Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
The Bear's Adventure
Hi, my name is Star. I have a brother and a sister. Their names are Rosa and Mickey. They're playing on the swings behind me. All three of us live with our parents. Well anyway I would like to tell you a story. It all started a couple weeks ago when Mama caught us playing in the mud. She was so mad she made us take a bath, too. Can you believe that? Well anyway, here's what happend!
By Constance Mason6 years ago in Families
Life is never fair.
It's a cliche, I know, but as I sit here watching cartoons with my kids and drinking coffee, it's become clearer the older I get. As a child you're given mixed messages. "Be kind. Don't hate." but also "the real world is a cruel place. Toughen up." Which can be confusing as you get older. One thing I was always told however, was that life is never fair. I had it shouted at me, told in passing or even said it myself. Though I learned the truth behind those words at a young age, I always wished and hoped that it would be one day. When my stepfather treated me differently than my siblings simply because I wasn't his real child, I learned. When he began to beat me and tell me awful things, I learned. When my mother finally kicked him out and started the divorce process, I thought things would turn around. I thought that things would start being 'fair'. However, as we all know, it never is. I learned it more and more harshly as the years went on. Every time my mother decided to buy alcohol/pills instead of paying for heating oil. Each time my heart had been broken. When my siblings had to leave and live with their father and I stayed with my mom. When my mother chose her demons over her children. I learned.
By Chelsea Marie Riehl6 years ago in Families
Where the Birdies Fly
Milo rubbed his eyes desperately, as if trying to erase the vision. Nightmares seem harrowingly authentic when they are based on your own reality. Momma said that he had witnessed what no human should witness, certainly not an innocent boy, and that’s why his mind plagued him so morbidly. His short breaths became deeper and a familiar comforting sound dismissed the echo of screaming. As if attentive to Milo’s distress, the swallow was singing a soothing tune from his usual resting tree, drawing Milo to the window.
By Rebecca Clark6 years ago in Families
How We Celebrated My Sister’s Birthday during the Lockdown
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that COVID-19 pandemic has restricted us to our homes. None of us saw it coming. And suddenly all the happy celebrations and fun gatherings reduced to online conversations and wishes. But we shouldn’t let the tough times get the best of us is something that I told myself and decided to make the most of the free time in hands.
By Bhawana Singh6 years ago in Families
Thank you! Big Sister Hannah!
Thank you, Big Sister Hannah! Was it yesterday? During dinner, my seven-year-old niece, Jessica cast a question to me. At first, I didn't understand what she was talking about. Because it was not a question to ask at that young age, it was a difficult question at that age to make a sentence that would make sense.
By Thomas Pak6 years ago in Families
Your Child During Quarantine
This is a scary time for all of us. We worry for our family, our friends, and ourselves. This time can be scary for not only us, but for our children. Everything has changed so quickly in their lives. They have gone from a steady and consistent routine, to uncertainty in their lives. What we do as parents can really help how our children are effected during this time. As a parent myself, I have seen how much these sudden changes have changed my child and his behavior.
