Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Placing My Daughter for Adoption
The moment I found out I was pregnant was very raw for me. It was a moment I was not expecting to have for years down the road. Being unmarried, I did not plan to get pregnant until after being married. Not only was it something I did not want for myself, being born to an unmarried mother was not something I wanted for any child I would have. It was the end of the day, I was expecting my period, and I was craving chicken wings. The thought crossed my mind that there was a chance I could be pregnant. It was something I didn't want to think about, yet I found myself in my yellow VW Bug driving to target to buy a pee stick. When I got home, I took the test. I bawled. I was angry at myself for getting into this situation; a situation I was not nearly equipped for.
By Alexis Fox8 years ago in Families
Predicaments of a Pregnant Woman
Daily routines can become so mundane, that we don’t even think twice about what we take for granted. Anything and everything we do seems to have convenience factored in. For me, it was the loss of my driving privilege while being pregnant. Talk about a wakeup call. Then again, a good reality check is something we all need from time to time.
By Not Important8 years ago in Families
My Favorite Men
On January 2, 2018, in the early morning hours, my wonderful father took his last breath. This man was our family patriarch. He took the role of father and husband seriously. He was hard-working, faithful to the love of his life (my mother), devoted to his children, respectful to his parents, sacrificial for his students, and committed to his Savior. My daddy was not perfect, but he was pretty close. He instilled, in me, a love for education and a passion for family. Integrity and morality was of the utmost importance to him. Men like my daddy are rare these days. His passing has left a great void for many who loved him.
By denise knight8 years ago in Families
Things You Won't Believe Your Mum Was Right About
Our biggest source of advice and warning comes from our parents but especially our mothers. However, sometimes we don't always appreciate the things they are telling us at the time or just don't see how they are relevant to you because your mum was never your age, right?
By Holly Callow8 years ago in Families
My Dad and My Dad
I have two dads. In a perfect world, that might be a good thing. Considering that there are children out there that have none, it is a good thing. Or people that have fathers, and their fathers are not a part of their lives, or just choose not to be, yes, it’s a blessing.
By Arianna Suárez8 years ago in Families
Being the Teen Mom
Being in high school is already hard, with the drama, gossip, and making it through the year, but what if you were the pregnant girl. I was the pregnant girl. My senior year started off like any other, the hugs from friends and the worries of who you have as a teacher. I had many friends at the beginning. The people I would go to lunch with and try to sit next to in class. I also had my boyfriend, a handsome young man who girls drooled over. We were together for almost four months until I found out. I was sitting in my room at home, watching the pregnancy test figure out the results. Pregnant. Two pink lines come across the screen. Time seemed to stand still. Oh, what do I do? I thought. I should call my boyfriend. The dial tone seemed rougher than usual. "Hey babe," he said as he picked up the phone.
By Danielle Adams8 years ago in Families
Why Having a Child Should Not Mean Giving up on Your Goals or Dreams
A lot of parents, future and present, fall into this mindset that once they are going to have, or had, their child, that all hope is lost for what they once dreamed and hoped for. Why is that? Simply put: because the parents like me and you immediately think small-minded and get afraid. We go right to "Awe, I need to be able to provide for my child right now" mode. Then, "right now" turns into "Awe, I'm not gonna be at this job for that long," and next thing you know, 10-15 years from now we're still there.
