Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Break Free
I write about what I know, what I have seen and become engulfed in for over 15 years. Growing up there were no norms for women’s empowerment. I grew up in the era like many women with the cattiness, the girl cliques and the in’s and out crowd. However coming from a woman dominated family. I have literally seen it all. I was exposed to every kind of woman from young. I knew what I aspired to be from the women I was exposed to.
By Felicia Lee 6 years ago in Families
Unpopular Opinion: Having Kids is Selfish
Having kids presents many disadvantages. They are costly, money-wise and energy-wise, they take a lot of your time, you struggle giving them a proper education… and it lasts years! I couldn’t get my head around why so many people still want kids after knowing what is waiting for them. So, I decided to look at the advantages of having kids (yes they do exist). That’s when I realized that all these advantages have one thing in common. They are all selfish.
By Laurène Navet6 years ago in Families
"Just Let Life"
When I think of one woman that has changed my life, it has been my Grandma. This is a lady that would put up with everything from my Grandpa screaming "Woman! Get me a sandwich." to grandkids coming to her house just for some cookies and a talk at the kitchen table.
By Salina Lehn6 years ago in Families
Coronavirus=digital virus
For most parents homeschooling will have started this week. Digital advancements have made it possible for learning to still continue. Teachers around the world will be putting teaching materials together online. Headteachers around the country will keep up to date with everything by sending out emails and putting updates on social media pages. These advancements have made it possible for the continued functionality of a lot of services. However we do need to be aware of the safeguarding aspect when it comes to young children.
By Mayapee Chowdhury6 years ago in Families
Memories of an Accidental Nazi Hunter
On the night of March 10th, 1945, seventy German prisoners of war escaped from the Island Farm POW camp in Bridgend, South Wales. It was the largest breakout on British soil during World War Two, and has been dubbed "The Welsh Great Escape". A tunnel had been dug by the inmates from Hut 9 in the camp to a field outside of the boundary. At 04:00 the next morning the escape attempt came to an end when a German officer was caught exiting the tunnel by a guard. What followed was a nationwide man-hunt that saw all the escapees recaptured within a week.
By Daniel Lyddon6 years ago in Families
The Fight For His Mind
Lately he's taken to sleeping in my room, my eleven-year-old. It isn't nightmares keeping him awake and robbing us both of peace, it's the panic. Hours into what I insist will be a quick article on anxiety I finally commit to print what I've easily admitted out loud; My son's anxiety and OCD are suffocating me. The feelings that wash over me as I look across the room to watch him sleep, are not what any mother should have to experience. At the sight of my sleeping son, afloat in the largeness of my bed, I am filled with a heady mixture of love and sorrow…fear and panic.
By Cameo Rodriquez6 years ago in Families
Mi Casa Con Las Cortinas Rojas
This story is real, painful and a way to close old wounds. My name is Coral and this is my story. The background of a person and how they were brought up in life reflect a lot on what they will end up becoming in their future. In my story, those circumstances are terrifyingly different. My mother’s upbringing was a result of an absent yet strict mother and a musician father; not to mention her sister and two brothers. In her youth, my mother was a rebel in the eyes of her mother, but extremely talented in mine.
By Coral Sanchez6 years ago in Families
Play! Inspiring Creativity with Children in Isolation
Many of us are now being required to stay at home due to COVID-19, and this is so challenging when you have young children at home. While many schools are switching to remote learning, I have noticed how anxious many parents are about assisting their children in their education while keeping them busy in isolation. I empathize with this stress, and that is why I wanted to share with you some resources to help make your time at home more enjoyable for you and your children!
