Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

Under the Mulberry Tree
The sun shone in golden streaks through the dense branches. My lips, fingers, and feet were dyed a deep red. A little berry-stained hand grasped each of mine as we danced beneath the shade of the mulberry tree. Our bare feet stomping the ripe berries under them, we giggled.“Ashes, ashes, we all fall down” and we did, our bottoms hitting the grass under us.
By Alicia Durfee9 years ago in Families
You're Mum or Dad Until You're In Trouble
It is all too typical in many African households, well not only African households, but even other ethnic households, for parents to address us as "Mum" or "Dad" when they want a favor or when you are in their good graces. However, when you do wrong, you're called by your full names and in my particular experience in a Kenyan household, I know this all too well. My mother is one to sweet talk you into doing her favor but, once she calls me by my third name, Nduta, it is like an automatic alarm set off in my head: "Uh, oh .I did something wrong or I did not update her on something." I mean, that is not exactly my first thought, but, ''Oh, sh**.'' It might even start if your mum was saying something to you and you spoke back and said something you should not have said.
By Vanessa Nduta9 years ago in Families
Babies
Let’s be real. Babies are small, they don’t do much... except roll around, poop, and eat. So how do we entertain them? Well... in my last eleven months of parenthood... I have come to one conclusion. You can’t entertain a baby unless you are entertaining yourself. From my perspective, when my son saw me enjoying something and laughing, he would laugh too. See, the thing with kids is that they like to mimic... a lot. They see you eating, obviously you're going to want to give them something otherwise they’ll be going at you trying to grab whatever cookie or snack you have in your hand. Everything revolves around YOU!
By Jillian Daily9 years ago in Families
The Perspective of Divorce and Favoritism from an Eldest Child
My mother and father had good jobs, and a very healthy relationship. They had been married a few years by the time they had me. When I came into their lives, everything seemed in its place. We had two cars in the garage, a nice pool, fancy dinner plates, the whole middle class suburban package. My brother was born when I was three, and that’s when my earliest memories start. My brother was born very sick and premature which made my mom cling to him and he instantly became everything to her. This was made very apparent in the following months/Years. My mom and dad stopped showing affection towards each other, my mom spent all her time with my brother by her side. My parents started to get into more fights, This one at Christmas I remember vividly. My brother and I opened the last shared gift, it was Candy Land. My parents were having a shouting match in the kitchen, they never saw us open it. We never played it. A short while later my dad stopped coming home, at the age of 6 I didn’t understand. My parents wouldn’t tell me they got divorced. I figured it out at the age of 12. My mom would just say he’s working or at a friends house. With my dad no longer at home or in the weekday picture. I had no one on my side. It was my mom and my brother vs me. As you might assume, This put a lot of tension between me and my brother. We would soon grow to hate each other, we’d bicker and fight more than our parents. My mom would always say it’s my fault. My dad no longer really having any responsibility in our well being besides every other weekend. (Which he would forget on occasion.) started reliving his glory days, joined a “rock n’ roll” band, and that would soon become the center of his world. Plus all the perks of vices that came with it. On weekends he was supposed to have us he’d constantly leave us at unsafe/sketchy baby sitters, or if he couldn’t find one, he’d just bring us to his gigs. A bar isn’t fun when you’re little and can’t even spell the word alcohol. Then when I was 8 my mother decided to go back to school, and sometimes she wouldn’t have baby sitters or my dad would forget/show up late. So I had to become the caretaker of my brother for awhile. Which I don’t know if you’ve ever had to take care of someone you don’t particularly like, but it ain’t easy. This led to more resentment between my brother and I. one night when my mom didn’t come home at all, and at almost 9 I had to put my brother asleep and stay alone in big, dark, scary house. It started to make me resent her too. The early years of adolescence/ young adulthood were hard. At this point my mom and I grew incredibly distant. All of our talks were arguments, and everything wrong was my fault. Throughout the years My parents both had a string of relationships with awful people that didn’t last long. A couple of my dads girlfriends son’s had molested me, I wouldn’t reveal this to anyone till much much later. My mom in the end still doesn’t believe me. She to this day is still single, My father would eventually remarry to his current wife. She’s been the most like a mom to me, as she’s been in my life for 11 years. The first of those years were also extremely difficult. I was still dealing with the hurt, trying to fix my relationship with my brother, and dealing with anger from my parents divorce. Plus I was trying to get adjusted to having a parental figure that gave us rules and boundaries. Something my brother and I were not used too. I’m currently nearing my mid twenties and I’ve learned a lot about life and love, but the most important thing I’ve learned is playing favorites suck, divorces are messy, and if you think your choices only affect you...you’re wrong. I don’t know what had the bigger impact on my life, the divorce or the favoritism but I can tell you, my brother and I are slowly still on the up and up. We have days where we want to hit each other but I love him. My mom and I on the other hand, have plateaued. We Exchange pleasantries on the holidays, but that’s really it and as sad as it is to say, I feel that’s all it ever will be.
By RT. .AW9 years ago in Families
Expecting Number 2
I felt it. Even before I saw those two red lines in the pregnancy test kit, I had that instinct that I am once again growing another human inside my belly.
By C.J.Erolan9 years ago in Families
Dear Daughter
Dear Daughter, The world was a dull place before you arrived, and to be honest, life seemed a little meaningless. The day I found out I was carrying you, the world seemed to shine slightly brighter and words cannot explain the utter excitement I felt at knowing you would be here soon. I waited and waited, endured pregnancy patiently but also anxiously, and then finally, there you were, so real, so perfect, and the world was completely illuminated. My love for you was overwhelming and I fell head over heels in love from the very first touch.
By Kasey Gilbert9 years ago in Families
Pregnancy From All Points
Alright, so you're wondering about pregnancy and all its scary wonders? Well, here you go. I'll be telling you about this miracle from all sides.
By Lacey Micheels9 years ago in Families
Family Differences
I love my family, don’t get me wrong. I consider them to be one of the most important things in my life—maybe even the most important thing! My family has carried me through everything—my depression, my living situation, and even the times I’ve come out as gay. They have supported me through everything, BUT it does strike me how different everyone is in my family.
By Megan Beech9 years ago in Families
Best Apps for Your Disney World Visit with Your Family
Walt Disney World is every child's—and let's face it, adult's—dream. But for all of the fun and magic Disney World inspires, visiting can be extremely stressful and chaotic if you don't do it right.
By Jake Scott9 years ago in Families
Living With Divorced Parents As a Teen
When my parents first divorced, I was a young child and although I didn’t understand the problem, I seemed to understand what it meant pretty well and just that it was a thing.
By Brooke N9 years ago in Families
My Not So "Perfect" Life
Hello, my name is Downey. Brooke Downey. I am 17 years old, I live in Ontario, Canada in a Women's Shelter, and grew up in my area of Stayner for all of my life until just a little bit ago. I currently attend Jean Vanier for my last year, grade 12!! "I'm so close to being done," my mind screams every day in excitement. That was, well, until I got into a situation that made my life a little messy.
By Brooke Downey9 years ago in Families
Moose
It was early October, and it was finally time for my long-awaited moose hunt. I had waited ever since I was a little girl for this opportunity, and it was finally here. So, my father, the one that looks after me, and I packed up our stuff and left our city in Alaska. We were heading to a place called Bethel, AK. After a six-hour long drive, we made it to our hunting unit. It did not feel like home to us but it was warm and cozy, like my bed at home.
By Sura Whitt9 years ago in Families