By Virginia Shefcyk6 years ago in Families
Alone
It had been an average day 27 weeks and 5 days into my fourth pregnancy. I spent the whole day with my 3 children and my mother. We went for a nice walk through my old neighborhood. We stopped at grandma`s house for some authentic Italian food and visited with family for a few hours. All in all we had a pretty good day. Mom decided we should probably head home since we wanted to finish our walk for the day. I had felt pretty good all day but by the time we got home I was rather tired. I put a movie on for the kids and put my feet up on the couch to relax. It was nothing new like all my pregnancies I was feeling some braxton Hicks contractions. I was not worried at first. The contractions seemed to be getting stronger and a bit uncomfortable. I tried to keep my mind occupied on the show the kids were watching but I just became more and more uncomfortable. I managed to sit up on the edge of the couch hoping to ease the pressure a bit. All at once I felt a huge rush of liquid from down below. I remember thinking " Are you kidding me? My water just broke! As an automatic reaction I put my hand down to feel the amount of water I had just lost. When I brought my hand back up I was in absolute shock. My hand was covered in blood and that was not the worst part. Nope not even close. As I realize this is blood and not water I also begin to realize that with every beat of my heart my body is gushing blood. I manage to yell for my mom. I did not want to scare my kids with all the blood but I had to get help. My mom comes in and notices obviously something is wrong. I tell her to call 911. I feel like time is moving in slow motion. I barely have energy to tell her to tell them to hurry. I could literally feel myself fading away. To my surprise I did not pass out. It felt like an eternity before the EMS showed up but I`m told it was only 5-6 minutes. I remember the look on the children`s faces, they were horrified. When the ambulance got to me I had lost a lot of blood and they were calling around to hospitals to let them know the nature of the emergency. I don`t know how but I clearly remember them calling the hospital I would be taken to. They relayed the patient information and nature of the emergency. The driver asked if they would advise to come there or proceed to another hospital. They were told to bring me there asap. I did not know what to expect but I by no means expected to be alone. When we reached the hospital my mother somehow had gotten there right after me. She was with me in this little rinky dink room with absolutely no life saving devices or any medical equipment that I can recall. Just a bed and a side table. Mind you this entire time I am still bleeding profusely. No doctor in sight. No sign of the EMS that brought me in. Just my mom and I. I keep thinking what is my unborn child going through and why is this happening? As time goes on and the only medical staff to come in is a nurse handing me papers to sign. Are you kidding me? I`m bleeding to death and you want me to sign papers! I was getting very upset on top of getting weaker and weaker. My mother ended up signing the papers in hopes that would move the process along and we would see an actual doctor. I remember looking around this sterile lifeless room thinking to myself " We are going to die here in this room". I`m in a hospital emergency room bleeding to death and there is not one single person to help me. I felt so alone and hopeless. After awhile I began to say it out loud and I could not help myself. I figured if someone would pay attention to how serious this is maybe I would not be left there alone. I suffer from PTSD to this day from this experience. When it was all said an done I was bleeding for 2 1/2 hours before a doctor showed up in my room. When the doctor finally arrived he did an ultrasound himself and immediately looked at me and said with a horrified look on his face " I have to take the baby right now by c section or you will both die. I remember telling my fiance to tell my kids I love them because I did not see myself making it through.
By tanya L Scott6 years ago in Families
The Courtyard
My hand reaches for the wand that hangs down the side of the blinds. Grabbing and pushing the stick each panel of the covering slides overlapping one another until the way is opened to the world outside the glass doors. Vivid colors start to come into focus. Blinking I adjust my eyes to the light. I open them again and beautiful hues of blues and tints of green with rays of light are complemented by the shades of browns, reds, and yellows that make up the trees from the court yard. Plants that grow on the ground bring all of the colors to full circle. As I look up into the tree there is a nest far up in the branches, then I see something move. I watch as the animal comes into view. At first it is just a streak of greyish brown, but then I can start to see the shape form into a squirrel. It has a fluffy tale with its agile little body. It scurries further down the branch. I need to take the shot on a camera. It is a good thing I brought my phone out with me to the deck. I love to take pictures in nature. It helps me remember the feelings I have as I see the scenes.
By Trycia Lino6 years ago in Families
A tree I never knew I needed
A tree that sat outside of my window holds many stories throughout my childhood. I have been living in this house for about 20 years now which is 90% of my life. This tree has been alive and standing ever since I have been living in my room. In a strange way, this tree has given me security and awareness. From the branches waving when it was windy and depending on how hard they blew. If there is a storm near. To my dog jumping in the bathtub when she was scared. When the leaves fell, I knew not only was the time of the year was changing, but time of school was changing to certain yearly personal daily habits as well.
By Johnny Fentry Jr.6 years ago in Families
