extended family
All about how to stay connected, strengthen ties and talk politics with your big, happy extended family.
Raising Six
It has been nothing short of a struggle with six kids—two being my biological, and four being my boyfriend's. My two are with us always. Their father, my ex husband, left a couple years ago and jumps from state to state and he doesn't call for months at a time. His four, we have five-six days a week. His ex wife is supposed to have them Friday night through Sunday early afternoon but rarely makes it her whole visit. They are R–three-years-old, H–three-years-old (they are two months apart). Then there is K–six-years-old, C–seven-years- old, L–eight-years-old and A–ten-years-old. I couldn't be more in love with there dad and I wouldn't change things for the world. I love all of them so much. But let me tell you. Stepping in and taking in four more that aren't my own is exhausting. And he knows that. He knows that he hit gold finding a women that has done just that as their "real" mom has begun to bail. He cooks he cleans and he takes better care of me then I have ever experienced being as I was married to a complete POS. We're a team and we do everything according so. My son, being very very mildly autistic has accepted and loves him. And my daughter adores him. She has really never had a father figure in her life beings as her dad left when she was nine months and never really had anything to do with her when he was home anyways. So I'm gonna try writing each day. Or every couple and share our crazy world with everyone. It started off a little bumpy. We were very on and off. But things got serious. He begged for a chance. And now we all live together in a tiny 1000 square ft house. Two bedrooms. Two baths. But somehow we balance the chaos and we make it all work. He's my best friend and teammate. There isn't screaming or arguing and fighting like both of our past relationships. When we disagree we agree to disagree and move on. Or if we come to an obstacle we talk through it. We find a solution together.
Becca PacePublished 6 years ago in FamiliesTravels with My DNA
A DNA kit arrives in the post, a gift from my son. This kit promises if I spit into a little plastic tube and fork out £85 (thank you, my boy) to tell me where I come from.
Martin BoyerPublished 6 years ago in Families10 Reasons Why Being Childfree Doesn't Mean You Have No Family
Having a family isn't always achieved strictly by becoming a parent. For many people who don't have children, the meaning of family becomes understood in a whole different perspective.
C.C. CurtisPublished 6 years ago in FamiliesBlood and Water
Here's another 'things that keep me up at night' moment. We say, a lot, that blood is thicker than water and that blood comes first. I think we give a wrong ideal on that premise and make people feel obligated to their blood. But here's my way to try and explain it, because honestly, besides a genetic code, there are some families that share nothing more than DNA.
A Letter to My Mother In Law
Dear Mother in Law, I remember years ago, getting off the school bus and strolling slowly down an unfamiliar path to your house. The sun was shining, ponies were in the field next to us as I walked hand in hand with your son, on my way to meet you for the first time. I was so nervous, I wanted to make a good impression and I had never before met the creator of somebody I so desperately wanted to love me. I was 16 years old, had never been in love before and yet when I saw your son, something in me stirred and I knew he was special. In my 16-year-old brain, I was the first person to see him that way. Now I know better.
Jaz JohnstonePublished 6 years ago in FamiliesMy Dear Mother-in-Law
Can we talk about mothers-in-law for a second? I know I left my last story half way there and I promise I will finish it, eventually. However, I wrote that story on my 5-hour flight to see my boyfriend since he started his PhD and moved 2000 miles away. I was so happy I was going to spend some time with him that it inspired me to tell our story. I’ve been here for two weeks and they have been bliss. It’s like our own little heaven where we help each other around the house and never wear pants just because we can. Now, his mother showed up Thursday and tomorrow, Sunday, is my last day here before I go back home and don’t see him again for god knows how long. She arrived and I already knew it was going to be difficult since I don’t particularly like her but I know he is happy she’s here and that’s all that matters to me.
How I Went from an Only Child to a Woman with Two Siblings, Seemingly Overnight... at 40
It was a typical lazy Sunday. My kid was playing video games, I was folding and hanging up laundry. I decided a needed a break, so I went on Facebook, because...isn’t that what we all do while breaking? I had friend requests from some people whose last name I recognized, so I thought nothing of it. I accepted them all and went about my day doing laundry.
Andrea OrtizPublished 6 years ago in FamiliesGodparents - The Orthodox Version
Here you are visiting your best friend's house. Both she and her spouse are excited to have you there. There is a special reason for you to be there today. She is pregnant with either a boy/girl. Her partying days with you are officially over. They sit down, offer you something to drink and eat, and then they ask you...
Paranormal World GirlPublished 6 years ago in FamiliesHow I Define Family
Family. That group we are born into once we are removed from our mother’s womb. Individually, we are related by blood and along with others who share that same bloodline, we are considered family whether we reside in the same household or not. Traditionally, families consist of mothers, fathers, and children sharing the same home. But that dynamic has changed throughout the decades for various reasons. The first 10 years of my life I lived in a single parent home that was shared with my mom’s aunt, uncle and family friend. I never questioned the relation to the family friend because he treated us with love and compassion like family did during that era. And I knew that whenever he told me to do something, like go to bed on time, I should respect him and do it. When our living arrangement changed to my mom, my sister, and I moving into our own apartment, the family love and compassion grew even more stronger and included more members of our family. We moved into an apartment complex that was in one of Chicago’s rough areas, though not as bad as I later found out. The good thing about the apartment was that our building was directly across the street from our new school so mom was able to watch us from the kitchen window while we walked across the street onto the school ground.
Nathonia SmithPublished 6 years ago in FamiliesMonster in Law Pt.2
Welcome back to "How to betray your child 101". A step by step guide on how to ruin you relationship with your son and daughter in law. Brought to you by, the actions of my very own mother in law.
Bri PinsonPublished 6 years ago in FamiliesMonster in Law Pt.1
So the other day I saw an article on Facebook with the headline "Why it's OKAY to cut toxic family members from your life." Without even reading the article, my mother in law came right to mind. Now I know that may sound harsh, but hear me out. Let me start by saying, I never would have thought at the time that I would end up resenting my mother in law so deeply that I had no interest in her being a part of my life at all. I had hopes and dreams like most women do... For example, the perfect wedding experience... The dress shopping, the bridal and bachelorette parties, the morning of while getting ready, the ceremony, the toasts, and all the family events to follow. I pictured the perfect relationship with her. But, like they say, you can't see the future.
Bri PinsonPublished 6 years ago in FamiliesDomestic Violence Shelter for Those Escaping Families
Domestic violence is a reality in the world today, but not everybody has the strength to get away from an abusive family, especially if you have a disability. I want to help disabled people on SSI start businesses, in order to get off of SSI. This can be hard sometimes because some of us need to maintain our benefits still. Why I want an MBA is for this purpose, to help disabled people start their own businesses. SSI is helpful to those of us with illnesses or disabilities. I ask the current administration to not touch the system since many need it. You said you wouldn’t, so for once, live up to your promises.
Iria Vasquez-PaezPublished 6 years ago in Families