Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Mommy’s Journey
Two weeks, half a month, or fourteen days, however you want to see it, it doesn’t seem that long. Unless you are a mom. The last two weeks of your pregnancy journey are the longest days of your life. Your baby is ready at any time and all you are doing is waiting for them to come.
By Emmaly Baker8 years ago in Families
Howard and Helen
Howard and his coffee mug.... "Helen, where's my mug?" Howard asked, as he searched through the kitchen cabinets. "Where it always is. I don't use it. I make the coffee and the breakfast. Do I have to babysit your darn mug too?" Helen responded.
By Cheryl Marlowe8 years ago in Families
Going Alone
I’m a single mom, have been for most of my adult life, at this point and I wouldn’t change it for a minute. Is it tough? Hell yes it’s hard, I work two jobs to be able to pay all my bills and keep my son fed. Not to mention, he’s an eating machine, it doesn’t matter how much food I buy, it never seems to be enough. I’ve tried dating sites to find love and really, they’ve all let me down. After so many failed attempts, I’ve made the decision to do this all on my own.
By Lacey Duffy8 years ago in Families
A Child's Fear
The year was 1977. I was born the daughter of John (an abusive alcoholic) and Diane (a mentally fragile woman). My dad had mentioned he did not want any children, yet—my mom decided to get off the pill anyhow. So, when I came around, my dad was not impressed to say the least. He had already had a son with whom he abandoned and disowned who was already in his late teens by the time I was born. Because my dad did not want me, I suffered through tremendous neglect. Whenever I had cried as an infant I was placed inside closets to cry it out. Soiled, hungry, scared—it didn't matter. My mom was not allowed to pick me up. I was isolated and alone and I was not even a month old yet.
By Jennifer Osorio8 years ago in Families
Why Can’t We Be Friends?
Divorce is mean. There’s no way around it. Even in amicable separations (which I was not fortunate enough to have), it feels like failure. Either you failed them, or they failed you. And when everyone is preaching to move on, when they do it’s heart wrenching.
By Hailey Hornburg8 years ago in Families
Life Is a Winding Road
One of the hardest things to go through is change. No matter what it is, leaving the comfort of normal is a scary thing. Even if you’ve gotten a promotion at work, it’s still very scary. Losing a job is scary as hell. Finding the new job is scary as hell. And when you finally find that new job, it’s ridiculously scary. The fear doesn't just come with employment, it comes with life. It comes with meeting someone new that you're interested in, breaking up with someone or even worse, when you lose a family member. Regardless of what change you're going through, what will make or break you is how you deal with the change, how your attitude guides you through.
By Vincent Graziano8 years ago in Families
Being a Parent With Anxiety
Being a parent with anxiety is a struggle. Always worrying, never being able to stop the never-ending train of thought; at times it may seem like too much to bear. Like you're drowning in a sea of self- doubt. You worry whether or not you're doing it right, or questioning whether you're a good parent. It seems like no matter what you do you're constantly asking yourself if you made the right decision. Dealing with anxiety alone is a struggle. But being a parent with an anxiety disorder is a whole different ballgame. As a parent with an anxiety disorder, I can personally relate to all of the above. And if you find yourself in the same boat, you know it's not easy. It's an everyday struggle. And it doesn't get any easier. But there are ways to cope. Whether you are taking medication or not, these are all things we worry about when raising children.
By Gabrielle Fuentes8 years ago in Families
Caring for Our Mothers
Recently, my mother, age 52, has undergone two spinal surgeries on her neck since March 8. The first was to correct bulging discs that were pinching nerves, causing numbness in her fingers, and after waking up in excruciating pain at 10 days post op she was admitted to the local emergency room for pneumonia and they also tested her TWICE for the flu, now, if you've never had the flu test before you should hope you never have to! She was given these tests once in the ER and once after being admitted and taken to the pulmonary wing. These tests made her jerk her head back so hard that we are convinced this caused her to move too much after her spinal fusion operation and it pulled the hardware loose from its position. We were not able to make it in to see her surgeon until she was four weeks post op from her first surgery; he was very upset that he was never notified about her being admitted, and was concerned that her hardware had shifted. Come to find out after several appointments with primary doctors and pulmonary doctors, she actually did not have pneumonia or the flu while she was in the hospital, and was formally diagnosed with sepsis, which she had no symptoms of while she was admitted.
By Carrie Hranac8 years ago in Families
The Wrong Funeral
Phillipe’s is a hotspot in Los Angeles. Hipsters fill the room for a good sandwich but complain about how there are no vegan options in a restaurant known for roast beef sandwiches. At least that’s what happens in today’s time. When I was younger it was our hotspot. Grandpa David's favorite joint. I can still smell the hay that covers the concrete floor, I can still see the crowds of people and taste the freshly cut roast beef on a homemade French roll. Phillipe’s also makes their own spicy mustard. The men in my family always get it and dump it on their sandwiches, but if I’m being honest, their mustard is the worst thing I’ve ever tasted. It tastes like mud mixed with mustard seed and cayenne pepper. It completely overtakes the meal and leaves a raunchy taste in your mouth for the rest of the day.
By Madison York8 years ago in Families
Joseph Holland of Somers Keeps Perseverance in the Family
A 125 pound Pop Warner Football player probably feels pretty good about his chances on the gridiron. But when a league weight limit is leveled and permanently sidelines that youngster from participating, hopefully the disappointment is managed into an enduring life lesson. The school-aged child was Somers' Joe Holland and becoming an Academic All-American at Cornell, graduating Harvard Law School and having numerous professional successes shows that the right man was definitely in his corner.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Families
Fatherhood: A Review in Progress
Parenting is a bitch. This sentiment might upset a select few but it is 100 percent true. Taking on that mantle means thrusting yourself into a torturous duality where one version of you mourns the death of another while simultaneously reveling in the most potent ecstasy you’ve ever known. This back and forth coupled with the sleep deprivation that comes standard issue with a new child is a brand of madness so dizzying and overwhelming that it demands a revision of every belief you’ve ever held. For example, I used to think big families looked like fun; now Cheaper by The Dozen sits more like a horror/thriller than a family comedy.
By Alex Perez8 years ago in Families