By hareem scott8 years ago in Families
Please Daddy
Please daddy, I want to get through at least a week without you yelling at me. I rather you talk to me rather than you going at the top of your lungs about what I did wrong. I'm scared of you, daddy, for so many reasons. I want you to help me to learn from my wrongs instead of walking away and not do a thing. I feel like I'm being raised more by a monster than a daddy. I cry myself asleep at night wondering why you don't love me. A roof over my head, clothes to wear, food to eat, and all the other things mean nothing to me, because love cannot be bought. There's nothing more than I want than you spending time with me. You might not think you're being a bully, yet you hurt me more than you realize when you call me names and yell at me. Sometimes I don't even know what I did that makes you so made and turn into a monster. I want you to stop making me feel like I don't belong, when I get enough of it at school. Please daddy, I'm too young to be thinking about running away, and to be dealing with grown up issues. I should be learning from you instead of wanting to run from you. The way you're treating mommy isn't right. When you're not home she cries, and talks to herself of how much she wants to leave you and take me with her. She loves you, yet she needs to get away from you for a while because of the stress you put her through. Please daddy, for once stop thinking that you're God's gift to mankind, and for once, realize how much stress, pain and agony you're causing to the ones you say you love. Please daddy, talk to me. I want to know how to make things less stressful for you. I honestly don't want to live with a monster anymore. Please daddy, listen to me. I want you to prove your words and be the father you claim to be to your friends. I am ashamed to go with you, because I'm only there for you to show me off like a one -trick-pony. You are never truly there when I need you the most. You are physically present, yet you are in a completely different world when you are home. Mommy could really use your help around the house instead of you constantly chastising her for not doing things the way you want. The way things look around here, especially the basement, I'm surprised I'm not taken away yet. Please daddy, I don't want to live like this any more than you do. I want to be in a family that brings each other up rather than one that's constantly fighting. I want to get through this together before it's too late. I don't want to live like this any more. I shouldn't be living in constant fear of if I'm going to be taken away or will end up dying. I need help so bad that I don't even know where to turn. What do I have to do to prove how terrified I am, daddy? I truly feel that I don't have a voice and no one will listen to me. Please daddy, please talk to me at my level instead of treating me older than I already am. I don't want to grow up too fast and regret the childhood I never had. Enjoy the time we now have together instead of wishing in the future of not having precious memories. Please daddy, spend time with me because tomorrow isn't promised.
By Joy Ergang8 years ago in Families
10 Best Pregnancy Apps
There's a ton to look forward to when you're pregnant—especially if it's your first pregnancy. What the gender will be, what he/she will look like, and whether he/she will take after you or your partner. And since everyday is a different day for you and your baby, it's only normal that you want to follow along with the process of your baby growing. Wouldn't you want to know which week your baby is developing her heart or which week your baby is developing his lungs? We shouldn't blindly be pregnant, but constantly be aware of what's happening in our tummies.
By Lilliana Blackman8 years ago in Families
To My Mother . Top Story - April 2018.
When I was around three or five, I woke up one night screaming. A rash had formed, going from the base of my neck to the bottom of my stomach, and obviously, to me, that was the worst thing in the world. It wouldn’t stop itching, and you and dad were nowhere to be found. So I yelled louder and louder until you came and found me. Dad took me downstairs while you did the laundry until I fell back asleep.
By something wilde8 years ago in Families
Underdeveloped
My parents met in high school. It was a blind date on Halloween, full of embarrassment and corduroy pants. They fell in love, and created a life together. They got married at the common age of twenty-five, after my mother found out she was pregnant. They had a beautiful baby boy, named him Zachary, perfect in health. Eighteen months passed and another baby was on its way. This time, a girl! My mother struggled throughout the entire pregnancy to stay in good health. She was forced to attend constant doctor's appointments to keep a close eye on the baby. Her endometriosis was making the chances of a healthy child extremely slim. Getting closer and closer to the due date, my parents because significantly worried as my mom’s health continued to deteriorate. They rushed my mom to the hospital, and she began having contractions. Not long after, my mother’s body began to fill with fluid, physically becoming so large that she looked like a balloon. Her blood pressure had skyrocketed - all signs of a dangerous condition called toxemia. At 3 PM, my mother’s doctor induced her labor….six weeks before her due date. And so, the process began. Everyone worked very quickly, as no one had any idea if my mother, or the baby, would survive this. Two hours and twenty one minutes later, at 5:21 PM on May 28th, 1999, their daughter was born… and immediately taken away. She wasn’t breathing. My mother didn’t even get to hold her daughter before being told that the baby’s lungs were underdeveloped and working at nearly half of the capacity that they should. She was immediately placed in an incubator before being taken to West Penn hospital, over an hour away. This baby was me, and I stayed in that hospital, in that incubator, for twelve days. When I breathed, my chest simply went flat. No one had any idea if my lungs would ever develop to their full capacity, but nonetheless, my four pound thirteen ounce self fought as hard as I could. Once my mother was released from the hospital, she and my father visited me every single day. When I was finally released, my parents were told that I had asthma. After this entire process, their little girl only withheld such a minor issue as asthma. It was such an incredible story, that they chose to name me “Destiny.”
By Destiny Cumberland8 years ago in Families
