Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Play! Inspiring Creativity with Children in Isolation
Many of us are now being required to stay at home due to COVID-19, and this is so challenging when you have young children at home. While many schools are switching to remote learning, I have noticed how anxious many parents are about assisting their children in their education while keeping them busy in isolation. I empathize with this stress, and that is why I wanted to share with you some resources to help make your time at home more enjoyable for you and your children!
By Ashley Nestler, MSW6 years ago in Families
Divine Women Who've Taught Me The Way
As one woman, I am more than adamant to share with the world the impact that a number of other women have left me with. When they say "it takes a village to raise a child," I think it goes far beyond just teaching them right from wrong. Being raised in a family in which women out number men played a large role in the way I was brought up. My grandmothers, aunts and cousins have embodied wisdom, grace, strength, and optimism. Even watching how they would handle situations and grow from them was a blueprint in itself for me to follow when the time came. Although they are all so different, they are the backbones of my family. Plus, they are a rainbow in which they blend together so beautifully (even on the rainy days). Seeing women in my family who were nothing but nurses, teachers, and lawyers around me was only confirmation that everything I do must be done to perfection, because I watched them do their jobs every day. My mom would often tell me that as one of seven children, my grandmother and grandfather made the decision to create their own shop and opening that business is what led them to push my aunts and uncles through school. Sacrifice is a constant theme in this family of mine. Just the thought of my mom and her siblings coming from the sweet, small island of Jamaica and creating a beautiful life for my two older brothers and I spoke volumes. I'm grateful for my dad as well, but hey. This one is for the women! Allow me to proceed. This very same family taught me how to love and how to dream without ceasing. When I grew into myself I found my love for the arts. I grew up with a heart for singing, writing, and acting. I had days when I thought they'd feel disappointed because over time I wanted to go through life and sing about it, or perform spoken word pieces about it rather than graduating from Harvard with a BA in Nursing. I felt like there was someone else they'd rather me be, because that's who they were, but I was wrong (for the most part) I still get the, "You don't want to go back and do nursing?" but I know it's all out of love. I'm happy as an English major though. As long as my parents are happy about it as well, then I am too. The same support she showed me along my journey of becoming who I am today is what will inspire me to be the same kind of mother to my future child. The powerful women in my family reminded me that they'll be right behind me as I follow every goal I've set until I reach the pinnacle of my success. They carried traits that reminded me that I am so much more than just a girl and that I am the embodiment of a vital spirit. They still remind me of how I am capable to do anything I want to do in the amount of time that has been granted to me on this earth. My grandmother's prayers have carried over even into today for me to live my life to the fullest even on my not-so-good days. I think the best part of this all is that they've taught me to never prove myself to anybody. I remember every day that I came into this world alone, and that is the same way in which I will be leaving it. I can always depend on them because whenever I am hurting over being mistreated or heartbroken, they remind me that it is okay to feel. It’s not normal to repudiate my emotions and no matter how much the world tries to turn my heart into stone, I carry this with me. They remind me to live my life in harmony with truth and honesty. They emphasize for me to stay focused and to always have a keen eye. Being raised with such care has reminded me of my purpose for walking this Earth. Two forms of the many arts that I adore (music and writing) have presented icons who I look up to, Lauryn Hill and Sista Souljah. I love everything about the spirit of Ms. Hill. She carries herself with so much grace and natural beauty that forces me to just be real with myself and with everyone around me. Her talent is unbelievable and she has a voice that makes me feel like dancing in the middle of a storm. I don't know where the world of music would be without her as one woman. Sista Souljah has taken the boring feel out of reading for me. I loved to write growing up, but I dreaded reading. I became a bookworm after being introduced to The Coldest Winter Ever and A Deeper Love Inside. I think Black urban literature is a significant part of Black culture and those two novels have changed my life, truthfully. They even inspired me to create my own novel which I completed and published earlier this year. I think if the world continues to see through the eyes of the black youth (young black womanhood at that) it would understand us a lot better. She really puts her finest efforts into the pages and I feel every bit of emotion as I read, and re-read, and re-read again. I want to make sure that the young brown girl I bring up is aware of all the things I've learned and experienced from all of these lovely women and then some.
By Tiffany Linton6 years ago in Families
Dads - It's Your Time to Shine!
