Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Living with Your Ex in Quarantine During a Divorce - What Not to Do
Did things finally reach the breaking point with your significant other and you decided to get a divorce. You might have been planning on moving out right before COVID-19 hit, or even being in the quarantine itself is what finally pushed you over the edge, but things have quickly changed for all us with self-isolation and quarantine becoming the new norm in the US. Experts have even said that increased divorced will be one of the outcomes of the quarantine along with increased birth rates. The decision to get a divorce will have an effect on a lot more than just being together. There are many financial and legal considerations to think about and your actions during this period - especially the actions made while quarantined together during this stressful time will affect how future divorce proceedings may go. As such we have compiled this list of what you should not being doing while living with the person you are divorcing to help guide you:
By robert karow7 years ago in Families
Languages Are Not an Issue, But a Tool: Multilingual Children Know How to Use Them
Mamma, mangiamo un gelato? My children are asking me; then, my husband answers Welk ijsje willen jullie? Our kids promptly answer back Wij willen een chocolade ijsje! My husband and I agree to go to eat an ice cream because, as we are on vacation, we are not so strict about junk food.
By Raffaella Ferretti7 years ago in Families
Mom life
I been a single mom for 7 years almost on the 22nd of March . When I had my kids I knew I was gonna be a good mom . I took care my 2 younger siblings at a young age . My mom was going through a depression with being a single mom and like most mothers back in the day went to drugs for a get away. I was forced to grow up fast I didn’t have it easy coming up. But I love my mom to death ! And I thank her so much for showing me to be independent and strong. I have my days now as a mom where I wanna give up but I can’t . I look at my kids and realize that I have a job for life and it motivates me to go so hard. So I am now here single mother of 2 . My kids father is locked up. Nobody knows how long he is doing . All I can do is pray for the best and prepare for the worst and keep going. Nobody taught me how to be a mom I pretty much learned as I go. Of course we all say we want this perfect family but nothing or nobody is perfect . So yes I fail sometimes, but like they say “ you may bend but you will not break “ . That’s me I’m a young mom I screw up sometimes I lack at something’s but I fix them as I go. I feel like all the mistakes I made in life was a lesson learn . That’s why I don’t regret anything . I just learn . That way when my kids get older they know how to push forward if they make a mistake or I can protect them the best way I can to not make those same mistakes. You ever hear that saying “ it takes a village to raise a kid “ ? Well I guess I’m the village lol. And Yes I’m proud to say that because this wasn’t a choice god made me a single mom for a reason . He knew that my kids would be in good hands with me . And I say that because a mothers love goes along way💕 with me I know they safe, fed, washed, learning and clothed and sheltered. My kids are my life . They are my best friends . It makes me proud when they come home with good grades and good reports . That’s telling me I’m doing a awesome job as a single mother .Can you believe I didn’t know how to cook or teach someone to walk or use the toilet until I had kids of my own and I’m loving every minute of it . This is my life being a mom cleaning and going to school to provide for my family . It gets no better than this . We are blessed ! I hope any single mother out there going through what I’m going through and reading this smile and feel so much better if they having a bad day right now . This is something to remind you that you are not alone and it gets better . I moved from Philadelphia pa to Portage pa with my 2 children in 2017 it’s now 2020 . I never thought I could do it but I’m here doing it and I been the happiest woman since then . When I moved here I had No money . Had to quit my job. We had the clothes on our back all our important documents in my purse, $300 in food stamps and $10 in cash and car ride and now look a 3 bedroom house now enrolled into college going for medical coding and billing and soon ima be running my own business working from home . Just so I can continue to build with my kids. So yeah if you need to cry Cry . Let it all out. But don’t ever feel like you are alone and it all ends there . It’s never ends there , it gets better. You grow you live and you have fun . Even if it’s just with your kids 💕
By Jade Thompson 7 years ago in Families
The Londoner's England
I must be honest. It took me a while to fully appreciate why this collection of pictures accompanied by short write ups on each has the title “The Londoner’s England” but I reached that conclusion; eventually. The book takes the reader to eighty-nine locations. Over half of them are in London and the remainder are in what are referred to as the “Home Counties”. That is those counties that border London or border counties that border London. The book was designed as a type of guide to locations accessible by Londoners by car, on public transport or on foot.
