Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

Memories of the Heart
“Molly, when are Mommy and Daddy coming home?” Sitting over on the couch, staring at her phone while her little sister played with her dolls, Molly took a breath. “Maybe at dinner.”
By Marielle Sabbag5 years ago in Families
Growing up, Getting out, Creating your new Family
Family, the foundation for the next generation of adults. Some people have large families, while others have small families, and some people have no family at all, or feel isolated from them over time. Friends and teachers are the outside forces that also influence much of our dreams and aspirations. Traditions change with the passing of grandparents and great grandparents, family reunions become less and less, so we try our best to create our own traditions.
By Shasta Scott5 years ago in Families
Papaw's Farm
When I was a girl, I would burrow under my quilt at night during the cool, humid summer nights on papaw’s farm. It was so different from the city. I would lie awake to hear the unfamiliar lullabies of the crickets, and the choir of deafening cicadas on those evenings. It was like I was in a different world. A magical one where the day would give way to another world at night. During one of those summers growing up, I remember the wonder I felt at hearing the hoot of an owl for the first time.
By Melissa Mena5 years ago in Families
Bertie
“You have to wear your trousers!” “I don’t want to wear my trousers!” “And I don’t want to have this conversation, but here we are!”
By Elspeth Evans5 years ago in Families
Kind Words For Kind Deeds.
Last year my elderly father suffered a devastating health crisis that rendered him unable to care for himself. He can walk a little around the house, use the toilet, bathe himself with some help, and eat independently, but beyond that, he cannot provide his own sustenance. I traveled there to help as much as I could, a story that I already told in my piece Happiness Is My New Year’s Resolution. I spent months there, helping as much as possible so my mother could leave the house and wouldn’t lose her job. But a thought hunted me relentlessly: what will happen to my mother once I have to go back to work and my own life? How will she handle this hardship on her own? She didfn’t have the resources nay the intention to put my father in a nursing home. How, then, would she manage?
By Adriana M5 years ago in Families
Dear Aunty
Dearest Aunty Becky, The nights are long and cold now. I write to you from the porch stairs. The wood feels like icicles on my thighs. However, when the lights are off and the sky is left to breathe, the porch is where the stars pulsate the strongest. Though I must say, no place on Earth has more diamondized stars than where your soul is.
By Crystal Wallenta5 years ago in Families
How to Prepare to Go on a Vacation
Those who are planning to go on a holiday should make the necessary preparations to enjoy their time away from home. While it may seem as simple as booking a hotel and heading out the door, leaving home for a significant period does require some planning and forethought. From paying what's owed to re-stocking the fridge, here are some practical and easy to follow tips on how to make your next vacation a smooth experience.
By Gabriel Anthony5 years ago in Families
She was a human
I get so mad when people say infants with anencephaly aren’t human. My daughter Raelyn was more human then anyone who says she wasn’t could ever be. There is a lot of misinformation out there about babies with this condition. When I was pregnant I was told that I should abort because she was nothing but a body that was still living but not really alive they would say. I would get so heartbroken because she deserved a chance at life just like anyone eles, I’m so glad I didn’t listen to the people who said it was a waste of time to carry her to term. It was a blessing getting to know her for the 9 months she was being developed in my body and the 23 days I had with her were amazing and it made everything I went through in my pregnancy worth it. If my story can help anyone decide to make the choice to continue there pregnancythen everything we went through was worth it.
By Krystalyn Trammel5 years ago in Families
The Tiniest Mouse meets mrs Too
I am going to tell you the story of a little mouse that lives under the seat in our garden. It is not an ordinary seat but a row of garden slabs propped on a small wall of bricks and then against the house extension. It ended just before the kitchen door on the right and where the bricks met the wall there was the tiniest of holes and this is where Mrs M lived with her husband and babies.
By Suzanne Harvey5 years ago in Families
Have You Ever Seen a Pig Fly?
On a warm summer evening, on the back porch of a small yellow house, a little girl sat with her grandmother watching fireflies dance in the grass around their farm. Looking up at her grandmother the little girl asked,
By Courtney Pettersson5 years ago in Families
How to Enjoy Your Family Holiday in Desaru
Desaru Malaysia is always a top choice for a family holiday. A fabulous destination with loads of fun activities for the entire brood, a range of mouth-watering cuisine and affordable rates all around, to enjoy a family vacation without breaking the bank. From the time at fun parks to exploring pretty farms and where to eat in the city, here is a guide on how to enjoy your family holiday in Desaru.
By Aurora Gianna5 years ago in Families
What feels like an endless cycle
I've written just once before and it shared how my family has had negative impact upon me. That my stories will be about struggles and the things that have occurred over the years; as I call it my free therapy to express myself. A counselor/therapist I have found cut you off in sharing fully what you need to just simply get off your chest and I have never found success in them assisting me. I need to just vent to get it out and often when sharing with a good friend they simply just don't fully understand either as all think its jus too easy to stop being there for others. So when I say an endless cycle and a family who can't appreciate; it's as simple as that they know I will be there to help but they show very little appreciation. Or even express it in any little way occasionally to let me know they really do notice and appreciate all I do to assist them.
By Amelia Woodrum5 years ago in Families