Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
When You Lose Your Mama You Will Find Out Who Is The Realest In Your Tribe
When you lose your Mama you will find out who is the most real in your life and tribe. Through the tears, pain, frustration, and fear you will know who has your back. I lost my beloved mother on January 31st, 2020. My mother Donna Reese was a highly decorated activist and advocate for civil and disability rights. She passed away surrounded by family. I was on my knees holding her left hand until her last breath. That moment and experience was heartbreaking, surreal, bittersweet, devastating, and traumatic. My mom left a profound legacy and was loved by many with tons of love to give so many as well. Since losing my mother I began to look at life totally different on so many levels. I will forever miss her and I think about her each and every day. We had such a unique bond and were literally each other's number one fan. I had the best mom ever! I am so grateful to have experienced motherly love that will last with me for all of my days.
By Tammy Reese5 years ago in Families
Baby Blues
From the moment I found out that I was pregnant and everyday after that for the next nine months I experienced every emotion known to man, from joy to anxiety to fear and paranoia but the one emotion that I felt the most was happiness. I discovered I was pregnant with my first child at the age of thirty six. After my thirty fifth birthday I never imagined that I would conceive a child, I assumed that motherhood was not in the cards for me, maybe GOD did not think I was fit to be a mother, maybe it was something wrong with me - a million self doubt thoughts flooded my head. Then to my surprise on super bowl Sunday of 2020 I found out that I was pregnant. For the first three months I lived in fear everyday that I would miscarry because I was in my late thirties and because I made myself believe that GOD would not bless ME with something so special and precious ( since my late teens I have had a on again off again relationship with GOD but that's a story for another day) I even went to the hospital and complained of stomach pain just so I could get an ultrasound picture to prove to myself that I has a little angle growing inside of me. From the moment the nurse placed the picture of my daughters ultrasound in my hands it was a concoction of joy and excitement mixed with a little fear from that moment on. I couldn't wait to meet my mini me and give her the life I always wished I had as a child.
By Stephanie Hudson5 years ago in Families
A Third-Grade Education Didn’t Stop My Father
My father, Elvin Mansfield, was born into poverty in 1929, and his life was mostly a struggle. His formal education ended with the third grade. However, he never stopped learning and doing what he needed to do to make the most of his situation.
By Terry Mansfield5 years ago in Families
WHO WANTS ICE CREAM?!
So here it is! My bowl of vanilla ice cream with sprinkles. No, it’s not my favorite but there is a special story behind it. It’s a humid summer in Long Island. The sky has never been so blue. It’s as if the sea air has washed all the pollution away. So many trees and an endless ocean. A hidden paradise or so I thought. I was with family far away from home. The place seemed magical. Perhaps it was the usual innocence of a child simply being somewhere new or perhaps it was my imagination trying desperately to escape a reality I didn’t quite understand.
By Valencia A. Thomas5 years ago in Families
People in my Life
This New Year's day of 2021 will mark the 30th anniversary of the violent murder of my brother, Joseph Vincent Hulse. Around 12:15 am, January 1st, 1991, a coward brought a gun to a fist fight. He also brought along a couple carloads of friends armed with golf clubs and baseball bats. My brother was only 20 when he died but he had an old soul and I always viewed him as an adult. He was only 6 years older than me but light years more mature.
By James S. Carr5 years ago in Families
the JARRETT story
To speak about Jarrett in a way that paints him out to be this ‘stellar young scholar’ is something that I think would even make him laugh, at least I hope it would. He was a cutie pie to the core! He had the cutest little dimples and I would always try to make him laugh or smile just so I could see his dimples light up the room.
By GÆRY SKYeWALKER5 years ago in Families
Folklore
In ancient times there was a farmer named Toba who was alone in a gentle and fertile valley. The farmer works the rice fields and fields for his living needs. Apart from working on his farm, sometimes the man went fishing to the river which was not far from his house. Every time you fish, you can easily get fish because there are lots of fish in the clear river. He cooks the fish to eat.
By Daniel Pratama5 years ago in Families
Booger
Booger Bear, Booger Bird, Tweetie Pie, Lil’ Poops, Chonko, Chonko Chunk, Chonko Chip, Tubby Buns, Little Baby Booger Bear Belly Boopie Butt. Those are just a few of the nicknames I routinely use for our little Elsee Anne. There are more, they just involve words that I can’t spell because they are not real.
By Vincent Maertz5 years ago in Families
Humorous Tale of The Cookie Dough Bandits
You might agree there are a lot of things siblings can look back on throughout their lives to which they feel anger, sadness, or pure joy. I'm fortunate to have a great relationship with my older sister Chavi. So usually we're laughing about something. We may be happily married adults living in different states now but it doesn't stop me from occasionally shading her cookie dough eating abilities. It was a moment of pressure and one of us delivered.
By Valencia A. Thomas5 years ago in Families
The Day I Killed The Devil....
Age 8 Just then we heard a commotion outside and ran to the window. It was a fight, but because where my grandmother lived was considered the ghetto a fight wasn't unusual. We went out to the front porch ,because we were on the top level, to see who it was.
By Lord Octavius Gladney5 years ago in Families
