Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

Father
"If you dont have time, make time" My father was, is, the driving force behind my identity. And he was not a good father. By no means was he a decent father. But he was my father. And I love him, regardless of his flaws. Regardless of mine.
By Luis Tomas Graveley Jr8 years ago in Families
Praying for Strength
Let’s start with the beginning, which always seems like a good place to begin. My memories are fuzzy when it comes to life before 5 years old, but I can remember those 5 years as being happy, with good feelings and the excitement of my first sister’s birth.
By Kat Leeshue8 years ago in Families
I Blame My Childhood
I blame my childhood This is the reason so many present for the addiction, affliction, or damage they have to their character.
By Jacky Montgomery8 years ago in Families
'Mumming It' and Keeping Your Sanity...
I want to talk about being a Mum and keeping your sanity... First of all I'll give you a little perspective into my story.
By Cat E More8 years ago in Families
Daddy's Girl
Everyone has their ideal favorite parent. Someone that they are closer to and that they love so much they feel they will die if they lost them. I was and will always be Daddy's Girl. My father William Thompson was in the military, the Airforce. He retired with a disability and worked at a grocery store; he helped bag everything at the local Commissary on the Air Force Base. He met my mom by bagging her groceries but also because he knew her cousin's husband as they both worked together. My mom was born in The Philippines and immigrated here to The United States. She and my father met and after a year they married and soon had me in 1998.
By Jan Jas8 years ago in Families
A Hurt Unlike Any Other
My grandmother Bertha was one of the most important people in my life. There wasn’t one step I took through life where she wasn’t right there beside me. Right there beside us all. She was the hand we had to hold, and the rock we didn’t deserve. While she had her flaws, as we all do, she was perfect in all of our eyes. With all of her roughness, her trauma, and her radiance, she was perfect.
By Malichi Neil Morris8 years ago in Families
Cloth Diapering for Beginners
Switching from disposable to cloth diapers has been such a success for my family and I. I was fortunate enough to have cloth diapers handed to me but at the time I knew nothing about them. After researching and reading how the wash routine is specified to your washer and water hardness, all the many different brands and inserts, I was even more confused than when I knew nothing! I honestly was so close to not even trying but I am so glad I did (and so is my bank account).
By Lauren Haley8 years ago in Families
My New Journey Into Stay at Home Momma-hood
What comes to mind when you hear the words “stay at home Mom”? Do you picture her in a robe and slippers, binge watching her favorite show while sipping a nice glass of red? Do you envision her drowning in a dog pile of children, not having showered in days? Quite honestly, my experiences thus far have proven it’s kind of a combination of both.
By Jean River8 years ago in Families
Rose Robbins
Most people thought her cutthroat attitude and strong independence was due to some sort of trauma. They said it was the only explanation as to why she was so cold and distant. Rose rarely smiled. She didn't have a reason to. Not yet. She had a goal and would do everything she could to reach it. She spoke up and never hesitated to share her opinions.
By Hannah Fricker8 years ago in Families
Boymom
I am a boy mom. I have a boy who is 23, a son of 15, and a Grandson of 16 months. So for 23 years, I have been a boy mom. I have fixed enough food to feed a small county, fried enough chicken to hang with Kentucky Fried Chicken, grilled enough steak to get a medal at the Sizzler, and cooked enough frozen pizza to own stock in Totinos. Yes, I am the lady at the grocery store that no one wants to be behind. You smile but don’t make eye contact as you skim the contents of my buggy. Nope, not getting behind the grocery hoarder lady so just move on. Surely that woman is shopping for a month. Nope, just a week at the house of empty vessels. Where food goes down a never ending tube of teen boys to never be seen again. Nope, I will never be seen in the ten items or less line, nor in the self check lane. Big box stores are my friend as well as the SUV I drive to track it all home. I tried about a year ago to go the small car route. I could only have one other person with me if I was getting groceries and because my son is an athlete, I was getting a greasy ugly stain above my window where his head would hit when I turned and his sweaty hair brushed up against it after practice. Can you say Gross!? What’s on you car roof? Just sweaty nastiness from my son's head. Super fun to explain to friends who happen to be in my car. Oh, boymom fun let me tell ya.
By K. jones8 years ago in Families
Surviving Loss
People do not truly look at things in life. We experience so much during our every day but yet we miss it as it happens. We do not notice these things until they are brought to our attention. Today I notice every ounce of detail that God sends my way. Whether it's the gorgeous blue skies or the color of the mountains in spring. For the last year and 2 months, I have looked at everything and everyone in life so much more closely than I did back then. I take every day as a gift and every opportunity as a sign. In the past I was never one to preach to God for help or to pray for a sick friend. I always believed in God but on April 16, 2017, I really looked to him for guidance and strength. On April 16, 2017, I had woken up to a phone call that no mother ever wants to hear. A phone call that would put you in a state of shock, a phone call that you would never think you would recover from. My youngest son, Bretlin, who is 2-years-old and just a month shy of 3, did not wake up that morning. This day was Easter Sunday, and all kids on Easter Sunday run to their baskets and look for the goodies the Easter Bunny had left them. But God had a plan for Bretlin that no one knew of but God himself, and I believe Bretlin knew too. At the moment of receiving this phone call, I was in New Jersey visiting with family and Bretlin was spending the weekend with his father. I was three hours away from home! To get a call and to be that far away from him crushed me. I cried the whole way back. Still in shock and disbelief, I prayed to God to save him but it was too late. I praise the Lycoming County Coroner for waiting for my return, just so I could see him before he was taken away. My sweet Bretlin was healthy and was never sick! During the week he was fighting a head cold and was seen by the doctor. Medicine was prescribed to treat a small ear infection. He was perfectly fine and getting better come time for him to go to his father's. Later we were notified of his cause of death. They told us that the medicine was not treating the ear infection like it should have. While he laid to rest the night before, all ready to wake the next day for the Easter Bunny... Bretlin's heart stopped in his sleep at 4 AM Easter Morning. The infection in his body had attacked his heart, causing it to stop in his sleep. Going peacefully with the lord, I envision God holding his little hand and walking at his side to the gold gates. The day before I had spoken to Bretlin on the phone and the last thing he said to me was "Wuve you, Mama." My forever favorite words!
By Lindsey Bierly8 years ago in Families
My Prayer to You, Granny
Dear Granny, The morning I woke up to the horrifying phone call, I drove fast to your side; I prayed for God to wake you up. I prayed that you not have to go this way, because you deserved a peaceful eternal slumber. I prayed that you not live in a state of fear or pain, that you’d get better, wake up, and experience all of the love surrounding your bed. I prayed you stay with us a little longer so I can wish you a happy belated birthday from just days before, a happy belated Mother’s Day that I was drunk for, and only wrote a post on social media while feeling sorry for my stressed out self.
By Anna Paige8 years ago in Families