Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
The Love of a Daughter
When I was younger, my mom was a single mom for a long time. My biological father was (is?) a drug addict, and I haven't seen him since I was 12. I was adopted by my sister's dad and years later I was told how my biological father never showed up to court to fight for his custodial rights. I didn't really deal with the feelings of abandonment that left me with, and as I do with all my other negative emotions, I suppressed them. I pretended like they didn't exist. It wasn't until I was pregnant with my son and working at a rehabilitation facility that it started eating at me. Why didn't he want to get better for me? I loved my baby so much I would never even think of leaving him, and yet my father chose drugs over me. He didn't try to get better for me, he didn't fight, and above all he didn't want me. I think this is part of the reason I appreciated my dad (adoptive) so much. No one is perfect, but at least he was around. At least he tried. Which was much more than I can say for my biological father. Now that I have my son I realize how hard it must've been for my mom. She had not one but three kids to take care of and she made it happen. My mom worked a lot when I was growing up, and as a child I didn't understand why she wasn't around much. Now I know that she was trying to make ends meet.
By Clarissa Wallace7 years ago in Families
How to Keep Your Kid's Hair Healthy and Strong
Grow baby grow Healthy hair is something that takes work but is a very possible achievement for any head of hair or hair type. The first step to healthy hair is to know the hair type that is being dealt with. Hair types are categorized by numbers and letters. The numbers range for 1 through 4 and the letters range A through C. Ethnicity does play a major role in the hair type that a person is born with, and the hair type is usually passed down from the parent to the child. However, not in every case does the parent and child have the same hair type, which can pose a bit of a challenge when it come to knowing how to manage and keep the child's hair healthy and vibrant.
By Jade Pulman7 years ago in Families
Tips for Relieving Heartburn While Pregnant
When you are pregnant and suffering from heartburn it is often hard to choose an over the counter product to help you feel better. Considering the fact that at least half of all pregnant women will suffer from some form of heartburn during their pregnancy it is helpful to learn a few tips and remedies that can help you avoid these symptoms. If this is something you or someone you know is dealing with read further to hear a few easy remedies for heartburn at night or tips that are just as useful throughout the day.
By Paisley Hansen7 years ago in Families
Fabulous Dining Ideas to Promote Dinner Table Conversation
Promoting strong family ties is a must do for many parents. Parents look to bring together kids and mom and dad for fun conversations where everyone feels comfortable. A family dinner makes the ideal time for everyone to talk about the things that are most important to them. Parents are looking out of the ordinary ways to spark kids imagination and make dining fun. From educating kids about different cultures to getting everyone excited about an upcoming vacation, dinner time is a great time for everyone to eat a great meal and share happy memories.
By Sasha McGregor7 years ago in Families
Off and Away
In four days, he’ll be walking across the stage and entering his adult life. The incredibly tall redhead with a beard to cover his baby face will graduate college and my life, as his mom, will enter another stage. There are different stages you go through as a parent, and each one brings a mix of pride, happiness, and melancholy. When you enter the realm of motherhood, those first nights of bliss when you just stand over the crib and stare at this beautiful being that somehow you birthed into the world, you think that you have all the time in the world. Then, one day you are sitting at your computer, looking at college graduation tickets and sobbing. That baby is now a man and you are left with this emptiness that has no name.
By Allison Saia7 years ago in Families
Getting Ready for Family Pictures: What You Should Know
Getting ready for family portraits can be a lot more work than people would imagine. First, most portraits demand a clean look. Second, you will need to decide what kind of background or scenery you want. Third, you will need to decide whether you want to use props. If you have children, you will probably want to decide whether to let them include a favorite toy. If you have pets, you will also need to decide whether to include them, and how you will want to present them.
By Sasha McGregor7 years ago in Families
What Is Noble?
Okay, so not sure where to start. But I guess this is a story of determination. The story of love, sadness, and the story of nobility. It all starts at the birth of a child. You see in my community, the black community, fathers aren't very prevalent, or visible I should say. I did not want to become that statistic. I only have one child, a girl, she is now seven. I had my first child and only child when I was 30. I took that long because I felt that I wanted to be able to be the best parent my child could ever have. And I'm sure many parents feel the same. I, on the other hand, was raised only by my father. A little bit by my mother, who was there for a time when I was younger. At the age of seven I was sent to my father. I stayed with my father until my mother passed when I turn 16. My oldest brother however was able to stay with mom. And of course I got visits every now and then every summer to my mother prior to her passing. I was never told that she had cancer I was just told that she died. My only comfort at the time when I receive that information was my best friend and my Nintendo. Can I say father was a comfort? Not necessarily. As a child and at that age I held it against him the reason why I was not around my mother before she passed. But I know that's not fair but I was a child then. But that's neither here nor there.
By Face ShotU7 years ago in Families
Relationships in a Large Family
What About the Future? Growing up or raising a large family is a most exciting experience. It is fun, it is stressful, it’s never boring, it’s challenging, it’s tremendously time and effort consuming, it’s extremely rewarding—you name it.
By Alyssa Day7 years ago in Families
Prenatal Massage and Its Benefits
Pregnancy is a special time in any woman’s life. You’re carrying a new life and looking forward to a whole new chapter of your own. Though this part of women's life is beautiful, it can sometimes be a little stressful for the body. After all, your body is going through a lot of changes now to accommodate the person living and growing inside you. To make things easier on yourself, you can make use of prenatal massages.
By Lena Hemsworth7 years ago in Families
Protecting Your Kids from Outside Dangers
There are many different outside dangers that could greatly affect your kids' safety. It is important that you learn about the different ways to protect your kids in order to have a peace of mind that your kids will be safe on a day-to-day basis. When you have the right safeguards in place, you will be able to create an environment that will be conducive to raising healthy and confident children.
By Sasha McGregor7 years ago in Families
