Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Children Over the Holidays
There is something to be said about spending the holidays with family. There is something to be said about visiting distant relatives and watching your children open presents. There is something to be said about time with grandparents and letting your child be a little spoiled because, after all, it is the holidays.
By Samantha Reid9 years ago in Families
Post Natal Depression
It’s funny, I always wondered why mums had post natal depression. You have a beautiful new baby, some women would give their right arm for a child, so what is there to be depressed about? You come home from hospital with your bundle of joy and the house is full of flowers and visitors and Dad is home on paternity, the grandparents practically move in and the neighbours drop in a casserole. Your 4 year old is whipped away to McDonald’s so you can have some peace and your reassured the school runs are taken care of for the week. Bliss! Then a fortnight later everyone stops calling, Dad's back at work and you can’t wait to get back to “normal.” Except normal isn’t normal anymore because now there’s another person in the mix. A person who needs you 24/7. Which is fine except your 4 year old needs you too. At first you carry on as you already know how, your well placed routine, but that doesn’t work anymore, but you know you can do this. Next door does it, umpteen mums at the school do this hell the woman opposite has nine children this will be a breeze!
By Julia Spring9 years ago in Families
'I'm Going to Be Different! Just Wait and See!'
We learned our son was special sometime during his second year! We didn't quite understand how special at that point and, in retrospect, we should have figured it out quite a bit sooner...but with him being our first and only being 19, we honestly thought that all babies could talk in full sentences and comprehend complex ideas by one. We now have a 20-month-old as well as our six-year-old, and he is slowly teaching us that WE WERE WRONG! When our oldest turned one, we took away the bottle and binkie, just like we were told was best, and HE decided that we would send them to a little boy who needed them more than him and that was that; no more bottles no more binkies. Like I said, our youngest is 20 months and our six-year-old likes to tell me that we should have saved his for baby brother because boy does he need them when they go away!
By Rachel Ferrell9 years ago in Families
Life as a Daughter of Agent Orange, Part 2
There comes a time in any situation where one has to wonder if one is going crazy because of outside forces. Since middle school I have often wondered if living with this Agent Orange version of my dad has influenced a few weak moments where the outside world would perceive me as crazy. Once we found out what was causing the mood swings and the diabetes, it was as if we had entered a special club that nobody knows about and nobody wants to be invited in to. There is a specific chemical my dad reacts to called formaldehyde; the reactions vary from horrible mood swings to having his blood pressure skyrocket. We quickly learned about which products had formaldehyde in them. I could no longer paint my nails, wear perfume, buy shoes that had a smell similar to jelly sandals, and could not buy certain shampoos and conditioners that combined with my own chemical makeup brought upon his attacks.
By Elizabeth Kozlowski9 years ago in Families
4 Top Tips for Tackling Toddler Tantrums, Plus the Top 50 Baby Names of 2017
So here's the thing: I have wonderful twin boys ❤️. They are three and their "terrible twos" has arrived late. We've had some pretty award-winning performances from our angelic-faced boys at home, in public, ...anywhere. I know how you feel about being stared at!
By Hollie Taylor9 years ago in Families
The Newest Toy to Take over My House
So around the beginning of November, I took my daughter with me to Walmart so I could take her down the toy aisles and get an idea of what she may want for Christmas. At first, it was the typical stuff like dolls and dress up stuff. Then we came down the last aisle and she spotted it. A whole section dedicated to "calico critter" toys. We have never had these at our store before so she was so excited when she saw them. I have to admit, as soon as I started looking at them I fell in love with them as well. I was instantly wishing that I had these little critters when I was little. They made me think of a 1950s English look. It definitely looked like something my grandparents (from England) would have sent me on my birthday. I knew I had to get her some for Christmas. So, as soon as I got home I went right to Amazon.com and found exactly what she was looking at for, a better price too!
By Rachel Mcmichael9 years ago in Families
The Hardest Experience I've Had
“If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.” ~Albert Einstein Middle-childhood. Six year olds. I understand very little of what comes out of their mouths. It takes a great concentrated effort to untangle the day’s happenings from the truths, half-truths, sensitivities, and general understanding of the sequences of life.
By Anneke Olvera9 years ago in Families
Play and Leisure
Play and leisure is a key part of a child’s development. They learn through play and leisure; it helps their imagination grow and their social, emotional, intellectual and communication development will blossom. They will learn what works and what doesn’t in certain activities by simply doing it themselves. Role play helps to build on their imagination and social skills whereas they will play together and make friends, all of this will increase their self-esteem also.
By Hollie Taylor9 years ago in Families
Kids: The Calming Peace and Complete Chaos
Kids, ya love 'em, then you also hate 'em at times too. It's kinda of a love/hate relationship ya know? One minute they can be Heaven's God-sent angels and then another minute they are the spawn of Satan himself. They are so lovable but they test you. And make you realize how much you can hate being a mom in moments. Motherhood really sucks at times.
By Rheana Roose9 years ago in Families
