extended family
All about how to stay connected, strengthen ties and talk politics with your big, happy extended family.
Monster Release
My family has always had deeply rooted secrets that seem to escape them yearly during the holidays. My family gets together a few days before Thanksgiving every year to have breakfast and put up my grandparent's Christmas tree. Because of "grandma's law," everyone is required to attend, with no exceptions. I missed one year because I didn't have the means or transportation, and she threatened to cancel Christmas and withhold everyone's gifts until February. My grandma is dramatic, manipulative, and demanding but makes the best desserts and genuinely loves you enough to nag you about wearing a coat in the winter and taking home a plate. My grandparents, my mother, my two younger brothers with their own families, and I were in attendance. Then there was my aunt Fradie's family, chosen by God, their words not mine, a family of four, usually her husband James, and two boys were there, but on this day, James was absent. It is always about an hour or a half into the festivities that things get interesting. It starts exciting and loving, with tones of games, laughs, and food, but eventually, the nightmares emerge. I don't stress that lightly; I mean monsters; it is almost like they create or receive these secrets or burdens, and the holidays force them to lay it all out on the table. Just to list a few past holiday burdens or secrets, There was when my brother pitched a fit, caused a scene, went on a rampage, and fell in the pool, all because he lost at spoons. An acid trip? It was never confirmed.
By LaRissa Dawn 4 years ago in Families
Yellow Shirt Girl
In my family, Thanksgiving is always quite the ordeal. There are so many people in my family that it’s always a really large gathering, but it’s usually the same people who attend it every year. Cousins, siblings, grandparents, and even some of our more distant relatives all join together at my great aunt’s large home, where we host a potluck brunch and everyone brings their favorite dishes. We gather around to watch movies and eat as many helpings of food as we can fit in our stomachs. However, a few years ago, we had an unexpected guest.
By Brenna Williams4 years ago in Families
Lobster for Everyone. Runner-Up in Holiday Hijinks Challenge.
Our first holiday away from home was a memorable one. I was twelve and a little too proud of it. My parents optimistically packaged me, my 10-year-old brother, and a week’s worth of luggage into our 89’ Ford Escort and set off for an 18-hour road trip. 18-hours and 28 minutes to be precise. We were going to spend Christmas with my mom’s family on the East Coast of Canada. Now, I know what you’re thinking but the road trip actually went fairly smoothly, My brother’s car sickness only caused a few minor delays and we ate on the road to save time. Mom and Dad took turns driving through the night and 18-hours and 57 minutes later we arrived in Kentville, Nova Scotia.
By Claire Jones4 years ago in Families
Mr.Wrong
It was one hot summer, in Memphis Tennesse, you would have thought it was in the hundreds. Being a teenage 19 year old female, you would think i would be out enjoying life with my girlfriends,eating strawberry icecream somewhere.Well not me!Summer had just begun and school was out for the rest of the year.Sadly i had met a great guy who had just moved to our town from chicago, "oh my god", he was so handsome. We became real close friends, so close we started dateing. It really wasnt a big deal , only that he stayed a block over from were i live. I was in shock the first day i saw him and then seen him again after school as i was walking inoto the yard. Their go an black suv speeds by our house, immediatly the back window rolls down and in shock, i stood their in my yard as his arm dangles out the window waving. It was like something or someone had an aggressive hold of me,were i couldnt move a muscle i just stood their with my mouth open. Stuck. I quickly ran into the house approching my mother , yelling! mom! mom! he waved at me. Looking stunned , she turn to me asking ,who? his name is kyle he just moved here from Chicago, awesome! my mom said as she walked on to her room as i skipped to mines with the biggest smile ever. I jumped unto my bed landing on my back with my hands wide open,i just layed their with my eyes closed remenicing.It was summer time,no classes,which means i could sleep in."yes". Just when i thought things were going to get even better it took the turn for the worst. Even though kyle was a bit older than i was,couldnt anyone tear us apart, it felt like everyone was against us, as if i didnt deserve to be happy with who ever i decided to be with. Then and again their was moments when i also had my doubts about our relationship,as time went on he started getting abusive ,and real jealous every where we went. He couldnt stand for another guy to even look at me it was getting to the point were i didnt even want to hardly walk with him anywere. And not knowing im thinking when im home i have my own personal privacy inside my room, but then i discover a little blue blinking light coming from my flower plant,their planted was a camcorder recording every little inch of my room.Including me! i was so devasteded standing their with that little small camcorder constantly blinking in my hand I furiously ran out my room and to a block over to his house where he stood outside playing basketball with some friends, he could see it in my eyes that somethig wasent right. I held my hand out with the recorder .He was so speehless, as if he had just seen a ghost appear right infront of his very own eyes. Studerring,he says "let me explain please". No! how could you kyle? I wouldnt dare invade ur privacy like that, who do you think i am? you will not do me like that.And before i knew it i felt a very fast strong wind come across my face with a loud noise as if someone was hitting a baseball and it sounded off.My reaction was just as fast, soon as my face turned from the slap i turn right back towards him with my mouth open holding my jaw. Its like reality flashed befor my eyes and i knew right then and their that was not the life i wanted to live eventhough i was so in love i knew this was wrong and it wasent going to get any better for us. I stared him silently into his eyes seriously.Telling him "no more" its over . I will not be your punching bag.Kyle,I love you but you are not right for me your all wrong and i can not do this with you anymore.We are done kyle. I walked off not even giving him a chance to say anything to me,wipeing the tears from my eyes i go into my room and stood infront of the mirror.Relizing my life is more imortant than having someone abuseing me especially the one you love who can also turn out to be Mr.Wrong.
By Angelitha Dickerson4 years ago in Families
Never Grill a Turkey
It was my first Christmas away from home, and it was hard to accept the new normal. A year and a half passed since the wedding, and we have a beautiful daughter. She was strapped in the back. I checked on her every two minutes, being the armature mother that I was.
By Julia Nichols4 years ago in Families
Single Kenyan Moms Blamed For Children's Behavior: Not Poverty, Polygamy, Gender-Based Violence or Untrained Teachers
During Covid-19 lockdown in Kenya the incidents of gender-based violence grew out of control. Hundreds of Kenyans ended up on the streets, many with their children to escape violence in their homes. So much so that BBC filmed the famed documentary in Kenya about the high rising incidents of gender violence.
By IwriteMywrongs4 years ago in Families
Breasts, Thighs, and Other Things Women Worry Over
I come from a long line of anxious women. When gathered together, the anxiety festers as one woman's molehill carves itself into a cumulative mountain. My childhood was a time in society when mental health matters within the collective consciousness were neither discussed nor given credence. Women were simply high-strung, children were often the cause, and large gatherings were a recipe for disaster.
By Cali Loria4 years ago in Families
The First Visit
Thanksgiving was fast approaching. I was nervous. I'd never hosted before and my Mom and niece were coming to visit. My husband at the time, now ex-husband, didn't seem even slightly excited to see them. We also had a roommate at the time, but he was very "go with the flow" so he told me he'd help wherever needed. Great guy.
By Stefanie Sullivan4 years ago in Families
Thanksgiving gone South
I fear that, as you read this, you will ask questions like how could I not have known? How did I allow this to happen? Why did I.... Well stop right there. Why is a sucker's question. Why gets us nowhere. When things go as far south as they did on that 2012 Thanksgiving, the "Allower," myself, the one who you may say dropped the ball, can usually explain how, but seldom why. So I will tell you how.
By Paul A. Merkley4 years ago in Families
