Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
A little Cottage in a Storm
This is me, on my 30th Birthday, it’s the 7th of February, the wind outside is bitter. The pandemic hasn’t happened yet, there’s news of a few people who are ill in China, awful news but the seriousness of it all doesn’t seem real yet. My friend who’s with us in the car reads out an article about it out loud and looks at me worriedly. I tell her not to worry, it will all be alright. We’re driving in the car, in the dark, along poorly lit windy country roads and they are icy. My partner is slightly annoyed that I choose to book somewhere on Air b n b In the middle of nowhere. There’s no street signs or road names and google maps can’t make its mind up about where we are. Zoe, my baby girl is teething and has eventually stopped crying after an hour of the journey. I’m exhausted and I’m starting to feel guilty about booking somewhere for my birthday.
By sophia mckeever5 years ago in Families
Family Culture
I was fortunate. I grew up in a household with two parents with very different cultures but the same values. Both valued nature and respected all life forms. Dad's "bird hunting" consisted of carrying a rifle through the woods, enjoying watching the dog flush out the game birds, but never actually bringing one home. Back at home, mom as hand-feeding the squirrels that climbed the screen door, looking for peanuts. We all brought home birds that fell from their nests, roadkill that needed burial and so forth. But mom and I shared a special love of watching the birds that came to the feeder. And every summer, the week or two dad lived for would come and we'd pack up and head to the woods he had grown up in where there was an amazing variety of things that fly. As time went on, mom had to remain in a wheelchair on oxygen. She taught herself needle work. I still have many of the pictures she created. Pictures of delicate butterflies and regal hawks and eagles. They hang in the old cabin and in my home.
By Terry Lerma5 years ago in Families
A Grandmother's love is eternal
I wanted to share this photo to show the first time I've seen my granddaughter in almost 2mos. It's a crazy story but I'm going to tell it... I am the paternal grandmother. The mother of the child doesn't care for me very much for her own reasons; nonetheless, my brave granddaughter who is 1yr-old, survived a near death by drowning in her aunt's backyard algae-filled swimming pool. I was in Europe, on a thirty day study-abroad trip when after only 7days, my son called me with the news. His daughter, my sweet little granddaughter who was only a year-old at the time, had been found lying face down in the pool; her diaper had her afloat.
By Charisse Norwood 5 years ago in Families
Let Them Have The Jewelry
When a loved one dies, memories flood our consciousness and conversation. Naturally, the predominant discussion is of how much the deceased will be missed. That’s not all that happens. As a dear friend once told me, “families fall apart during weddings and funerals”. All too often, fighting over material things occur resulting in hurt feelings. While everyone else is fighting over the jewelry, there is something you can do that has far move value than a piece of metal or stone.
By Ersula K Odom5 years ago in Families
I abandoned a Wife and Newborn, and Why it was the Right thing to do
I can hear it now, how on earth? I was getting up there in age past 30, realized I'd never accomplished anything. I remember it painfully, I have a mild for of schizophrenia an I was falling apart emotionally. My sister drove me to the house my wife an I purchased mostly with her income. My sister talked to her an she agreed I could get my clothes. It was raining with thunder an a sad day I left my wife I'd known for at least ten
By Alan Villarreal5 years ago in Families
