Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

Short Stories - The Mill
Deep in the heart of Missouri, there was an old mill at the base of a mountain. Every day, the miller and his son would go up to the mill to grain flour. They would spend hours in this mill. Summer, winter, fall, spring, snow, rain, and shine, they were always there.
By Andrew Hoover7 years ago in Families
Short Stories - The Pencil Maker
My younger brother, Timothy Crump, has always loved wood work. He has been waddling ever since the age of six. I remember when he was little, he was fascinated with the pencil. He used to ask my parents how they got the lead in the middle of the pencil.
By Andrew Hoover7 years ago in Families
Family First
Food is medicine to the soul. Having a family that you have to prepare for can sometimes get overwhelming, but just with the perfect meal prep and a few dinner ideas you can make easy and quick recipes for the entire family to enjoy. There are many different websites and pages you can go on to find recipes, but I will give you a few simple and quick recipes for the entire family to enjoy.
By Sasha McGregor7 years ago in Families
Genius Hacks Guaranteed to Make a Parent's Job Easier—Tips to Throw a Kids' Birthday Party on a Budget
Every parent wants their kid to have a fantastic birthday that they'll remember forever. It usually includes a lot of stress and expenses. If you're close to your kid's next birthday party, you're probably thinking how to stay within the budget without exhausting yourself and still amaze your kid. Well, these tips will help you exactly with that.
By Sarah Jessica Smith7 years ago in Families
Attached. Top Story - July 2019.
“I couldn’t be a Foster Parent, I worry I would get attached.” Foster parents hear this a lot, I mean A LOT. At least once a week, almost this exact phrase. We smile and nod, or just shrug our shoulders, because what can we say? It’s true, you do get attached. You love them, and when they go home, or to their forever family, your heart breaks and bleeds a little. It’s painful and hard.
By Rebecca Bailey7 years ago in Families
A Star in the Sky
Hi, my name is Ryland. I am a 10-year-old girl. I live in Cincinnati, OH with my mom, dad, and two brothers. Growing up as the only girl in the family is different from what most would expect. Forcible tea parties, my brothers pretending to play dress up, but are really cosplaying, and my mom and dad not treating me like the princess that I feel I really am are just a few differences from the norm. Ryan and Rick are older than me and the only twins, so their special attention always outshines mine. They are always the focal point of every holiday, picture, and special occasion. There was nothing extraordinary about little old me.
By LaLa Leo7 years ago in Families
Fritz and the Phantom
I wasn’t expecting a flood of tears to come gushing down my face, but I found it difficult to dam it up for almost the entire first half of the performance.
By Rick Beneteau7 years ago in Families
The Unspoken Speech
Dear My Amazing Wife, On my birthday, we connected. It was more than I was even ready for but we connected. I truly felt it was as if God himself called you to me and said, “Here’s the answer to your prayers.”
By Jordan Casarez7 years ago in Families
The Muffed Dance
Teri was five. As younger siblings do, she looked up to her older sister, the dancer, in a big way. Sara was four years older and excelling in ballet, tap, and jazz.
By Rick Beneteau7 years ago in Families
The Hardest Day
It was one of the hardest days of my life. The weeks leading up to it became increasingly more difficult, and even a few days after, my heart is still heavy. Here's the full story...
By Rick Beneteau7 years ago in Families
The Four Radical Things the Queen Did in Her Last Birth. Top Story - July 2019.
Royal homebirth has been in the press a lot lately. Both Kate Middleton and Megan Markle considered having their babies at home, and just their suggestion was poignant—Royal homebirth hasn't been the norm for decades.
By Natalie Lennard7 years ago in Families
Reason First: LightSkinKeisha's Daddy Issues
LightSkinKeisha has an excellent attitude. She’s calm and composed and ladylike. She has an air of sophistication while still exhibiting an “around the way” girl appeal. Her mother made her that way. As for her dad, well, he just wasn’t there. And that’s a pity. And it’s far too common within the culture in general, and the genre of hip hop specifically. Fathers guide, lead, provide, and nourish. They are the standard bearers for the family unit. LightSkinKeisha can attest to a relatively large family unit. One of eight children, she hasn’t seen her father since she was four-years-old. Allegedly, he got strung out on an undisclosed substance and never bothered to show up for her on her practices for all-star cheerleading. She did that for thirteen years. In all of that time, her father never bothered to even call his daughter.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Families