Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Raising Kids with Mental and Learning Disorders
When I sat down to write this, I tried to think of the many angles to take. I am bipolar and have ADD and I deal with other issues. When my daughter was diagnosed with extreme anxiety, and my son as high functioning autism and ADHD, I admit I jumped on the pity train and tried to make it all about me. What did I do to make my children not "normal"? Why do my kids have to suffer like me? A slew of other things went through my head, but I finally realized, they are perfectly normal, and so am I.
By Bradley Perry7 years ago in Families
Travels With Toddlers
We recently returned from a 10 day trip with our three year old and nine month old. We survived. Vacationing with small children can seem more like work than play, but we value experiences, and we cherish the joy that our children had on our trip. I can understand why so many people are overcome with anxiety at the though of traveling with small children. If you value travel, like we do, here are three tips we used to make our travel successful.
By Johnny Lambert7 years ago in Families
Missing Sister Found!
Today I went out with family! Mom found my sister who was missing for months, and we decided to celebrate. She was not hurt, she was a bit dirty and looked like she had been hiding on the streets and stuff. Mom is gonna take her to get checked, and get her new clothes and stuff, and get her set up with an apartment!
By Kota Wolfe7 years ago in Families
What World Breastfeeding Week Means to Me
Both of my pregnancies went respectfully well. I've been told that I'm practically a pro at natural childbirth. Really though, my nurse with my first said “Some women’s bodies just know exactly what to do!” My midwife was so upset letting me go as a patient after my second that she wants me to have more. I'm cool with bragging just a bit, because on the other hand when it comes to breastfeeding, it didn't come nearly as natural to me.
By Rayelle Paulson7 years ago in Families
Brainstorm, Now Earthquake
For the first time in my life, I can feel myself aging. I can feel the heavy weight of tragedy, of hardship, of something there is no answer for, drag me down slowly, slowly, further, further, more slumping, more drooping, less laughter, less ease, less ... ease.
By Lucinda Koza7 years ago in Families
There's Something that Should Happen in Every Birth, that You've Probably Never Heard Of
Today, most births take place in hospital—at least in the modern Western world. Only 50 years ago, most births took place at home, but now it’s typical to pack your bag for hospital and deliver your baby on a maternity ward.
By Natalie Lennard7 years ago in Families
Dear Abuser, I Am Done Forgiving You
Abuse. Never a word I thought would apply to myself, no matter how many times I read and reread the definition of it from the yellowed pages of the dictionary given to me. But for almost fifteen years, I lived my life in a weird suspended state of consciousness. Numb, deaf, and mute. The sum of the entirety of my life was simplified to one word- silence. Silence. Plainly described as a complete and utter lack of sound. That was how I lived. In silence. It was only interrupted by the momentary loud bursts of skin breaking under a violent hit. The muffled screams hidden behind the closed doors. The quiet whimpers escaping between locked lips. The overwhelming and consuming sense of loneliness and isolation. The cold floor as it turns out to be the only comfort at the end of the day. Abuse. Silence. Hand in hand. A duo of trouble.
By Bailey Theismann7 years ago in Families
Cousin Natalie: Yes We Will Save Your Seat!
Play SAVE YOUR SEAT on Sound Cloud. Natalie was only 65 years old when she passed away from esophageal cancer in the summer of 2017. She was my first cousin, my father’s younger brother’s eldest daughter. For an entire year, I hadn’t heard from Natalie and found it odd every time I called, I got her voicemail and she never returned my calls. A few months before she passed away, I attended a cousin’s reunion and her younger sister Arlene, told me that she wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t make it. In the back of my mind, I knew something was wrong.
By Lewis Papier7 years ago in Families
Movie Review: 'The Farewell' Is a Heartwarming and Moving Story of Family
YouTube rapper turned actress Awkwafina teams up with indie director Lulu Wang for The Farewell, a moving and heartfelt film about a Chinese American woman who travels back to China when she finds out her grandmother is terminally ill. The catch is that the family has decided not to tell the grandmother, or Nai Nai, about her illness. It’s a surprisingly uplifting film that, while culturally specific, explores universal themes of family, impending loss, and returning to your home town after being abroad for years.
By Robert O'Connor7 years ago in Families
