Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
The Joy of Home
The chaos in our nation has left many of us feeling down and out. Traveling is out of the question for most and the wearing of masks in public during summer months has us questioning the freedom our country was built on. With the election of 2020 quickly approaching, it seems we are fighting an invisible war of good versus evil. But the reality for most is that the sun is shining, children want to go outside to play, and adults want to enjoy summer vacation doing all the activities summer time brings. Sweltering temperatures are making it difficult to enjoy outdoor activities unless water is involved. So how is everyone coping? Are you taking the chance and traveling to your favorite destinations or are you making the most of it making your home and backyards the focus of enjoyment with family and friends?
By Heather Cash6 years ago in Families
Sunsets & Rainbows
The past year has been the hardest of my life. After a difficult year professionally, on top of the struggles everyone has faced with the Coronavirus, my mother passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on April 28th, 2020. She was my best friend for so many years. She taught me what it feels like to be loved unconditionally. It was a cruel lesson in life that every moment is prescious. No matter how honest, generous, or kind, the life that so many take for granted, can be over in an instant. She was a (relatively) healthy 58 year old woman. Always giving everything she had to those around her. The reason I am where I am today is because of the countless sacrifices she made to make my dreams come true. And even with all of the good she’s done, she just fell asleep and never woke up.
By Billy McDonald6 years ago in Families
Mosebetsi wa Badimo
I decide to take my field notes and gather my data at a family gathering. For this observation, I was a participant observer, but the participants did not know that they were being observed. I chose to be this kind of observer because I wanted to study how they behaved and socialised in their natural state without them limiting themselves and being aware of their actions and words. I chose to observe my family in this particular situation because I knew that the activities that were going to be done were very cultural. The African culture and traditions are supporters of male dominance, and because of this I wanted to see how the different roles are distributed amongst the men as well as the women and children during the ceremony.
By Khumi Phoko6 years ago in Families
Lifestyle
I’ve always wanted to start a blog of some sort. You can gather my surprise when I saw this platform to start writing. I am currently in Nova Scotia and my husband in is Alberta. Yes as most families my husband is away from his family for work and to earn a half decent income to also provide for us. This will be my first of many stories that I’ve lived and learned from.
By Jessica LeBlanc6 years ago in Families
Outside the Touch of Time
“To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were, we know each other's hearts, we share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys....Brothers and sisters live outside the touch of time.” —Author unknown
By Jessica Richardson6 years ago in Families
Can an app help conception rates?
Did you know that global fertility rates are falling? In 2019, the UK birth rate was 11.488 births per 1,000 people — a 0.48% decline from the previous year. One of the lowest levels since fertility was recorded in 1938, while the highest peak of fertility was recorded in 1947. Since then, this has dropped by 45.9%. Although this might appear that as a society, we’re becoming less fertile, in actual fact many of us are living longer and consequently having children later. With traditional family roles changing and women choosing to focus on their careers before starting a family, the fertility rate naturally falls. For example, in 2019, the average age of first-time mothers was around the ages of 30 to 34 years old, whereas in 1970, it was 21 years old.
By John Hannen6 years ago in Families
How India Is Co-Opting Individualism With Collectivism?
Growing up in an Indian family, you usually get accustomed to hearing from your parents and grandparents how they once lived in a joint family (some of you might still be living in it). You get ‘advised’ by your parents on the stream you should choose in senior school, college entrances you ought to give, and even whom you should marry (no value judgments about that).
By The Rashtra6 years ago in Families
paradox in paradise.
I am currently living out a strange paradox at the moment on our vacation in Eleuthera, Bahamas. Giving a little bit of context to this story: I am on a vacation for Christmas with my dad and my mom in the Bahamas. We arrived here on Christmas Eve to a rugged, yet uniquely beautiful airport fit to the landscape and theme of the island. From there we departed in our rented car down the bumpy local highway, in disrepair but still quite fun, to the grocery store. I believe it might be the only one on this part of the island.
By Miranda North Rawson6 years ago in Families
Outside the Touch of Time
“To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were, we know each other's hearts, we share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys....Brothers and sisters live outside the touch of time.” —-Author Unknown
By Jessica Richardson6 years ago in Families
