Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Old Vintage Toys Modern Kids Would Like
There has probably been a time in everyone’s life when we decided to open our old toy box and thought to ourselves, “Man, I’m old!” The sight of all those old toys probably brings a whole lot of memories from your childhood. A toy box is filled with dreams that are dating from a time far away. But most of us probably have thought about how the new kids would view these toys. In a world filled with smartphones and flashy LCD screens, there is not a lot of room for old vintage stuff found in the attack. But which toys would still hold up today? What are the toys that your child would think about playing right now if it had the opportunity? Here are some examples of old vintage toys that modern kids would enjoy playing with.
By Carolin Petterson8 years ago in Families
Arleigh's Plague
Arliegh was only twelve when her Daddy stopped breathing. Life was already hard for her mother and sister as it was, but after daddy left was when it really started to become difficult. She recalled before he died when the plague first got to him, how she and Joranne, her older sister would sit by the hot stove and watch as the physician soothed Daddy’s fever.
By Miranda D.8 years ago in Families
You Are So Loved
Unfortunately, my life has been touched by suicide. During high school, I struggled with self harm and suicidal feelings. I didn't have a productive way of coping with stress, and self harm became my coping mechanism. Now, I know now that self harm is not an appropriate coping mechanism, but when I was younger, for some reason it was the only thing I could think of to calm my anxious mind. This unfortunately was a struggle throughout all of my high school career, up until halfway through my senior year. I made some really amazing friends my senior year of high school, and I was the captain of my high schools color guard. I had a solo in our indoor show, and I felt like I finally had a place. Luckily for me, things only went up from there, and I learned more positive ways to deal with my stress. Now I clean. Other people aren’t always as lucky, however. They don’t find their place, and they don’t realize how loved they truly are until it’s too late.
By Hannah York 8 years ago in Families
Fatherless
I don’t exactly know when I stopped considering my father to be my father. Maybe it was the first time my mom told me he had gone to jail. My four year old self looked up at her in anguish as I realized that he had never been on the “business trip” my mom had told me he had gone on in order to protect my heart. Or maybe it was the first time I had visited him when he got out. How he and his new wife spent everyday in bed smoking cigars and neglecting the seven year old girl they had under their roof. I had survived that week off of bologna sandwiches I made myself for a whole week because that’s the only thing I could find. I stopped eating bologna after that. Could it have been the last time I ever visited him in jail? My twelve year old self sitting across from him at the table with my sister beside me holding my hand as I tried so hard to keep the tears that threatened to fall down my cheeks at bay as he called me fat and ugly, and blamed me for him being in jail in the first place. Maybe if I had been a better daughter and not stressed him out so much he wouldn’t have turned to drugs and wouldn’t be in jail in the first place.
By Olivia Williams8 years ago in Families
It's Okay to Just Let Them Play
When you think back to being a child, most of the happy memories that pop into your head are of things like your favourite toy, game or activity. For me it's making mud pies on the hill outside the house, riding my bike, sleepovers with friends, going to the woods, playing in the water and sandpit and playing make believe games. I recall a distinctly unique element to these things: being utterly carefree. There was no pressure to track my progress in any of these endeavors, no purpose needed to be explained. They existed simply for fun and I was allowed to immerse myself in them with no other desired outcome needed.
By Jaz Johnstone8 years ago in Families
Never Ending Cycles
So you've been trying to start or add to your family. You might be trying for your first child, you may have remarried and you want more children, or you're trying for baby number 2 but months and months have gone by. Heck, maybe even a year or more.
By Marissa Jason8 years ago in Families
The Best Gift He Gave Me Was Leaving
When you marry someone, you don’t think of an end other than “til death do you part.” You see forever, you see the one, you see the both of you growing together, having kids, buying a house, traveling the world, and growing old. For me, that was not how it worked out. For me, my husband did not want forever, he just wanted for now.
By Jessica Smith8 years ago in Families
Different. Not Less.
My son turned seven in August. He's in second grade. It's been eight months since he was "diagnosed." I always knew he was special. Extra smart. Had his little quirks that he had. Strange little habits he had. But nothing to odd. No big like "wow" eye opening things.
By Becca Pace8 years ago in Families
