Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
My Story, Without Regrets
It all began on a cold wintry January morning, almost 73 years ago, when I came into this world, the second of what was to be three sons, to a Chinese father and a Colombian mother, in Washington, DC. They had met while mom was working as the nanny to the Colombian Ambassador to the U.S. and his wife who had three children and dad who went to visit his friend, also from China who also worked at that embassy, as a butler. Dad saw mom and was immediately struck by her beauty and shy demeanor and it was akin to the scene in the original “Godfather” movie when Michael first saw Apolonia, who would become his wife, my dad, like Michael, had been struck by the proverbial “lightning bolt”, a relationship, after they were married which would span some six decades.
By Robert Woo5 years ago in Families
Season of Believing
This year might be a little tougher to dig on down to our celebratory feels when it comes to Christmas. 2020 has been no easy year for any single one of us. We have let holidays and birthdays pass without seeing the ones we love in effort to keep them and ourselves healthy and safe. We have walked around with our faces covered and our identities masked themselves. We have had fear in our hearts for our neighbors, friends and families and not only because of Covid-19 but for equality reasons and more. This year has been a trial. So this Christmas should be a celebration that we who are here can embrace the magic of the holiday however we celebrate it. Normally we would be gathering with our family for a huge family party which now will be done through a zoom session. We will however still make our ham dinner on Christmas eve and put out the milk and cookies for the big guy to grace our boys beautiful mind, which is what this story will be about. He was asked today to write about Santa and the North Pole and what he imagines it to be. Through everything life has thrown, he still believes in the magic of wonder, something we should all dig on down and find again. So here it is, magic through imagination. Enjoy.
By Ashley Mattei5 years ago in Families
How to Instill Good Hygiene Habits in Your Kids
One of the things I’m most passionate about in my life is being a Dad. I frequently make the cliché that it’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done. Now that my daughter is a teenager, things have gotten more interesting regarding contests of willpower and authority, but we do quite well. That said, there are several things you can empirically do to be a good Father or Parent, chief among them is personal hygiene habits.
By Brent Salmon5 years ago in Families
A Study in Happiness, In black and white
The above picture is one of the most beautiful, I have ever had the pleasure to gaze upon. It evokes so many emotions for me: joy, peace, happiness, contentment, comfort, and most assuredly love. I took this beautiful picture of my friend Renée and her son Dakota. I remember the day and I remember the happiness of "being there". Being present in the moment.
By Merle Roberts5 years ago in Families
A Mom’s Struggle
The days passed slowly and all these grownups continued to talk to me... it felt more like the were talking at me. I didn’t have much of a say in where I wanted to be but then again if I did, I wasn’t sure where that was anyway. I knew that I wanted to get to know my mom and Terrance and be around my blood family, but what about these people who had done everything for me and with me for the past 3 years. I just came back from a trip visiting my mom and dad in Georgia. OMG it was so much fun. My mom took the ratchet yarn braids out of my hair that my foster mom kept putting in my hair for lack of anything better to do with it. My mom found them disgusting and found great satisfaction in finally being able to remove them. My cousin Peyton turned 10 while I was there, she had a sleepover and we went swimming it was amazing. I had so much fun. Then came time for me to go back to New Mexico and go on the family vacation they had planned.... but I wanted to stay with my mom and dad.
By Alexandria Francis5 years ago in Families
BEFORE THE FIRE
September 25st 2010. The time was 8pm having the family celebration success. Enjoying every second of it before a beautiful day turned into tears. The day started with us working up in the morning everyone smiling and getting ready to prepare for this beautiful day our family was about to have. Friends started calling congratulating our family’s success, neighbors bringing us gifts and everything was going according to a plan. My sisters and aunts went to a salon and payed for a expensive wigs, bought new cars, expensive jewelries, nice clothes, while all men went to get fresh hair cuts, nice suits bought new cars and hired the most expensive chef to prepare a meal for us while we go to the clubs and casinos to gamble. It was a fun day.
By Goabaone Mosheleketi5 years ago in Families
How I'm Dealing with Raising a Child that is not mine.
I didn't ever want her to get an abortion, I don't think any woman could live with out it haunting them down the line. Even if they say it won't effect them, it will, in some way. Though usually woman hate admitting that they are wrong to anyone, but if they eventually do admit it, I suppose a therapist could help them cope (with the haunting of an abortion more than helping the deal with their pride, working on pride is good too though).
By Emilio (Sleepy) Salinas5 years ago in Families
In My Head
I remember the saddest day of my life. Everything was as usual for the start of my day. As I wipe the sleep out of my eyes from the night before. The first thought that invaded my mind was; “That’s right I still have a shot!” I run to the bathroom and shove it in and oh my God that feels awesome! Well we’ll see how good Tina is to me by tonight.
By Sirena Sparks5 years ago in Families
