Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Don't Squish Bugs!
Two years ago, my fabulous grandsons were visiting when I was in the middle of assembling audio and video segments for my humanitarian project, 10 Million Clicks For Peace. I decided to interview them with the hope I would get a "pearl" or two of youthful wisdom on the subject of peace.
By Rick Beneteau7 years ago in Families
The Ice Cream 'Comb' Story
She was three. Just released from a far-away hospital after life threatening brain surgery, ready to take on the world again. I was happy just to have her back. My little "Mr. Clean" (shaven head and hoop earrings) and me driving along to our local mall. Hanging out with dad day. I recall her words as if it were yesterday.
By Rick Beneteau7 years ago in Families
8 Things You Should Teach Your Teen Before College
Congratulations! Higher learning is a massive step in your teen's life and development as a person. Sure, you'll get all teary-eyed and emotional when your child leaves the roost to stake a claim in the world. But college is and has always been part of the grand scheme of things.
By Patrick Peterson7 years ago in Families
How You Can Have a Positive Impact on Your Child's Mental Health
Mental health is a huge issue these days. Thankfully, as we are learning more about various mental health problems there is less stigma in talking about it. Being a loving parent, you definitely want the best for your children and their development.
By Martin Bagel-Brown7 years ago in Families
The Family Way
It's uncommonly early on a cold December morning and I'm sitting in a blue faux leather chair in the delivery suite of our local hospital, holding my youngest daughter's clammy hand as she huffs and puffs her way through an intense nine hour labour. We've been here since five o'clock last night, and so far have seen one staff changeover and drunk a considerable amount of insipid tea, yet we're assured that it won't be much longer.
By J M Hunter7 years ago in Families
My Father My Hell
As a father, I always tried to do right by my kids; I wasn’t always successful. It was probably because there wasn’t anyone in my life growing up that I could learn from. So I pretty much flew by the seat of my pants. All I knew was that I wasn’t going to treat my kids the way I was treated. I think in that regard I was successful. You see, I don’t have one good memory of me with my father. Anytime we were together it turned out to be a disaster. Even a simple trip to the beach was traumatic. I was a fat kid, go figure, and he insisted that I wear the same orange spandex trunks as him. I don’t have to elaborate on that do I? So, here I am at ten years old in orange spandex trunks, and now, it’s time to learn how to swim. Being in the Navy earlier in his life, he was an expert on all things water. In his infinite wisdom, to teach me how to swim, he thought it best just to throw me in deep water, then he told me to swim to him. When I started to sink like a rock, he became angry, snatched me out of the water, then went fishing, leaving me totally embarrassed and looking stupid in those orange spandex trunks.
By Anthony Fioranelli7 years ago in Families
Mothering Teenage Boys
My first born was 15 a few weeks ago, and, I feel the same way I did on his first birthday. On his first birthday, I cried and held him all day. It was a multi layered cry. On one level, I was relieved that we had barely survived the first year. He was growing out of the baby stage. I wept harder though, when I thought about how he wasn’t the baby anymore, that my arms would get lighter from here on out. I cried in celebration because it was our day, his birthday, and my birthing day.
By Melinda Edwards7 years ago in Families
How a Kia Soul Restored Pieces of My Missing Soul
Did I tell you that 18 months ago I had a stroke? I was very lucky, I had no long lasting effects, as I walked out of the hospital able to move freely and talk. But the stroke did leave a long lasting scar, as it terrified the rubbish out of my immediate family and when I returned home, they began to act as if I was an invalid. They did not want me to drive or resume my independence as it was before my stroke. Yet they went on living their lives without me. I sat recuperating on the couch with various magazines and the television clicker, very lonely and frustrated. I became depressed with a lot of anxiety, which was being treated with various antidepressants along with my blood thinners and medications to treat the stroke.
By Debbie Lewis7 years ago in Families
The First Trimester of Pregnancy
When you are pregnant so many people will give you advice and ask you inappropriate questions. Men, women, kids, etc. Suggestions do help, especially if it is your first child, like mine, but those who said it in a certain way were the ones who really made an impact. So if you’re reading this and trying to figure out how to talk to a pregnant women start with something like, “This helped me...” or “My wife used this or ate this to help her, try it, it might help you.” Instead of things like, “This is going to happen...” or “You need to do this because of this...” I had many cousins try saying that I will be like this or like this and then I had many who said this helped me and some of things they suggested did and it was so great to get advice from women who have had this experience.
By Rich Burton7 years ago in Families
What One Woman Said to this Doctor that Changed Childbirth Forever
On a rainy night in 1911, an English doctor is called to a woman in a slum in London. He parks his bicycle outside and enters to find a woman in labour. The room is lit by one candle, with the window broken, rain pouring in, and the bed with no proper covering. She's covered in sacks, accompanied by a neighbour, jug and basin.
By Natalie Lennard7 years ago in Families
