Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

The Gift
THE GIFT The call came before sunrise. Those are the calls you dread. You hope it’s a wrong number but fear the worst: Maybe one of your kids died in a fiery crash or an old friend’s in the emergency room. Or if you’re lucky, it’s just one of your ex-wives wanting to get back together for a second try.
By John Little5 years ago in Families
2005 And Me
As I pulled up to the house on Prospect Avenue I immediately felt at home. It looked small from the outside, but when I looked up I noticed that the house had a second floor, and a basement down below. It sat right next door to a mini church. Which made interesting conversation on Sunday afternoon. The steps stood out to me because they were blue and kind of curved. I grabbed my bag form the car and I headed in the house. It was the middle of the day and the house was empty. All the guys were either at work or at school.
By Sakoli Norman 5 years ago in Families
The Piece
The music echoed around the empty cathedral, resonating from the deeply rich wood of the exquisite cello. Note upon note, tumbling, twisting and turning in the air, fluidly intermingling with her tears as she played the piece. It was beautiful. In fact more than beautiful, it was intriguing.
By Lydia Mallison-Jones5 years ago in Families
Life from Four to Now
Growing up is never easy. Some have one parent, some have both, and some have neither. Well if you haven’t guessed it by now... I’m one of those who has neither. I can remember as far back as the age of four. Shocking right? Well... not really when life has never been easy for me. I’ve been abused, left, mislead, confused and left to figure it out on my own. So this is a little life story of my own I wanted to share.
By Anonymous 5 years ago in Families
Welcome Home
Sarah closed the mailbox and sifted through the mail as she climbed the steps to her apartment. Amidst the overdue bills, she discovered a white envelope with a hand written return address for an Evelyn MacPherson. She didn’t know any MacPhersons, did she? Sarah opened the envelope and pulled out a letter. As she opened it, she was astonished to find a check for $20,000.00 made out to her. She paid it no attention, assuming it was just another scam, and she moved it to the back to read the letter.
By Melissa Hensley5 years ago in Families
The Little Black Book
I just saw her yesterday. How can she be GONE, if I just saw her yesterday?! This had to be a joke; an uncouth prank, but it just couldn’t be true.
By Heather R Weisbarth5 years ago in Families
Runaway
Most children run away from home at some point. One of my student families had a laugh about their son’s plans the last time I was there, how they offered to help him pack food and clothes, and he complained the suitcase was too heavy. My experience went… a little differently. No one knew I’d run away until years later, when I laughed about it in front of my parents.
By Elizabeth Hunter5 years ago in Families
Beneath the Clay
Under the Clay The universe was out of kilter. I was coming to Tennessee to say goodbye to my dear mother … three years late. It was unconscionable that she had slipped through my fingers into the red earth while I was three thousand miles away. Damn that pandemic! Damn my illness that followed. A preacher saying words at the cemetery promised to Face Time the service. But there was no signal at the graveside. Painful silence and a blank screen in Seattle. It was as if I had gone from the beloved … to the nothing.
By J Michael Jones5 years ago in Families
Parental Alienation Ruined My Life
February 9, 2021 If you want to know, then this is my story. Read it if you like. If I ask you to, I’ll tell you what I want from you. My story is all true and I would like for the reader to take away the fact that parental alienation destroyed me entirely over the course of the last twenty years and if you can help me in any way, I would greatly appreciate it. To reunite with my children would make me forever grateful. Let me begin by ensuring everyone that I am not a criminal. I have never been charged in a court of law for any crime other than a misdemeanor crime. I have not been convicted of a felony or federal crime. Some of the charges were charges brought about during the parental alienation period of my life. When I was divorcing my ex-husband, he had me arrested falsely, and turned wanting to be a mother into a crime. How is it in the best interest of the children to ruin their mother emotionally and financially? I have no felony charges. These are all misdemeanors, all are alcohol related, all except one are over 10 years old and most can be linked to this traumatic event in my life. I’d like for you to read my narrative explaining how parental alienation has ruined my life. I am unable to find work because of my record with SLED. People will hire me, but then retract the offer when they run my background.
By [email protected]5 years ago in Families
Introduction
So let me introduce myself, I am a bonus mom to one and a mom to another I won't be giving my name or my kids and or family. But my story started a few years back. I first met my awesome step daughter when she was 3.5 years old. It was my birthday, and on my birthday I go to my parents, I had asked my boyfriend if he wanted to come with me but he ended up having his daughter which was a rare occurrence with his baby momma. I told him that it was obviously okay, but then he asked me if I wanted to meet his daughter. I didn't know what to think do I say yes? Would my parents mind if I brought my new boyfriend and his daughter? So I called them up and of course they said it was okay, and that it was my birthday so I could invite whomever I wanted. When we first met I was under the impression that she wasn't good at meeting new people. I've been babysitting since I was a teenager, so I knew that this meant. You pretty much have to earn these little boogers trust. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, all I knew was that I've always loved kids and if my current boyfriend wanted me to meet his daughter then I wanted to as well. When I met her I got down on her level and introduced myself to her. What I expected was for her to shy away, and not look at me and I was okay with this. But what I didn't expect was for her to jump in my arms and give me a hug. I was shocked, however I hugged her back because what was I supposed to do? Push her off? I don't think so. So I stood back up and looked at her father and he was just as shocked as I was. From then on we had her at least once a week, like I said the baby momma is a handful. I remember one morning waking up at 7am to my boyfriend answering his phone, and baby momma was screaming her head off, that if we didn't then he wouldn't see her again for awhile. At the time he didn't have a vehicle and his mom would pick up his daughter. He tried explaining this, but she wouldn't have it. I wasn't a morning person so it pissed me off really quickly, I told him to tell her we would be there in thirty minutes. When we got there, she wanted to talk to him alone, I was fine with it and when he came back to the car with his daughter he was mad. I asked him what was going on, and come to find out she wanted him back and for them to be a family again. I didn't know what to think, but if he wanted to make it work with her, then I would have to be okay with it wouldn't I? So I pulled over and told him just that, if he wanted to make it work I would bring him and his daughter back and they could make it work. He looked at me then his daughter and back to me, then he told me flat out that no he didn't want her back. That he had given her a chance to make this family work and she didn't want to. I took that as my opportunity, and made my decision that I wanted this. There are so many other stories I want to tell and I am going to use this platform to vent and let it all out of what I have been through. I hope you enjoy my story and I have to bring.
By Bonus Mom5 years ago in Families
Duck, Duck, Goose
It was Christmas Day, -10 degrees and my anxiety was so severe, my ears wouldn’t stop ringing. The morning was spent at my aunt’s house with my Dad’s side. Afternoon came and my brother and I got dropped off at my Mom and Stepdad’s.
By Krissie V Moore5 years ago in Families
LOSS TRANSLATED
December 26th, 1996 Dear Diary, I can’t believe Christmas was the last time I’ll ever see my Bella Baba. She was such a strong woman. She brought our family to this country and I will always have the most wonderful memories from playing at her house. My cousins and I always had the best time. Picnics in the yard. Grapes on the vine. Berries from the garden. Jumping the creek. Running through the corn and swinging from the willow tree. I’m sure they will sell it as soon as we empty it out. How quickly life just stops. I think I will weep in my pillow a little before bed.
By Amy Szuta5 years ago in Families