Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
When Someone else Pays the Daycare Bill
I loved watching the Jensen kids. Four very bright children they made my day full and exciting. Although they were on daycare assistance, I was OK with $125 per week per child because they were well behaved and left before 5 PM, which left me with fewer kids to handle while making dinner. It usually takes at least 2 months before getting paid for the first time for a state client, because you can only bill at the end of the month and it can take up to 45 days for the state to issue a check. I was so looking forward to spending the $3800 the State of Iowa owed me. Instead of a check however, I got a notice that their daycare bill would not be paid. As luck would have it, mom had not turned in her pay stubs showing a substantial raise. The result was that her assistance was cancelled back to the day she applied. So all of the money that I counted on to pay my staff and my property taxes which were due was gone. I was going to have to borrow against the hubby’s 401K to even make it work. This was one of those days when I wanted to meet every parent at the door and tell them I was giving my 2-week’s notice. It seemed no matter how hard I worked I ended up struggling more than I would just staying home and living off my husband’s paycheck. The biggest disappointment was when mom announced since there was no way she could pay all the past due bill, she was simply going to move home to mom and send payments. Two years later and I haven’t seen .10c, let alone $3800.00. I could sue her, but she doesn’t have anything so I would simply be throwing good money after bad. Chalk it up to stupidity.
By Terri Mulhern5 years ago in Families
Mom lyfe and school
10 Misconceptions of Moms and Back-to-School Misconception Number 1: Moms miss their kids when they go back to school me about the pool, when is the next snack or if you can stay up late and watch a movie. It’s over….You’re going back to Hogwarts and I get to have a life again. There is a Christmas morning for parents and it’s called “back to school”.
By Ms. Meowtini Straight-Up5 years ago in Families
UNSTOPPABLE
It was October, Halloween, 2013, when Roy had been putting up lights and a few motion lights on his wife’s flower shop. He was standing at the top of the ladder, stretching out a bit too far when he took a very long hard fall to the concrete ground. Everyone had heard the loud noise but didn’t hear anything from him. They all assumed he was fine. Roy had cracked his head open, busted his shoulder and collar bone along with breaking other bones in his body. He had stood up as if nothing happened and went on to put his tools away. Some time had passed and his wife decided to go check on him as they had plans for the night. When she walked out to find him she screamed for help and call for an ambulance. He was bleeeding severely and wasn’t aware of what was going on. Moments later, he was being rushed to the nearby hospital. Which wasn’t long after that he was sent to another hospital. As his family arrived at the hospital they awaited for news. It was serious and the doctors had informed his wife to call everyone because they didn’t know how much time he’d have left. They had gave him a 5 percent chance of living and then if he did survive they weren’t sure how the outcome would be. So with that, his wife called everyone they knew to let them know what happened to Roy.
By Mary Edwards5 years ago in Families
Grandpa Jake’s Secret Stash
Grandpa Jake was a man of few words. The ones you sometimes heard being things like, “ turnipheads” , when referring to government officials, “ummm” when eating a hot apple pie ala mode or “crymenintly!”, a made up oath we heard when a finger was smashed, a pig got loose, or a piece of machinery he was fixing gave him trouble. This could also be uttered in excitement or awe, like when I won the spelling bee! Crymenintly, baby girl! You are the Queen speller!”
By Nancy German5 years ago in Families
I Suck At This
“I suck at this.” I slammed my pen down and dropped my head into my hands in frustration. It was senior year and I was applying to colleges. My grades were just okay but I did surprisingly well on the SAT exams. I only applied to four schools because the application cost was ridiculous and I, and my parents, could only afford so many. Why does it cost money to apply to a university? What a dumb — that’s a different rant for a different day. My parents forced me to be choosy, narrow it down to four likely candidates to continue my higher education. Two schools I wanted to go to, one my parents chose (the most affordable happened to be the closest as well), and a safety school that I was assured admission. But grades and test scores were not enough! Oh no, these prestigious, middle of the road, far from Ivy League Universities all required application essays as well. Basically long form begging restructured into a thesis statement as to why, if granted admission, I would become the next great Golden Eagle, or Blue Devil, or Crusader, or Leatherneck, to go out into the world and change it for good while continuing to remember my yearly alumni donations. Please let me in, all powerful gatekeepers of education, I hold promise for great things, accomplishments unmatched by any of my peers from the other medium-sized mid-conference local universities! I swear it!
By Matthew DiMare5 years ago in Families
The Haircut Threshold
When my sister was little, my mother was DONE fighting with her long, tangled hair and inability to maintain it like a responsible adult. (Amusingly, as I write this, my hair is in a bun, because I didn’t feel like brushing the insane mess left after having sex yesterday… so….yeah.) My mother had not decided/needed to save money by learning to do some basic haircuts yet. So, she dragged my sister into the salon, screaming at her trusty stylist Jill, to shave her motherfucking head bald. I think my sister was 4-5 years old at the time?
By Elizabeth Hunter5 years ago in Families
Dealing With Loneliness
It's amazing how alone you can feel when you are surrounded by hundreds of people as you are grieving the passing of a loved one. I traveled a thousand miles from my home to a lovely beachside resort to escape the palatable loneliness that has become my life since my husband died. The beach I am on is serene and beautiful. The sound of the powerful waves crashing on the shore is peppered with the screeching of happy seagulls as they dance on the warm breeze that fills the brilliant blue sky. The beach is filled with vacationing families playing rambunctious games of volleyball, frolicking in the warm brown sand, and building elaborate sandcastles. An ornery little boy is happily chasing a reluctant and annoyed sea bird that is searching the beach for his lunch. You can hear the crowd's joyful laughter and see the smiles on their faces as they enjoy the time they are spending with one another.
By Michelle Cagle5 years ago in Families
