Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

Science Fun With Your Child
Children love science because there is so much opportunity to use everyday objects and perform experiments to ease learning. It is a fact that we learn when we do, and rather than reading about it, it is best to have a child experience the learning by doing it themselves. Then, of course, the best part is the “ah-ha” moment you get from them which is undeniably the best feeling for a teacher or a parent.
By Elaine M. Gallagher5 years ago in Families
Why Your Child Care has Snow Days
I often hear complaints from parents about their child care closing on snow days. If it is a center the parent tends to take it pretty well because they understand the center has to be able to get enough staff through the door to keep ratios. When it is an in-home child care however, the attitude is very different. I hear comments like "I don't know why she needs to close, she's at home and doesn't have to drive anywhere. I'm the one who has to do the driving" and "If I'm willing to go to work she should be open to watch my child." The most insulting are the parents who remark that their provider is just using the school closing as an excuse to "Take a paid day off."
By Terri Mulhern5 years ago in Families
10 gift ideas for wife that your wife does not expect from you
Who doesn't like to receive an unexpected gift? It is true that on many occasions it is said that the material does not matter and it is true, a detail is valued more for the fact of being an unexpected surprise than for the economic value it has. So, take note! because we tell you the 10 gift ideas for wife that every woman dreams of receiving at least once in her life.
By Triavory Miller5 years ago in Families
..And Back Again
My Father's Sister had passed away alone in her apartment, Toronto, ON. 2012. But that was how she wanted to live her life. As an artist; you are never alone, even when you want to be.
By SewFancyPaints5 years ago in Families
An Open Letter to Moms of Angels
Dear Mothers, You are a Mom. Even if your baby never got to take its first breath, you are a Mom. I am so, so sorry that you have lost your baby. No words or false 'it will get better's' will ever fill that hole from your child. It doesn't matter if it was miscarriage, stillborn, SIDS, or some other unfortunate event that ended in you losing your child.
By Shiloh Madison5 years ago in Families
Building Trust with your Child Care Provider
When your new caregiver begins watching your children, you probably won’t know much about them. You won’t know their favorite color, their hopes and dreams or their bad habits. More importantly, you won’t know their parenting style. It is crucial that you choose a provider that is like you in parenting style. If you are a sixty’s style crunchy parent who uses cloth diapers and wants organic food for your child and your provider is a militant structure buff/ germ freak, the two of you will get along about as well as two male beta fish (you know, the pretty ones that live in little cups and look friendly but kill each other when put together?) in one tank. In other words, bad choice!
By Terri Mulhern5 years ago in Families
If It's Not Unconditional, It's Not Love. Top Story - January 2021.
I consider myself insanely blessed in this life. For a multitude of reasons, but the main reason very readily jumps out in my mind, and that reason is my father.
By Rylie Houston5 years ago in Families
no good deed goes unpunished
i wake as i do every morning, to the sound of my children, crying, nagging or begging for me to get out of bed and meet their demands and you, you sleep. my head hazy from our youngest child keeping me up all night, it’s been like this for three and a half years now, i wake and you, you sleep. so i make toast for the children and of course you, i do this while refereeing arguments and soothing tears, you wake to the smell of burned toast and look at me like i am worthless. i carry on cleaning, wiping, picking up, while you, you eat. time to get the children dress so we can leave you in peace. for you to work? Goodness no, you’re unemployed but you need space, rest and a break, from what? your past has become my presents burden, i live only to serve your needs and to suffer from the trauma you are unwilling to fix, to even try lessen, but we don’t talk about that. i’m not allowed to help you but i’m not allowed to leave you. Off to the park, i hope no one is there so our children can play without me having to hear other mothers discuss their husbands, their extensions of their homes, the new car they just upgraded too. We walk to the park everyday because we can afford nothing else. This is my fault, I should have considered these things before having kids you’d say, i guess i was wrong the egg must swim to the sperm. i smile at our kids and tell them how clever they are, i try to give them the love you sometimes can’t or won’t. a mother can’t be selfish like a father can. back home to make our children lunch and get them to sleep. they cry the whole walk home in the hot sun, they are in the shade and comfort of the pram while i push uphill with the sun pelting down on me, i’m optimistic and hopefully that the time on your own will make you softer when we return, i am wrong, our children’s cries annoy and frustrate you. i feed and get them to sleep as quickly as i can...i wake with a sick feeling in my stomach knowing you’ll be angry i accidentally fell asleep, this is the time you expect me to devote to you and your needs, meaning i sleep with you, wether i want to or not. i go and try to start things quickly but it’s too late you’re already pissed off. i won’t be able to talk to you until who knows when. i start on the washing and the folding, until i hear a cry and then it’s back to tending to our children. i will spend the afternoon entertaining our children, cleaning, picking up, nothing for myself. the night will be cooking, bathing and putting the children to sleep, laying in bed knowing it will all repeat again tomorrow, and the next day and the next. i will be your slave day after day and you, you will sleep.
By Ebony Kendall5 years ago in Families
Yes, Mom. The Weather is Delicious.
The moment I got out of bed this morning I was in a mood. A knot had formed in my stomach and began twisting itself into a tight fisted, lead balloon. It just sat there, in the middle of my stomach, making itself known and screwing with a perfectly good morning. I wish I knew what was wrong. I turned my attention to the coffee pot and tried to push whatever this was down as I filled the pot and scooped the coffee into the filter. Maybe I just need a shot of caffeine.
By Cheryl Mason Thompson5 years ago in Families
My Father's Inheritance
I have had the utmost privilege to have known the man for 20 long years. As a child, I’ve always looked up to him and strived to become the man that he was. I reminisced the nights when he would read me tales and parables as I tucked in for a good night's sleep or the times I went past my bedtime to watch Jason Bourne on the Sony box television beside him or the cold early jogs we used to do every sunrise on the weekends. I thought I was going to follow in his footsteps, but little did I know that life had other plans for me.
By Darnell 5 years ago in Families
Dead Deer Head
My grandparents lived in a modest-sized home in Chula Vista, California, which they had bought for about 32,000 dollars in 1950. It is now worth 599,000 dollars and is about seven and a half miles from downtown San Diego and Tijuana. They lived there until they died. My grandfather from Altzheimer's dementia and my grandmother from multiple myeloma, a bone marrow cancer. I know I wouldn't recognize the interior now, but I would recognize the house based on the lemon tree, to the right of the driveway, that still produces fruit.
By cd ybarra5 years ago in Families
Unmarried in your late 20's
How do you make a relationship work after COVID-19? It feels like if you weren't already dating someone at the beginning of the pandemic, you're S.O.L. when it comes to your dating life. For people like me it's especially difficult. Growing up in what some would call a "broken home," because my parents were divorced. The only positive side to relationships I saw was in my grandparents and aunts and uncles. Looking back I realize they probably had their issues and arguments that got nasty but that wasn't the focus during family get-togethers. Being a woman is still hard in the 21st century. I didn't think I'd let sexist comments about women keeping their mouths shut would really bother me, yet here I am, a year after the pandemic finally staying home.
By Shasta Scott5 years ago in Families