Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Something's Wrong with Our Mia
Mia, my 8-year-old daughter. She is an amazing little girl, loves to play, run around, draw, write, and has a big heart. No matter what’s going on a smile is never missing from her face. She has a selfless heart, always willing to give to others and always puts herself last when others are in need. She lost her baby sister to a freak accident in 2016 and her loving grandma a year later, but even then she has never stopped smiling and sharing her love of life.
By Ivette Ruiz8 years ago in Families
If I Am What I Eat...
Along the hardwood floor, pitter patter. My small, barefoot, childish feet take me to the kitchen. The house I have come to know, not my own but similar. I stand in the kitchen, behind the screen of a sliding door. My gaze is set across the lawn and through the slatted fence to my own home. A house, much like the other ones in my somewhat grand but cookie-cutter-esque neighborhood. It is pale olive green and it is encircled by trimmed hedges and seasonal Home Depot flowers. The rope swing that I so loved swayed gently, its red disc seat spinning slowly in spring's gusts. I thought of being on the swing, how I always kept my feet out to push off the towering tree, being frightened every time I twirled, losing sight of the trunk. Waiting for its hard bark to hit me in the back or scratch my elbow. It was a captivating thing, I thought, staring into your own yard, seeing how a passerby might view your life and all that surrounds it.
By ella caisey8 years ago in Families
Blueberry - My Short Journey
My Blueberry and Our Short Journey So as most of you know, I announced that I was pregnant on July 1. We found out on June 27 and had it confirmed on June 29 through bloodwork and urine that we were pregnant. Something that we didn’t think was going to be possible. We were so excited to tell everyone. We even discussed if we should wait to tell everyone in case something happened. But a lot of my research I did said that a lot of women wished they would’ve told at least their family so they had support when something happened. So, I thought it was a wise choice. Facebook world found out because we recorded telling my mom. Now I didn’t come out on Facebook about what I went through this past Wednesday because I didn’t want people to think we were just out for attention, especially after we just announced that we were pregnant three days earlier. So, here’s my story and warning, there are parts of it that are graphic, but these are the things that have stuck with me through this tiny journey with our Blueberry.
By Marleah Tryon8 years ago in Families
Mother of Mine
Kneeling beside the tub I would sit, chin resting on one hand, propped up by the side of the bath. Immersed in the warm soapy depth, I used my other hand to wash water over her growing belly. Curious, I would explore, gently probing the soft, round shape all the while studying the flashes of purple. Scar tissue that lit up, glistening under the water, reflecting the night light. Consumed, my gaze would move between her stomach and the black mascara that trickled over her cheeks. Transfixed, I watched the stream of tributaries as they meandered across and down her face. Diluted, slate grey boulders streamed from red, raw, bloodshot eyes. She would cry so hard. The pain in her face was one that I understood and so quietly I sat and observed, all the while sharing her sadness.
By Rumer Bartholomew8 years ago in Families
Summer Activities for Your Kids
When my children were young, I found summers to be a good time for them to explore, learn, and engage in fun and safe activities. Children will become bored if their summer days are not filled with a variety of activities. There are creative ways to help your children have a wonderful summer. With careful planning, you can create activities that will become memories for them that they will love and cherish. The key, however, is advanced planning. You will need to start planning for the summer several weeks before summer arrives. As you make plans for summer activities, consider local craft stores, your local library, art centers and museums, and of course your local recreational center to see what if they are offering summer activities. You can also explore your local YMCA and community summer league programs.
By Clara Harrison8 years ago in Families
Call the Monster-in-Law
We have all heard so many horror stories. We all are terrified of one part of a relationship. The parents. For the men, it is usually fear of the dad or the brothers. You have heard some pretty interesting stories about those. But most of the time, they sort it out like men. And when all boundaries are established and feelings have been made clear, usually it is fine between them. After all, it is a common theory that many women find partners that remind them of positive male role models in their lives. Men, on the other hand, don't usually find women like their mothers.
By Lynn Adams8 years ago in Families
Things Breastsleeping Does to Your Body
Before diving into this article, let's discuss what breastsleeping is—and no, that's not a typo; you read that correctly. Breastsleeping is simply the act of sleeping with your baby while breastfeeding. The term breastsleeping was created by James McKenna, Ph.D, the director of the University of Notre Dame's Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory.
By Julie Barnes8 years ago in Families
Mommy Not So Dearest Part 2
Needless to say the affair I was trying to stay out of didn’t end. But my very early and young marriage did end, unfortunately. I moved from St. Louis back home to Minnesota to stay with my family during the separation period, which only dragged me into the whole mess of things further.
By Meagan Hagerman8 years ago in Families
An Open Letter to the Man Who Destroyed My Family
To whomever it may concern, I don't know your name, what you look like, where you are from, or anything about you. And I don't care to. You ripped my family a part. You took the seams of my parents' marriage and helped my mom pull them out thread by thread. I don't blame you entirely, for it takes two to tango, but it takes an extremely low, greedy person to come between a married woman and her husband. Who knows? Maybe there were multiple of you. Like I said: I don't know, and I don't care to, whomever it may concern.
By Ashley Gilmer8 years ago in Families
Mommy Not so Dearest Part 1
I always loved the words used in The Crow movie, “Mother means God in the mouths of children.” That always resonated with me from such a tender age on. In my opinion, some mothers just aren’t meant to be mothers. They lack the really important part that a mother should have. The nurturing that comes from being a mother. That unconditional love only a mother can have for a child no matter if they are perfect or not, no matter what age they are, no matter how successful they are or not. Isn’t that the definition of unconditional love? It literally says it in the word, there are no conditions to it whatsoever.
By Meagan Hagerman8 years ago in Families
Absent, Not Gone
“It’s you and me against the world.” Those were the words my grandfather would often utter when I padded downstairs to kiss him goodnight. He was a quiet man who rarely indulged in idle conversation, let alone humor, but when he saw my face framed with messy hair, his brown eyes seemed to glow. He would smile for me. I would hoard his abrupt chuckles like a dragon would gold.
By Becca Volk8 years ago in Families
