Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Pros and Cons of Being the Oldest Child in the Family
Big sister to a brother and big cousin to numerous cousins, I have officially figured out all the pros and cons of being the oldest child in the family. There are moments of sweet glory, and there are moments of annoyance. I love being able to have some authority over them (haha), but get so incredibly angry when I see my younger brother specifically get away with things that I never would have been able to get away with.
By Paranneting/Anne Reboa8 years ago in Families
Bows or Bow Ties?
Waiting is always the hardest part when anticipating anything exciting! In this case, I've been waiting 20 weeks to find out whether or not I'm having a baby boy or a baby girl. Of course, all my friends and family have been making their predictions, and everyone wants to know what I'm hoping for. Like most new moms, I just want a healthy, happy baby. Boy or girl, I have no preference.
By Not Important8 years ago in Families
My Unconventional Childhood and Why It Won't Define Me
Family is not defined by who was there when you began; it is defined by who stayed through it all. It is not defined by a man and a woman raising their biological child; it is defined by the experiences that you share with the people that you love, and who it is that would sacrifice everything for you. Family thrives in all different forms. I consider my friends to be my family. My dog is my family. My boyfriend is my family.
By Ella Riley8 years ago in Families
Children and Mental Illness
We make sure our children are fed, clothed, and try to keep them from physical harm. But do we take into consideration their mental health? We often perceive children as innocent little beings who are supposed to be happy all of the time because children don't have to worry about the problems of life like adults. We often assume that children live happy and stress-free lives. As adults, we often wish we could be five again because, as children, we didn't have to worry about paying the bills on time or maintaining a home, etc. However, this could not be further from the truth. Many children suffer from a variety of mental health issues similar to adults. Statistics estimate that one in five children between the ages of six and seventeen years will struggle with and be diagnosed with some type of mental illness by the time they reach adulthood. Most commonly, depression and anxiety. This is why talking to your children openly about their feelings from an early age is crucial for early warning signs of any onset of mental illness.
By Janelle Ouellet8 years ago in Families
How to Be Polish
Here is a list of to do's to fit into a Polish family: 1. Always come hungry to a Polish person's house. We will feed you many things! Even if you are not hungry, we will insist that you try one or two things. At the end of the day, you will end up eating anyway, so you might as well be starving.
By Adrianna M. Braun8 years ago in Families
Cartoons and Young Children
Cartoons and the Child's Psyche: Is There Really an Impact? GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT! This popular idiom refers the concept that input equals output. Whether it be a business venture, a technological programming, or a personal health regimen, the results will equal the input. The same is true of human attitude and behavior, especially in reference to impressionable young children. In order to understand how outside factors (such as animated TV shows) affect a child, one must first understand the stages of development in a human’s life. For those in the preschool stages, brain development is largely at play.
By denise knight8 years ago in Families
How to Raise a Child Without a Screen—and Not Die in the Process
There are multiple studies that will back me up on this topic. Screens for babies, toddler and kids in general are like cocaine or other addictive drugs. I won't get into the specifics of the scientific research here because it can be slow reading but I can provide the necessary information later on for those who are interested. I want to get into the specifics of raising a baby and toddler without those screens and not die in the attempt (I am only going to talk about my own personal experience which is why I won't get into the older child). I have a 17 month old boy—a very active one. Since he was born, I have always strictly limited his access to media screens—not an easy job. Today, if you go to a restaurant they are full of giant screens on the walls or tablets on the tables. Well-meaning friends will offer to hold your baby and show them videos so the child won’t fuss. Well, I for one, do not want a zombie as a son! I want to limit how much damage I do to him as a parent (every parent damages their kids to a greater or lesser extent—just ask some teenagers). So what I have noticed that we (my husband and I) do differently:
By Fernanda Brito-Muñoz8 years ago in Families
Our Roots
Our Roots, What We Are Built On When people ask your family history, where you come from and the fundamentals on how you were raised, one thing pops into mind. Our roots, the basis of all foundations. The very foundation our grandmothers were raised on, our mothers and aunts/uncles, the strong and sturdy roots my very own grandfather was brought up on, my own father and brothers all the way down to the current stop on the roots at my heaven sent nephew and neice. We think of the people who hold us up, build us, and grow with us. I'll water this tree as long as the roots continue to grow.
By Rae.b Havener8 years ago in Families
First Blood: The Type Of Separation Anxiety No One Needs (Or Deserves)
The sight out my bedroom that morning looked spectacular. The sun was just beginning to rise and the sky was a soft orange hue, flecked here and there with yellow and blue paint streaks, like pastel colors or my favorite crayon set strewn across the cosmos. I smiled looking out, and excitedly thought about how it was the perfect day to go on an adventure—at least so I thought.
By Dylan Balde8 years ago in Families
