Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

Coming Out
It was August 10, 2004, and my family still had lived in Parkersburg, West Virginia when my mom started to go into labor with me. Gosh, I remember her always complaining about how long she was in labor. “72 HOURS! YOU KNOW HOW LONG THAT IS, THAT'S 3 WHOLE DAYS!” But of course, I had no control over that. August 13th at 10 o’clock in the morning is when she ended up giving birth to the baby girl she had always wanted, or so she thought.
By Jacob Jackson7 years ago in Families
Maybe
In my early years, my journal and I had a very special, very sacred bond. We went to school together, we laughed together, we cried together, and sometimes we just stared at each other blankly, waiting for the other to speak.
By Kai Grace7 years ago in Families
One Parent
Life is fine, I tell this myself. I tell this to myself so often I nearly convince myself it is true. The memories of him are vague and not full of love, nothing terrible. He never hurt me, at least not physically. No. He just wasn't always present. It didn't work out. He was an asshole. People don't like that. People say "family is everything." Family IS everything, if the family isn't toxic. But this isn't about that. I leave behind a country full of friends, and a mom-like figure, and my biological father, distant painful memories I've all but blocked out.
By Aurelie M Jones7 years ago in Families
Caring for Your Kids
Having kids is a beautiful thing. You are giving birth to another life and will always have someone with you now. You are adding another person to the family to be cherished and loved. Having kids is a wonderful thing, but it is also challenging. You have to raise and take care of them. Taking care of children is not an easy task, especially if you are a working parent; it's like getting a second job. It will be fun at times and it will be hard at times. Either way it's a job you have to do, but it will all pay off in the end.
By Kevin7 years ago in Families
My Review of 'Instant Family'
Instant Family looked like a nice family-friendly movie in the trailers. It's still weird to see a muscle-bound Mark Wahlberg playing an everyday dad-type, but it's starting to set in, and I'm getting used to it.
By Brian Anonymous7 years ago in Families
My Husband Killed Me
I will start by saying to all the people in my life, "I am sorry!" I thought he loved me, some of you knew that I was wrong, but I really thought he did.
By Jodi Roberts7 years ago in Families
You're Not Here Anymore and That’s Okay
The day you got sick was the day that everything in my past came back to my head in my thoughts. When we were younger we had it very hard, you were a strict old school Mexican dad. Your beliefs were the way you were raised as a young boy. So we had it very hard, we weren’t aloud to do a lot of things that other family members and friends that I knew could do, it was what you said and that’s it. We had it rough growing up, you and my mom always fighting. Physical and mental abuse was in the picture for a very long time, and me and my siblings grew up thinking it was normal and okay. Now it came to that day the day my mom would leave you this last time and never go back with you after 15 years of this hell back and fourth, she finally had the courage to say enough is enough. You both separated and found other lovers, the guy that she is with is a low life. Now I’m wishing you both were together because it’s starting to suck and I hate this guy.
By Val Padi7 years ago in Families
How to Connect Better with Your Family at Home
Connecting with your family is a very important thing to be able to do. When you aren’t able to connect with your family at home, you are going to be missing out on many bonding opportunities. Your home may also become a place of contention as well. This is something that you can avoid if you learn how to connect with your family better at home. The more you work on connecting with your family, the better chance you will have to create meaningful, long-lasting relationships.
By Kevin7 years ago in Families
Lorelei's Letters - Letter Two
Lorelei's Letters is a series of posts addressed for my daughter, but that have general statements that I believe everyone should hear from someone, at some point in their lives. Basically, they are letters from mother to daughter, trying to explain this crazy world, and give some advice. A lot of them are on dark topics that I hope my daughter will get through with no scars. I hope you enjoy or at least take something from the letters. Know that no matter who you are, where you are, or what you've done, you are loved. - A mother
By Michelle Schultz7 years ago in Families
Fathers
Fathers always leave their mark on their children. A father may easily underestimate their importance in the lives of their children, especially during the first few years of their lives, when the child is naturally more drawn to the mother for food and comfort.
By Sonica M7 years ago in Families
Father Daughter
Happy Father’s Day to the man who created me. The man half responsible for my existence. Even though you weren’t there during my upbringing, you shaped my life in many ways.
By Tristan Langford7 years ago in Families
Moded AF
Being an 80s baby always made me feel special, it was just a good time to be born. June of 1985 to be specific. In my younger years, I remember being a happy kid. One of my favorite things, 'til this day is singing. One of my earliest memories had to be when I was five years old. My mother (Doris), would connect the microphone to the radio and she would record us singing on a cassette tape. We would sing songs from the O'Jays, Debra & Ronnie Laws, and other artists. As I got older, I would go on to sing in the choir at the church I grew up in, New Hope Baptist. It's a popular church if you grew up on the east side of Long Beach. That's where I met a few of my childhood friends... that grew to be family, sort of. I would sing as if there was nothing holding me back. As a child you don't know the social constraints, like the wrong or right way to sing. You just did it cause you were told to do so. I liked the attention, early on. I didn't know it then but singing and music would grow to be my outlet and one of the only things that would keep me sane.
By Dee Good7 years ago in Families