You just found out you and your beautiful significant other are going to have a baby. What an amazing and exciting time. However, there is so much to think about and so much to prepare for. But you will have time to think about that later on.
By Corey Abreau6 years ago in Families
Auntie with a capital A
There is no shortage of women who inspire me that I could write about. My mother, who raised three children on her own earning success in her career and raising strong resilient children. My sister who fought all odds and woke up from a coma that should have killed her or my friend who gave up her favourite foods such as steak and eventually gravy because her empathy for all living things was bigger than satisfying her taste buds or her meat loving husband.
By Kimberly Peace6 years ago in Families
My Mother, the most inspirational woman in my life
The woman I respect and admire most is my mother. A brief recollection of her background is my mother was born in a city called Lagos in Nigeria, and among 13 children her own Mum had, there was only two survivors, my mum and her older sister. From a young age, my mother has always been ambitious. She left Nigeria in the 50s to emigrate to the United Kingdom. My mother put herself through school and became a nurse. She met my father and had 6 children, which I am the last but also a twin, and all of us were girls. This, will not be accepted by the African culture, because boys do carry the family name. My mother was tricked back to Africa,selling all her belongings, her house,cars, and was deceived by her husband to deposit it into his account. On getting back to Nigeria, my mother’s suffering began. She was beaten, cheated on, and many cucumbines of my father and his family mocked her. My mother being a strong woman, focused on her work and children. While my father was busy with his adulterous lifestyle, even bearing three children out of wedlock, my mother was busy building a house, a business and a future for herself and her children. One day, my mother woke us all up in the night and we drove to our new house. Although the house built did not have a roof, we the children loved lying down peacefully and looking up to the moon and stars, relieved that we have left the abusive conditions. The house was built and finished while we lived there. My mother delved into work, opening a chemist and a farm which we bred chickens which eventually became a poultry and the main source of egg distribution in our area. My mother showed her kindness and generosity, by helping The villagers and anyone needing medical care, free of charge. At a young age of 5, we started learning and helping in cleaning wounds, assuring patients and helping with medications under the supervision of our mother. My mother worked really hard, and we as children helped. In 1982, one one fateful day, an uncle visited us to inform us about the death of my father, he died in a car crash which, one of his cuncumbines was in the car, her son, and one of my eldest sister, he was escaping with his girlfriend and their son, when he only met his untimely death. This affected my mother a great deal, but as we were young, we could not comprehend what was going on, but we knew that we had just lost our father, but we were never close to him to cry. My mother then decided it was time for all of us to leave the country as she saw our situation as vulnerable, and many people would like to take advantage of us. My mother sold her poultry and chemist, and bought all six children our ticket to freedom, back to the United Kingdom. Challenges in the UK was met by my fierce mother, and she brought all her girls up to work hard, have a good income to support ourselves and taught us to always stand for our rights, apologize if we are wrong, and to be kind and selfless to others. My mother shaped 4 of her children into the medical career, one of my sister became a doctor, another a pharmacist, and two of us became a nurses. My mother has always been an inspiration to me and continues to be, her selflessness, kindness and her non judgmental character has shaped me into the woman I am today. I have 5 children, and I am fortunate to have boys among my children. Now my mother is at a old age with grandchildren and great grandchildren, and the envy of the family who once cast her out and now her children are who they look up too for help and advice. My mother is a great inspiration to my generation, her generation, and other generations to come. Her hard work and prevalence paid well, and now my mother is still working hard to help people even at the age of 82, which I find admirable and I do have a lot of respect for my mother and what she has been through, her story is a survival story.
By Taiye Fajemisin Adeyemi6 years ago in Families
Strollers Should be Banned on Public Transportation During Peak Hours
One of my pet peeves is strollers on public transportation. If it were up to me, I would ban them. While I understand that parents and their children need to get around, during peak hours strollers should not be allowed on a train, bus or streetcar.
By Conny Manero6 years ago in Families
3 Simple Activities For Kids
Toys are flying, craft supplies are dwindling, and no matter how many snacks you throw at them they are still hungry! Geekology admins are wonderful, but they can be hard work to keep entertained when the only option is the house or your garden. Here we offer you three simple crafts you can do at home with minimal supplies – they worked on our admin team, so we hope they’ll work for your kids too!
By The One True Geekology6 years ago in Families
