Top Stories
Stories in Families that you’ll love, handpicked by our team.
Santaphobia Uncovered: Unraveling the Fear of Santa Claus
Christmas has arrived. We're all excited to see Santa, exchange gifts, and spread holiday joy. But for some people, especially young children, this season is filled with fear, anxiety, and the dread of encountering the famous man dressed in red in person. This fear is known as Santaphobia.
A Broken Hero
Although I wrote this piece, I had some help. Thank you to my mother, auntie Lisa, brother Kyle, and sister Monica. I just put their experiences, along with mine, in words.
J. Delaney-HowePublished 2 years ago in FamiliesTrauma and Death Has Made Me Like The Holidays Less
Not to be a "Debbie Downer" (no hate to Debbies of the world), but the holidays have become more unenjoyable. Before you call me a Scrooge or Grinch, hear me out! As you can tell by the title, I have had a fair share of trauma and death in my 30 years of life. I believe this has led to me not being so holly jolly during the beloved trio of major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's).
Steven RicePublished 4 months ago in FamiliesMoney-Saving Guide For Parents
First, beat up shame and become persistently practical. Then eat healthy for less and save tiny amounts. Share. Find and forage wild food.
10 Years
I can feel their eyes on me, people looking me over as I speak to them wondering why I haven't shaved or look disheveled. It's because I can barely look in the mirror anymore, whenever I do all I see is you. As I brush my hair back it looks like your hair, I grow a beard and it's your beard. Even the bags under my eyes are exactly like yours, it's inescapable.
John P. CreekmorePublished 4 months ago in FamiliesThe Day After
The air's a little heavy today. A winter storm blew in overnight and a bitter wind is reminding me that it's the end of November and the end of another year is just around the corner.
Dana CrandellPublished 4 months ago in FamiliesTwas the Night Before Thanksgiving
Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving D. A. Ratliff I came from a family of foodies. No, not those who loved a delicate soufflé, a creamy risotto, Beef Wellington, or a classic French pastry, but those who loved food—simple, well-cooked food. Any occasion in my grandmother’s Appalachian Mountain home involved food. My Granny Stella always kept a pot of beef stew, chicken and dumplings, or vegetable soup on the stove in case someone stopped by for a spell.
D. A. RatliffPublished 4 months ago in FamiliesFort Mother
As waves of pain hit her she grits her teeth and bares down. She knows it will end soon. This will bring good things this pain and so she bears it happily.
Lindsey AltomPublished 5 months ago in Families$17 Dollar Mashed Potatoes
Life has given me the opportunity to explore other means of employment on my terms. I have enjoyed spending my afternoon hours running DoorDash for the community. I have met some very nice people while doing so. Seriously, the walls of my office space were closing in and I had to explore other means of escape.
Sheila L. ChingwaPublished 5 months ago in FamiliesThe Lost Memory Sticks
At the weekend, my husband gave me three USB sticks which he had discovered in a desk drawer. I'm not sure what he was looking for on these. It might have just been curiosity as to what they held rather than a particular search. Either way, he announced that I may want to look at them.
Rachel DeemingPublished 6 months ago in FamiliesWho Taught You How to Drive?
If you’re a licensed driver with two parents, there was probably some discussion among them about who would be the one to teach you how to drive. There is always a nervous one and a brave one. I suppose if you had a single parent who fell into the nervous category, it may have been a job outsourced to an uncle or an official driving school if you were middle class enough.
Leslie WritesPublished 7 months ago in FamiliesThe Cabin
We drove up the snowy, winding road towards the cosy A-frame cabin. It looked the same as it always did: picturesque, peaceful, pretty.
Lilly CooperPublished about a year ago in Families