Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Cancer Earth Dog
It's 1:45 AM on the day of reckoning. The computer keeps freezing and my 20-year-old cat is meowing at me as I move the laptop outside to smoke. We can only hope by the time I finish this book I won’t be inhaling these horrible cancer sticks. How dare I keep smoking, that’s how my mother’s life ended so early. She was a cancer earth dog. Born on the 25th of June, 1958. A birthday perfectly placed 6 months before Christmas. If you are into horoscopes you may find it ironic, she died so abruptly in her cancer earth dog year, the 18th of March 2018. She would have been 60. If you don’t understand the irony, just google it. Cancer-Earth-Dog.
By Emily Blue Richards6 years ago in Families
Go See Your Grandparents
My Italian grandparents are 84. They're from another world, and a different time. Both of which don'y exist anymore. They had their honeymoon in the mountains of Italy, at my Nonna's sister farm. She said it was the best two weeks of her life.
By ashley sirianni6 years ago in Families
10 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Family Solicitor
At some point in life, most people need to hire a lawyer. Whether you’re incorporating a new business or going through a complicated divorce, it’s imperative to find the right lawyer for the purpose. Hiring an incompatible lawyer might result in legal repercussions that could further strain your situation.
By Eada Hudes6 years ago in Families
Remove Holiday Stress by Removing Toxic People
The season is upon us again. Now is the time of year when you’ll be bombarded with countless articles offering advice on how to deal with unpleasant relatives at Thanksgiving and Christmas. How to keep the peace between MAGA-hat wearing uncle Roy and vegan cousin Andrew. How to avoid all-out war over deep-frying the turkey or going traditional roasted with stuffing. And exactly how much gin it takes to muffle the worst of the impeachment debate.
By John Teehan6 years ago in Families
942 Miles
Nevada is an incredible place. It's the sort of thing that nobody realizes until they live here, and sometimes not even then. Most of Nevada is a vast, dry desert. At first glance, it can seem painfully, dully brown. On closer look however, the sun paints magnificent colors in the sky and speckles of colors exist everywhere if you know where to look for them. The quiet and the stars are magnificent.
By Brittany Nicole6 years ago in Families
What Happens If the Epidural Doesn’t Work?
Going into labor and just assuming you are going to take the epidural and all will be well is exactly what I was assuming... But that isn’t always the case. Which was very unfortunate for me. I hope it doesn’t happen to you, but if it does here are some tips.
By Rich Burton6 years ago in Families
The Holidays Aren't for Me!
I promise I’m not a Grinch, but I might be skipping out on the Holidays. Don’t get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving and Christmas and I love decorating for them (and will continue to do so in my own home). It’s my extended family that makes it very hard around holiday time. I wrote an article about “Becky” (which is up on my Vocal profile, please check it out), my aunt who is ableist and tends to point out basically everything she thinks I’m doing wrong in my life.
By Chronically Meg6 years ago in Families
Journey
A little over two years ago, I found this site to write my stories and share with people the life lessons I have been taught throughout the years. But about a year ago I began to lose myself for good reason though. I was becoming a mother, I found out I was pregnant at the age of 21. I was lost, confused, and more importantly scared, I didn’t know what the world had in store for me but I thought I was sure enough I would make it through it. I had the love of my life beside me to help me figure it all out, I wasn’t alone.
By Chyann Jane6 years ago in Families
The Last Moments My Grandmother Lived
Last year my grandmother passed away. It was a surprise to us when the doctor told us she had stomach cancer. At her age it was impossible for chemo or any sort of treatment to work on her and living in the US I doubt they would spend any more time and money trying to cure something so life threatening like stomach cancer. I believe the goal for the doctors was to make her feel comfortable and pain free. She would keep asking every day she would spend in the hospital if she was able to go back home. Sometimes I wondered if she already knew that she wouldn’t make it or if she just accepted that her time was coming. She seemed calm most days, I didn’t see her cry about it. I recall when I went to the hospital to visit her and the doctor came in and explained that there was nothing they could do anymore and the best thing was to take her home or place her in a hospice. To this day I still don’t know if we made the right decision of taking her back to her home.
By Miranda Harquin6 years ago in Families
These Are the Most Common Last Names in America
Last names are an interesting thing. Everyone has one and you really have no say in what it is. You use your last name for reservations, work paperwork, and really in every aspect of your life. You are either born with your given last name or married into it and at that point most people just accept their last name. You could legally change it, but who really wants to go through the process.
By Pam Jannes6 years ago in Families
