Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
The tattoo I never wanted
I am a lover of tattoos. I have always admired them. I dont believe I have been in a relationship with a man who didnt have tattoos. As my kids began to get older they always talked about their first tattoo, I was firm and said not until you are 18.
By Tina Pihota5 years ago in Families
My Tattoo. My heritage
I have to start my story by giving the Artist Nick H. at Electric Chair the credit for designing my amazing tattoo. I have an artist's heart, but not an artist's vision. He brought this to life. Without him my story couldn't be told as well as I would hope.
By Rettus Heather5 years ago in Families
It is Forever
The buzzing noise threatened to kick my anxiety into overdrive. I was laying on the white vinyl chair with my head turned away from my newest friend, Damon. I did not watch him set up, I did not see if the needle was clean, I forgot to look and see if he was wearing gloves. I was probably making a mistake. I was making a mistake. This was a mistake. Why do people even get tattoos? What am I doing? This. Is. Forever.
By Amy Whatley Mallett5 years ago in Families
BELIEVE IT OR NOT
BELIEVE IT OR NOT I have 1/3 Spanish, 1/3 Chinese and ½ Malay in my blood and I grew up in a household riddled with superstitions and ancient beliefs. As it is very well known, the Philippines had been occupied by the Spanish Conquistadores for almost 350 years and merchant trading brought Chinese into the islands of the Philippines. These migrations have enriched our customs and traditions and no matter what colour or ethnicity one may belong to, I have observed that there will always be some sort of interknitting of customs, beliefs and traditions of these cultures,….. superstitions, no exception. For example, if one broke a glass or anything breakable, one needed to break another piece of breakable item meaning that the breakage had been paired,(it was believed that bad luck come in twos) if this was not done, it is bad luck and the next breakage would be an accident of the one who broke it or someone close might encounter an accident or bad luck. Another one is the building of stairs in an Asian especially a Filipino home. I have to mention this because Feng Shui is the norm in Chinese home and is beginning to be adapted by Filipinos with Chinese ancestry. Oro, Plata, Mata which are Spanish words, translated to Gold, Silver, Death. The builder must ensure that the last step of the staircase wouldn’t be mata or death. If it ends in oro or Plata, which is gold or silver, this will attract wealth. Still another popular belief is the spilling of salt which is an omen of evil misfortune and this action can be counteracted by taking a pinch and throwing over your left shoulder where evil is standing behind waiting for open entry to come in. The thrown salt will blind the devil and will be powerless. I have to emphasize that I have consider these beliefs funny and never really affected by it and just ignored it.
By Nilda Juliana Johnston5 years ago in Families
Death is a friend of mine
“I had done this a thousand times, well quite a bit more than a thousand but who’s counting, and this time would be no different. It’s just something that has to be done and there is dignity to it. That day I went to comfort an old friend, to ease his pain and grant him that reunion he had been aching for. That has always been my favorite part, the end. It’s a way to wrap it all up. That’s what everyone is looking for, the happy ending. All of the best stories have a happy ending, unfortunately the happiness is reserved for the protagonist. In fact most support characters dread the big end, but every one knows when its time to run those credits.
By Bijou Binx 5 years ago in Families
Family Activities That Adhere to CDC Guidelines
After several months of COVID-19 restrictions, families are starting to go a little stir-crazy, and parents feel that there's nothing they can do for their children. There are several activities you can do with your family to ease tension while adhering to CDC guidelines. Here are a few suggestions that will be fun for the whole family.
By Rayanne Morriss5 years ago in Families
How To Support Your Child’s Speech, Language and Communication Development
This will act as a working plan of how you can help your child’s speech, language and communication development. Children’s Communication Development Needs, 0-8 (and activities used to aid development):
By Rebecca Smith5 years ago in Families
It’s the climb
I started getting tattoos when I was 16. I am now 19 and have 6 professional tattoos and 4 stick n pokes which I did myself. The mountains here on my ankle in the picture posted was my 3rd tattoo I’ve ever gotten done. I’ve always loved tattoos and dreamt of getting them as a child. Once I hit 16, I jumped at the opportunity to start getting tatted up.
By kailey houle5 years ago in Families
Parents: Understanding the EYFS
Scope and Legal Status of the EYFS The EYFS is a mandatory comprehensive statutory framework that sets the standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to five, impacting on childcare providers, such as: nurseries, private nurseries, schools, etc. All providers are required to use it and this allows parents to confidently place their child in a nursery of their choice.
By Rebecca Smith5 years ago in Families
Bentley Thomas
My son was born a “super premie”, and weighed only 1.8 pounds. He came at just a mere 24 weeks. It was super scary and I had no idea how to control the uncontrollable. He had to stay in the NICU for 3.5 months. He had some breathing problems at first and had to be intubated. It was hard seeing all the wires and tubes coming out of my little boy. I was extremely scared to even feed him at first. He was so small he literally got in the palm of my hand. I know people say thy a lot and may even exaggerate a little, but he was actually smaller than the inside of my palm. I was just scared to hurt him so I didn’t feed him for a couple weeks. It was scary at first but as time went on he finally came off the assisted breathing and was able to breathe on his own. No easy feat for a human this size and under this circumstance, but he did it. I was finally able to hold my baby boy and feed him. It was a relieving feeling. Everything was turning out for the better. After the 3.5 months of being in the NICU, we were finally able to take this little guy home. He had so much therapy to do the first couple of years of his life. It was just so daunting and draining. I felt bad for him having to go through everything he has gone through. Doctor appointment after doctor appointment, shot after shot, therapy after therapy. It was just so much for anyone to go through. Fast forward 6 years and other than a mild case of autism, you would have never known the complications and rough start to this little guy has had to endure through his life. He is my little fighter and if he can accomplish what he has in the span and under the circumstances that he has, anyone can do anything. I wanted to get a tattoo for him but couldn’t decide on what. I saw this Bruce lee tattoo in a magazine and I know what an amazing fighter Bruce lee was. So, I got the tattoo for my little fighter. I know my son will do great things in life and this tattoo is to remind me that if my son can do it, so can I.
By Philip Thomas5 years ago in Families
