my freshman and sophomore years of college as I never needed much due to living and eating on campus. The longer I waited, the more impatient I got. Then, one day, I received a call from my dad. He explained that I would be receiving a check in a few days for $1,000. The money had come from an unexpected and unknown insurance policy that my grandma had in her name that had suddenly become available. I knew immediately that part of that money would be perfect to finally get the tattoo done. I still find it ironic, but also very fitting, that my grandmother was still somehow able to finance a tattoo that would memorialize her after she’d passed.
By Tony Garcia6 years ago in Families
Rachel is on a cloud
Rachel’s little, limp and precious body lay on the floor. Did she shoot the gun so hard she fell down, she wonders? Did she really just shoot her daddy? Rachel’s body feels weird, like when she is in the swimming pool and feels like she doesn’t weigh anything. She goes to scratch her back and feels something like a bug or a bird or something. Its wings! She has fairy wings! But wait, she looks down and sees herself lying on the floor. Are those angel wings? Did she fall asleep and is having a dream? As she looks down again she sees her daddy picking her up from the hardwood floor. She sees her body and the reddest blood on the floor. She sees her daddy’s shirt with red blood, her blood, as his tears splatter onto the blood turning it a pinkish color. But, but, but this isn’t what she meant or planned! She was going to shoot her daddy because he had been bad. What happened to what she planned? Daddy, or John is what everyone calls him, is just sitting in his chair holding her tiny body.
By Melonie S Shelton6 years ago in Families
