children

Children: Our most valuable natural resource.

Birthday Misadventures
Mom’s baking tastes like eating a cloud drizzled in smooth maple syrup. It is so relaxing to just sit and watch the syrup slowly cascade down towards the plate. I move to grab my fork and take a bite, but I don’t taste anything. Hey! Why can’t I taste anything? I continue to try and eat what is supposed to be the most spectacular birthday meal, but I can’t any of the foods that I’m putting in my mouth. What the heck? This can’t be happening! I want my breakfast meal to be perfect; it can’t taste perfect if I can’t taste the flavor! I awake from the nightmare of losing the thing I want most on my birthday. I sit up in bed and try to relax knowing that the breakfast downstairs is not ruined.
By Victoria Ward6 years ago in Families
The Brave Explorer
It was a not so ordinary day for a boy who lived a very ordinary life. Little boy Liam was a normal boy who lived a very normal life. He had a mom and a dad, as well as a annoying older sister and two dogs who seemed to be in more mischief then Liam could ever fathom. Liam was a creature of habit to say the least. He was a practical boy of 10 years old. Liam spent his school days studying and making sure he excelled in every subject. But today was the very first day of summer 2025 and Liam decided he was going to spend his summer becoming a super amazing treasure hunter. Liam spent all of his yearly allowance ($42.64) on all the supplies he would need to be the best treasure hunter in the world. Liam lives in a blue house that sits on 5 huge acres. The house had been passed down from generation to generation and Liam knew one day he would be able to call it his very own. His great grandpa (Papa David) told Liam stories of treasure that is buried on their very own land and every summer for the past 5 years Liam searched but could unfortunately never find the Kingston treasure. Liam knew this summer it would all change but I don't think he quite knew what was in store for him. After twelve days of digging from morning to night Liam decided he needed to try a different approach. He decided to call it a night and get plenty of rest- for the next day -he was in for the adventure of his life! Liam decided to start his search on this overly foggy morning deep into the Kingston woods. Liam never really went into the woods due to his fear of the unknown but today was different. Today Liam was no longer scared. Liam knew in order to be a fearless treasure hunter he would need to become fearless. So Liam braved the woods. He was equipped with his shovel, flashlight, book bag and a half a grilled cheese and a bottle of water. He started with a whole grilled cheese but he got hungry on the way. And a boy has to eat when a boy wants to eat. After about two hours of digging Liam decided it was time to finish the rest of his grilled cheese and drink his water. As soon as he reached for his bag he saw in the corner of his eye a shiny object under a few rocks in the creek. He decided it was best if he investigated. Liam reached into the water and pulled out a slimy small sealed bag. This bag was so sealed there was not even a bit of moisture inside. Liam immediately opened the bag and to his surprise inside the bag was a little black book. On the first page of the book were the words brave explorers only. And boy was Liam a brave explorer. Liam immediately flipped to the next page. On page two it was a treasure map. Not the one you typically see on the tv or with the pirates but a simple, easy to follow treasure map. The first step on the map said take ten giant steps to the left and admire the rocks that are shaped like turtles. Liam took the steps and to his surprise there lay rocks that were shaped just like his favorite animal- the turtle. What now you ask? The map then said dig and dig and you will find what now is yours but once was mine. Was this the treasure that Papa David spoke of? So Liam began to dig. He dug until he began to feel like there was no treasure but all of a sudden he heard a thump. His shovel had hit something. Liam used his shovel to to keep digging and was able to pull out what resembled a very very old briefcase. Liam took his supplies and the briefcase and ran home immediately. Once Liam got home he opened the box and to his surprise it was 20 thousand dollars. Liam was rich! Papa David was right about everything! Liam found the Kingston Treasure and he could have never done it had he not been such a brave explorer.
By Brittany 6 years ago in Families
Trials of Job
Chuck was almost surprised when he saw the cabin. It sat alone in the middle of a wooded nowhere. Until this point, every guess had led to another question. The patterns he saw could have been fantasy. The cabin in front of them, however, was very real.
By Craig and Wendalynn Newman6 years ago in Families
Part 1
What if I told you that your guardian angel is not a loved one, but somebody who has been assigned to you? Whelp, that’s the case with me. Hi, my name is Treyton, I am 25 but would have been 29 this year if I hadn’t died. I have been assigned to a mischievous 17-year-old young woman, and can I just say that I do not miss being that age? Anyways, she’s at that age where she is starting to mix into the wrong group of “kids” and frankly it’s making my job more and more difficult. I have been assigned to her for 4 years now and she hasn’t always been like this.
By Kaylee Gilman6 years ago in Families
Loss of a Child
My daughter was 13 years old when she lost her friend, Anna, who was 12. Anna was Inuvialuit, a native girl from the Western Arctic, a beautiful child, with long curly black hair, round cheeks, with such a laugh and a presence that could light up a room. Anna was adopted by a non-native family and she grew up in town in Canada’s Northwest Territories with my daughter, Grace.
By SARAH STEWART6 years ago in Families
Bump
We are in the car, both staring straight ahead. Bump The pot holes are bad this year, like they have a life of their own, a job, to totally fuck my car up.
By Wellington Lambert6 years ago in Families
Carlee's Never-Ending Quests
CARLEE’S NEVER-ENDING QUESTS Carl and Leanne were overjoyed the day they learned they were going to become parents. They didn’t know if the baby would be a boy or a girl; quite frankly, they didn’t care! Carl and Leanne immediately began a shopping spree in anxious expectation of their bundle of joy; they tried to anticipate the baby’s every material need.
By Anita D. Williams6 years ago in Families
Scramble
“Amanda …Amanda. Yo Amanda wake up! Are you ok why are you so hard to wake up?” “wait ...What? Who’s Amanda? Where the hell am I “
By Todd Mcwhorter6 years ago in Families
Hands Open
“Keep your hands open.” The words look lonely and small, written unsteadily on that first page of her mother’s last notebook.
By Maddie Ins6 years ago in Families
The Midas Touch
“Bryson eat your breakfast.” Morning words from my mother reminding me, I don’t want cereal. The milk tornado that I’m making with my spoon seems more appealing.
By Nikita Harris6 years ago in Families
The Tarantula Hole Treasures
Astrid Hemmel sat on the rickety old steps of the wooden deck out behind her mother’s Texas ranch home, watching her four children dig an “army dugout” in front of the play fort they’d constructed out of broken pallets and whatever they could find around the ranch. “These kids are gonna be absolutely filthy by the end of this,” Astrid thought. “Whatever was I thinking letting them dig this big hole in the middle of the yard?!” She teetered on the verge of regretting her decision, until her five-year-old Duncan confidently approached her, waving his shovel confidently, his smile beaming to illuminate his whole face as he declared, “Momma, this is going to be the most awesome fort ever! We’re gonna protect you every day!” She gave an acknowledging nod of affirmation, mustering a grin in response, wishing it could really be that simple.
By Davida Blanton6 years ago in Families
The Black Notebook
Mom, mommy! Help I can’t breathe! I can’t-Callie’s mother came running upstairs desperately trying to get to her six-year-old daughter who was crying and gasping for air. It’s going to be okay; you’re going to be fine Callie’s mother assured her.
By Erin Melia6 years ago in Families