Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

Untold Stories
In order to tell the story properly I think it's only right to start from the very, very beginning. So here goes nothing. My mother, like me, looked for love in all the wrong places. She often found love at the bottom of a bottle, behind the bar on a late night, the back of a taxi on the ride home, or the cheap hotel on Legacy Dr.
By Julie Barrientes8 years ago in Families
Adventure for Us
Ever since we were little, my sister, Mackenzie, and I went on adventures. We went everywhere together and were considered to be inseparable by most. With only a years difference between us, we were closer than any of our other siblings, and we knew it. Of course, we fought, but it wasn’t often.
By Will Jackson8 years ago in Families
A Letter to My Brother
Friday, April 28, 2018 will always be the day my life stopped and forever changed. The day where you were taken too soon. In one day, I had to face the fact that I would have to accept the unimaginable, leave my old life behind, and start looking at life from a different point of view, one where you were no longer with us. I had known no other life without you and it physically hurt to think about living this way.
By Dana Lee8 years ago in Families
The Struggle Is Real... but Worth It!
Have you heard the saying "The struggle is real?" I finally know what that means. And let me tell you, it's true. I didn't plan to be a single mom. I married my high school sweetheart. We spent 20 years together, but ultimately his addiction to alcohol led to him cheating multiple times. I was raised to believe you get married once. If it's broken, you fix it. The problem was I let him walk all over me. I think it was out of the comfort of just having him there. He was familiar and my best friend. But people change. Sadly he changed for the worst. When he ultimately left us (I say us, because he left the kids too.) for another woman and her kids, it hurt, it hurt bad. I'm not gonna lie and say it's been easy. I do my best. But some days I don't have money to pay the bills or buy food. We struggle. I spend a lot of nights crying myself to sleep. I think the tears are more out of being scared instead of sadness. Scared that I'm not enough of a parent that my children ultimately need. I do my best and I try to remain strong for them. But somewhere along the way, I not only lost a husband but all of our couple friends are now friends with him and his new girl and I feel alone. More alone than I'd like to admit. But the truth is, I am alone. I have my kids, but that's not the same as a friendship or relationship. I can't vent to my kids when I've had a bad day. I don't want them to think momma is sad, worried, or even stressed. I like them to see me as strong and doing what needs to be done. I've gone plenty of nights where food was scarce, so "Mom was feeling sick" or "I had already eaten." My kids come first. They are my priority in life. It's my job as their mom to make sure they are safe, happy, and good people and I think I'm doing a pretty damn good job at that. Somewhere though, I lost me. My kids are my life, and that's not a bad thing. But I miss going out, even if it's to a movie. I miss companionship. I miss living that life that doesn't involve homework or video games. And feeling like that makes me feel so guilty in a way, so I push those feelings away and put on a smile. Don't get me wrong it's not all bad and tough, every day they amaze me in some way. I am so lucky to get to wake up to their beautiful smiles and hugs. Recently my oldest (19) moved out and that's been tough. We all miss her so much. But when I start crying missing her and I realize that I've done my job as a good mom because she is out living her life and pursuing her dreams. And she is a good person. That's all I want for all of my kids. So this is for any of you single moms who may feel like this or any women trapped in a bad marriage and are scared to leave. Let me tell you, it can be done! You are capable of doing this. Our kids are reminders every day of why we can do this. So I say to you, the struggle is real, but I got this, you got this...we got this!
By Amber B. 8 years ago in Families
Drugs, Violence and Self Harm—the Truth That Comes with Having a Teenage Boy in 2018
At 20 when I fell pregnant with my son; I thought life with him would be Tonka Cars, sand pits and video games It was... Until age 13 came. In fact secondary school came. Other boys, desperate to become the pack leaders—never worried about who they’ll stamp out along the way. Don’t get me wrong, I am a firm believer in children ‘finding their own place’ and ‘learning from their mistakes,’ but when those ‘mistakes’ become life-altering? I am the first mum in the queue with something to say.
By Twins Plus28 years ago in Families
Keeping up with Jemi's Life
I will talk about everything from my love life to my everyday life, I pretty much live two lives. Writing My Own Story Most parents hope for better things for their children. Some kids are raised up to live a happy and decent life. However, some parents ignore their kid’s wishes and dreams. They impose their ideas and expect the youths to be perfect in everything. That takes any choices away from children who they would probably like to be. I have become the victim of this absurd and unfair system and I’m reaping the fruits of my broken childhood till today.
By Jemi T.8 years ago in Families
Everything I Never Got to Say
It's been nearly three weeks now. Three weeks since the day I learned that you were gone. For most of this time, it hasn't felt real. It's' felt... I dunno... Like I'm trapped in this parallel universe where everything is the same but something is just slightly off. Like you're at a friend's house, not ashes. And all I can think is that... Thank god they didn't bury you. You would've hated it so much. Thank god they're letting you travel.
By Will Jackson8 years ago in Families
Spirituality & Family
It was about 3 years ago I started to wake up. From a young age I wanted to believe that there was always something more, something bigger than us, and for a while believed that our only acceptable and believable option was God. I used to pray and respect Him, in secret as my family are total athiests and would never understand my need for this sense of security.
By Ellie Marshall8 years ago in Families
Darragh's Demise
It seems unfair that some of us go on to live long lives and do extraordinary things. Isaac Newton, Winston Churchill, and Rosa Parks were some of the brightest and most inspiring people alive, and luckily for them they lived a long life in order to achieve their full potential. But, what about those of us who don't make it? What about the ones who die young before their talents can ever be recognised?
By c B8 years ago in Families
My Birth Story
On December 5, 2017, at 10:00 PM, I started getting mild contractions. I had been getting those darn Braxton-Hicks on and off for the past week and I thought it was going to be another day of keeping track of my irregular contractions.
By Emily Perez8 years ago in Families
When Your Celiac Warrior Starts Kindergarten
I’ve always wanted to stay home with my kids. I have fantasized about it my entire life. I wanted to have four kids and be able to teach them and mould their spongey little minds in the baby and toddler years before passing them off to a complete stranger to do the same. I’m sure a very capable, but very strangery stranger. I always thought maybe we could work our way around needing two incomes, but most likely that it wouldn’t be a possibility. But, when I had brain surgery I could no longer drive and I was healing physically and emotionally, and so I became a stay at home mom. It was the silver lining in the hardest time in my life. I, of course, needed a lot of help from family at first, but I was at home and able to see my kids all day every day like I had always wanted.
By Jennie Carr8 years ago in Families
Grief
Part One I miss you today. I miss you every day. Some days it just hurts less, or I should say, the hurt isn’t at the forefront. Some days. Other days, like today, I’m reduced to a sniveling mess, making a futile attempt to console myself with hot chocolate and Christmas cookies I found in the freezer. It is a shitty Band-Aid at best that will only result in my feeling worse about everything.
By Postit Fox8 years ago in Families