humanity
Humanity begins at home.
I Am... an Adult Child of Alcoholism
After leaving years of pain behind me when I turned 18, and hoping to follow a path that led to happiness and fulfillment, I found myself even more lost at 28, 10 years later. I now had a family of my own, lots to be proud of, a promising future with one thing holding me back. I was an adult child of alcoholism. The one thing I ran from, only came back to haunt me in my future. I had bouts of depression, and struggled severely with anxiety. I questioned myself constantly, to the point of exhaustion. I found myself sitting in front of trained professionals, hoping they could tell me what was causing this pain I felt. How can I make it go away? Am I just crazy? After sitting in front of therapist after therapist, I finally found one that brought to my attention the many characteristics I have as a result of my dysfunctional alcoholic home as a child. The many years of uncertainty, of self doubt, of teasing, and of abuse, had formed my flawed self. From birth until 18 years of age, I had developed coping mechanisms to survive this painful experience. Unfortunately, these coping mechanisms are still present and have caused many issues in my adult life.
Forgiveness is an Act of Consciousness
Has it every occurred to you that you would fall in love and marry someone outside your religion/ethnicity? Let me tell you a little story about myself. My name is Michelle, I am 22 years old I was born and raised in Chicago, IL. I was raised in an old-fashioned European lifestyle where respect is everything especially in the Polish culture. I live an average life, a perfect family and a toy poodle named Mia. Everything sounds good right? Wrong have you ever felt like you have everything but yet you're still unhappy. People always telling you what to do because they want you to be successful and not struggle like they did in life to get where they are? It was killing me inside, it led to altercations that didn't need to happen, it led to hatred between parents and siblings. It made me feel like I was always the bad guy because I felt trapped. You felt unheard of. So one day your friend gave you an opportunity to let yourself be you, let yourself be free and do what you want to do, so you move to another state.
Michelle ZubekPublished 6 years ago in FamiliesThanksgiving
For years, Thanksgiving has been an afterthought in my family. Seemed like we always went from fun in September and October of Halloween directly into the festivities of Christmas in November and December. Aside from the Football games on Thanksgiving and the shopping afterwards, there wasn't much love for turkey day. We would go to an aunt's or uncle's house or my mom's cousin's house for the meal. No real traditions. No real celebrations. Just another day to get together with the family. My mom wasn’t big on cooking a Thanksgiving feast. I remember probably 2 or 3 times she hosted dinner for the day. The holiday never really had any significance for us. Just eat and watch football. Just like anything else in life, the day holiday took on a more significant meaning after the lose of my mom, which in turn helped to build my relationships with my family.
James RollerPublished 6 years ago in FamiliesCommon Practices We Need to Stop
Nowadays everyone has Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other social media. We're all used to seeing articles of people being offended one way or another. For a long time women have been told what to do, where to go, and what time our husbands or boyfriends want their food ready. Well recently a new trend of shaming breast feeding mothers has appeared. Mothers in public areas are being told to leave or to stop breast feeding their child.
Bailey SimpsonPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesThe Story of Me and Mine
Hello. My name is Chloe Burke. I am 19 years old and a mother of two. My name is nothing more then a name to other people. My whole life I grew up with people not exactly knowing who I was or where I came from or what my purpose was. Well here's my purpose. When I was nine months old I was put up for adoption in the state of Nevada in Las Vegas after my biological father had tried to kill me by hitting me over the head with a hammer. I was hospitalized at Sunrise children's hospital for about a month. My case worker was Nancy Burke. Married to Steven Burke. She spent almost every day with me, getting to know me, falling in love with me, of coarse this is what she has told me because I was too young to remember anything at that age. Later on through the months my case worker soon turned into who I call my adopted mother. I was put under their care as foster parents and three years later was officially adopted into their family. Little did I know that my life was about to turn in to a living hell. My father was a very religious man a man who believed that everything happens for a reason and that everyone of his children should be baptized into his church. My dad is LDS. My mother on the other hand wasn't very involved with God or really any spiritual being of that matter. She believed that whatever happens happens and that was that. At the age of five I was introduced to the Mormon church and out into what they call primary sunbeams.
chloe burkePublished 7 years ago in FamiliesShitting on Icebergs
I stood there, crying — no. Sobbing, hysterically into my brother's chest. I'm 23 years old, and I stood barefoot in my front yard hyperventilating, shaking, trying to catch my breath.
S. Lily GraysonPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesOrphan
Your baby dies unborn. Unloved. Fatherless. It’s OK because its mother never really wanted it anyways. “We’ll get through this together,” your boyfriend tells you. You’re not even sure if it was his to begin with. It doesn’t matter. It's been two weeks since you’ve seen him. It’s Valentine’s Day. You’re alone.
Aliza DubePublished 7 years ago in FamiliesLife After My Hysterectomy
I am grieving. I am mourning the deaths of babies I never had the opportunity to make. I've not lost any children, but I feel like I am in mourning because I've lost my ability to create them. I feel the same sense of hopelessness, the same overbearing feeling of loss, the same finality with my hysterectomy as I do about death. I am helpless.
Stress at a Young Age?
Have you ever seen anyone that was so stressed out that they changed, including yourself? As I remember as being a young girl and helping my mom watch my younger brothers, I have seen it a lot in my family and friends to identify it. To see anyone you love go through harsh times is not fun to see nor tempting to bring out of the blue, mostly being at the age of four. Looking back, I had been affected and now look at me, my emotions take control of me more than it should.
Putting It Out TherePublished 7 years ago in FamiliesChanging Pace
I thought I knew exactly who I was. I knew what I wanted. I had everything I had ever asked for out of life, and I still wasn't happy.
Stacey ThomasPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesUnexpected Miracle
Living your life as a teenager is hard enough... especially when your life gets turned upside down within nine months. As a kid I was the social butterfly, until my brother turned on me. Growing up with an addict brother was different. But I never let it get me down, I still went to friend's houses, birthday parties, and skating rinks with my friends. Then one day after school, my mom had to work late and my dad was always at the shop till at least 9 o’clock. But I thought my brother was home so I was good. Then an hour later, he comes barreling through the front door like a bat out of hell, screaming at me for making a mess. I could tell he wasn't right. In his eyes there was nothing. Like being in a crowded room, where you don’t know anyone. The more anger he had in his eyes the closer he stepped towards me. Finally I ran in to the wall, no where else to run to. Then it happened. He struck me with all his strength. Over and over again I felt his whole body weight hit me over and over again. The one I was supposed to be able to look up to, the one I thought I could trust, turned on me. Made me his personal punching bag for the night.
Hanah EvansPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesDeadbeat Dads
Like a double-edged sword, the parenting standard for men and women, especially in the minority communities, across the country has been proven bias. The concept of a deadbeat dad in our society is one that labels a father who is not in the child’s life as a second-rate citizen. But what are the circumstances behind this estranged relationship? Is it deliberate? Is it intentional?
Chris RicksPublished 7 years ago in Families