Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
When a Parent Dies and “Then” You Thrive
Introduction I’ve been there. You must stay forward, as the option is not nearly as promising. Since I was a child, my parents were my biggest supporters. When I was in junior high school, my English teacher threatened to fail me. That “F” on my report card would not only have led to me repeating the 8th grade, but would have postponed my entry into high school by a year, forever marking me, I believed, as ‘the oldest freshman in the universe.’
By Joel Eisenberg6 years ago in Families
Our Secret to Keep
I am being awakened by a knock on my bedroom door that I decide to ignore. I close my eyes again falling asleep only to be woken up again by louder knocking on my door. “Auden, Auden,” my little sister called out. I lie down on my back praying to god to make her stop and go to her room. The knocking gets louder and more aggressive. I’m pretty sure her knuckles are hurting by now. I wonder when she is going to notice that the door is open.
By Nashali Torres6 years ago in Families
Wilma's Last Dance
WILMA’S LAST DANCE A most unusual day, the sun was shining and the air was warm. The South Dakota prairie would normally be much colder in November. The outside thermometer registered a balmy 50 degrees. It felt good to the five Miller children to be able to remove their old black woolen stockings and shed their heavy clothes and long john underwear. Light cotton was the watchword of the day. Each had his chores around the farm but there was a lightheartedness in the air. The dreary long winter months had a short reprieve and everyone took advantage of it.
By Charlene Pratt6 years ago in Families
Still the Mother of Three
There are some things in this life that a mother should never have to experience, endure, or be forced to deal with. Here I sit, the first few hours of a new year, a new decade!! While it is an exciting time to look forward to, I can’t help but to look back and remember the sadness, the pain, the emptiness and devastation of having to plan a funeral for my son.
By Jacqueline Murray6 years ago in Families
5 Ways to Empower Kids to End Bullying
From the classroom to the internet, bullying can lead to children developing a poor self-image or lead to bullying others. In fact, according to new data, members of Generation Z believe bullying is the biggest issue facing their generation. Consider these ideas to help your kids learn how to overcome, avoid and break down the cycle of bullying.
By David Wyld6 years ago in Families
Dad Knows Best
It was December 21st, and the Smith family had just arrived at their chalet. Mr. Smith had booked a wonderful ski vacation for a week, up in Canada, for his wife and three kids. They planed to spend Christmas in the chalet, while skiing, skating, and doing other winter activities. Mrs. Smith had not skied in over 10 years. However, she used to ski competitively when she was growing up. Mr. and Mrs. Smith thought it would be a great opportunity to teach their kids something new, as well as a fun family activity. The three kids; Ethan (16), Katie (14), and Isaac (13), were very active kids. They all enjoyed playing basketball, baseball, and soccer as recreation sports at home. They were all excited to try skiing for the first time, given they rarely saw snow where they lived.
By Harley Bootsma6 years ago in Families
My Life Story
My Life. It all begin in October 1977, my mother was walking home with me I was 2 years old, my dad approached my mother she was in her way home from babysitting for my auntie and asked her to give me to her, she said no Bobby, go be with the other women you have pregnant. My dad got upset and starting hitting my mom while she held me and he threw her on the ground and got on top of her, I was in between this at the time I don’t remember anything but I was told by family that a woman said he threw her so hard against her house her pictures fell off her wall. And when she came outside she saw a man in top of a women with a baby in between them. And that was the key witness in the case when my mom was charged with murder in self defense. My mother was 19 years old at the time so was my dad 19 as well. So my mom I was told had a seam cutter and she held it up towards him and he leaned down on it and killed himself according to forensics. That’s what I was told and it was verified by my mom she doesn’t like to talk about my dad or what happened, so I got information from my family. As far as I remember I had a good childhood until my mom started doing drugs. And I was constantly getting beat with extension cords, hangers, belts, anything phone cords .And after my siblings were born I got treated worse she said she had new kids now and I wasn’t part of the family. And my uncle was beating me too. I was in my room as usual listening to music and my mom and uncle busted in my room telling me turn the music down. It wasn’t really loud they were just high and drinking and always picked on me. So I ran away at 14 my uncle chased me and he slapped me I ran to my grandmother house a few blocks away. My grandmother said don’t touch her again this not your child. After that I remember moving in with friends from my school and I told them I was going to my grandmother house and I left and never saw them for years. When I got to my grandmother house my dads mom I was happy . But then the abuse began years later out of nowhere my Auntie and my 2 uncles treated me like shit they said they hated me, I was a yellow bitch and my mom killed they brother. I had never knew that, I heard a woman say it years ago but I ignored it I was like 10 years old I can’t remember I just remember my mom fighting a woman and she said your a murderer! How you gonna explain to your daughter that you killed her father. I just froze I was looking out the window with my friends next door and they heard it too and they just looked at me like what? I was like I don’t know. My other auntie and 2 uncles never abused me they loved me the other 3 just started doing drugs and changed on me.they all used to spoil me my whole family did until drugs took over they minds. So growing up I was very afraid to talk to people I was afraid people would know about my mom and my dad but I didn’t know they did everybody from back then knew. I was always looked at and asked questions growing up. Then my mom changed on me and started abusing me verbally, physically,emotionally, and financially she just was crazy at times. Once she pulled my hair out from the roots so hard my scalp was bleeding, she bit me in my back, and when I turned 18 I was pregnant with my first child and she was also pregnant, I forgot to mention how I got back there from my grandmother’s. Well my uncle the same one who chased me those years ago camecsnd got me I don’t know how they knew I was at my cousins for a while but he came and said ya mother is having a baby and you have to come help her. So I left and that’s how I ended up back with my mom and I got pregnant she was 7 months I was like about 3 months. Well the whole pregnancy my mom fought me it was like hell again. One night my uncle tried to fight me again I was 4 months I had caught him tryna steak from my mom and he pushed me against the wall the neighbors heard and called police. They police did nothing they just said let him cool down he was leaving anyway with the shit he stole . So months later a lady from the neighborhood that gave everybody hell came in looking for her husband. I said you can’t be here my mom said nobody can come in, she said I’m not going anywhere. At this time I had enough of everything and everybody so I threw my moms rooster statue at her it missed by one inch. After that I got a stick and ran after her, I hit her several times the stick was bouncing off her head like rubbed it was weird. I stopped and she grabbed the stick out my hand and hit me across my back I was 8 months pregnant at this time. My grandmother and family came and she lied and said she never hit me as she was running up the street. So the next the this lady is dead she was killed and guess who police questioned? Me people said I was fighting her. I had to go to the station when I was ready they said call so I did. They showed me pictures of her dead body asking me did she look like that last time I saw her. I said hell no she was walking and talking last time I saw her actually she was running up the street. She was found rolled up in a rug with three fingers missing. I’m wondering how they think I could have done that, must be crazy. So one day a guy said a co worker was at work bragging about how he killed this bitch and cut her fingers off and put them in his freezer. So I was happy cause they were gonna try to put that shit on me I just knew it.soon after that on January 5 1994 I had my beautiful baby girl.
By Lanisha Renee Daniels6 years ago in Families
Tips For Helping Your Children Sleep Through the Night
Establish a Bedtime Routine One of the ways that you can help your child fall asleep easier is to formulate a routine that you stick to every night. If your children are old enough, you can collaborate with them to find out what works best for their body, and will still allow them to get the quality sleep they need. You can create a chart or something to hang on their wall, so they can remember which steps to take before they go to bed. For example, you can include items like brushing hair and teeth, changing into pajamas, or having a bedtime story. The structure will help your children fall asleep more easily.
By Olivia Picton6 years ago in Families