By Alan Russell7 years ago in Families
Strength in the Shadows
Start writing...Inspirational women in my life have been numerous,however three stand above all others. I was eleven when life drastically changed& I was in desperate need of guidance. My father lost his eight-year long battle with cancer leaving my mom to raise us three children alone. I would never fully grasp the depth of this challenge till I was grown,reflecting back on how we were brought up with love,never having much,but always managing to get by,relying heavily on the shared trama that loss brings. Despite mom's depression&driftlessness that would be a part of all our lives for the next decade,we grew together bonded by our suffering.Death is an amazing glue to those that remain,it was in our case anyway. Our family relying heavily on our humor and sarcasm. My mom's strength&determination to go on has been an inspiration to me my entire adult life.Seven years ago she fought her own battle with breast cancer as my sister&I stood alongside her lost in a fog of disbelief.We all made our way through despite our newest scars. Losing one parent put a profound amount of fear in our minds and hearts as we hoped for the best.It has been five years and we still have our family happily intact with mom being the intracal heart.My younger sister by ten years is not only an amazing inspiration to me,she is my truest friend. Anna was the gift that entered our world when my father was leaving ours. She was six months old when dad died and the one light we had at that dark time.Highly creative,she is an amazing pianoist,painter,and writer. Having a gift as an entrepreneur,she started her own jewelry business at the age of 22,selling her handmade pieces of art at local independent shops and atCrystal Bridges Museum store. Despite her depression&anxiety,she has arisen from the ashes to be a woman that has no recognition of the true inspiration she is. I admire how she continues to fight,despite everyday being an uphill challenge. Anna gives my life color,she adds humor&depth to every day.The world through her lens is such a uniquely beautiful one that I value getting to have a glimpse through. When you are a highly private person who has a small circle of trust,to have a person understand your mind is a raregift. We are true regency era sisters,equally loving to read,create art,take afternoon walks,drinking tea with paintbrushesin hand. Loving our solitude almost as much as each other,the quiet peace of our lives suits us very well. I come from a extensive family with my dad's sister,my aunt Yvonne,soaring to the top of my favorite people list. Standing beside me through the roller coaster of life has been my second mother for as long as I can remember.Living half of my life in central Wisconsin on a farm,she taught me lost skills of survival long before it was popular,besides being a Jill of all trades,it's her kindness that sets her apart as a powerhouse of a woman.Auntie's empathy&love for everyone makes her stand out as an inspiration of what the world is desperately lacking enough of. The values and qualities I admire most are embodied in her,love runs through all of her veins felt by all she meets. How a person treats another person is how I measure quality of character,and in this she taught through example what love is. I feel as women,we all come from a long line of strength,we just have to tap into it,with the realization that it too,resides in each one of us.
By Inga S Christianson7 years ago in Families
Goodnight Stories for Multiracial Children:
Breanna Carter Graduate Student at the University of South Florida Abstract: This critical content analysis examines two children’s books made for multiracial children that were published between 2013 and 2015 and how they can be used as tools for mothers to guide their children through the racial climate of the U.S. today. These books can be used as tools for mothers of multiracial children to help their children self-identify as multiracial. The theoretical framework used in this study is social identity theory (SIT) (Bilig & Tajfel, 1973; Hogg, Terry, & White, 1995). The results of this study indicate that (1) hair, (2) outside perceptions, and (3) multiracial celebration/positivity are found in the two multiracial children’s books to be used by mothers to help multiracial children identify in U.S. culture.
By Breanna Latoi7 years ago in Families