By Ashley Nestler, MSW6 years ago in Families
Divine Women Who've Taught Me The Way
As one woman, I am more than adamant to share with the world the impact that a number of other women have left me with. When they say "it takes a village to raise a child," I think it goes far beyond just teaching them right from wrong. Being raised in a family in which women out number men played a large role in the way I was brought up. My grandmothers, aunts and cousins have embodied wisdom, grace, strength, and optimism. Even watching how they would handle situations and grow from them was a blueprint in itself for me to follow when the time came. Although they are all so different, they are the backbones of my family. Plus, they are a rainbow in which they blend together so beautifully (even on the rainy days). Seeing women in my family who were nothing but nurses, teachers, and lawyers around me was only confirmation that everything I do must be done to perfection, because I watched them do their jobs every day. My mom would often tell me that as one of seven children, my grandmother and grandfather made the decision to create their own shop and opening that business is what led them to push my aunts and uncles through school. Sacrifice is a constant theme in this family of mine. Just the thought of my mom and her siblings coming from the sweet, small island of Jamaica and creating a beautiful life for my two older brothers and I spoke volumes. I'm grateful for my dad as well, but hey. This one is for the women! Allow me to proceed. This very same family taught me how to love and how to dream without ceasing. When I grew into myself I found my love for the arts. I grew up with a heart for singing, writing, and acting. I had days when I thought they'd feel disappointed because over time I wanted to go through life and sing about it, or perform spoken word pieces about it rather than graduating from Harvard with a BA in Nursing. I felt like there was someone else they'd rather me be, because that's who they were, but I was wrong (for the most part) I still get the, "You don't want to go back and do nursing?" but I know it's all out of love. I'm happy as an English major though. As long as my parents are happy about it as well, then I am too. The same support she showed me along my journey of becoming who I am today is what will inspire me to be the same kind of mother to my future child. The powerful women in my family reminded me that they'll be right behind me as I follow every goal I've set until I reach the pinnacle of my success. They carried traits that reminded me that I am so much more than just a girl and that I am the embodiment of a vital spirit. They still remind me of how I am capable to do anything I want to do in the amount of time that has been granted to me on this earth. My grandmother's prayers have carried over even into today for me to live my life to the fullest even on my not-so-good days. I think the best part of this all is that they've taught me to never prove myself to anybody. I remember every day that I came into this world alone, and that is the same way in which I will be leaving it. I can always depend on them because whenever I am hurting over being mistreated or heartbroken, they remind me that it is okay to feel. It’s not normal to repudiate my emotions and no matter how much the world tries to turn my heart into stone, I carry this with me. They remind me to live my life in harmony with truth and honesty. They emphasize for me to stay focused and to always have a keen eye. Being raised with such care has reminded me of my purpose for walking this Earth. Two forms of the many arts that I adore (music and writing) have presented icons who I look up to, Lauryn Hill and Sista Souljah. I love everything about the spirit of Ms. Hill. She carries herself with so much grace and natural beauty that forces me to just be real with myself and with everyone around me. Her talent is unbelievable and she has a voice that makes me feel like dancing in the middle of a storm. I don't know where the world of music would be without her as one woman. Sista Souljah has taken the boring feel out of reading for me. I loved to write growing up, but I dreaded reading. I became a bookworm after being introduced to The Coldest Winter Ever and A Deeper Love Inside. I think Black urban literature is a significant part of Black culture and those two novels have changed my life, truthfully. They even inspired me to create my own novel which I completed and published earlier this year. I think if the world continues to see through the eyes of the black youth (young black womanhood at that) it would understand us a lot better. She really puts her finest efforts into the pages and I feel every bit of emotion as I read, and re-read, and re-read again. I want to make sure that the young brown girl I bring up is aware of all the things I've learned and experienced from all of these lovely women and then some.
By Tiffany Linton6 years ago in Families
Dads - It's Your Time to Shine!
You just found out you and your beautiful significant other are going to have a baby. What an amazing and exciting time. However, there is so much to think about and so much to prepare for. But you will have time to think about that later on.
By Corey Abreau6 years ago in Families
Auntie with a capital A
There is no shortage of women who inspire me that I could write about. My mother, who raised three children on her own earning success in her career and raising strong resilient children. My sister who fought all odds and woke up from a coma that should have killed her or my friend who gave up her favourite foods such as steak and eventually gravy because her empathy for all living things was bigger than satisfying her taste buds or her meat loving husband.
By Kimberly Peace6 years ago in Families
