Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
A Telenovela: Part One
I reflect constantly on my upbringing and the events that shape me to be who I am today. As of today, my brother is seventeen-years-old and was left in Guatemala with a family friend of my mother; against his will and on the last day of the forced winter vacation he took with my mother and sister. My sister lives alone with my mother, but would rather live with her father because my mother spends little to no time with her. My sister is fourteen years old and the last one of my siblings. I am twenty two years old with a bachelor’s degree in psychology received by the University of California, Riverside last year. I no longer live in the apartment on Valencia Street in San Francisco and honestly, it was difficult to move back again. The last time I left was due to my mother’s insults and her inability to understand the consequences of her actions on my sibling’s future. Traveling to your parent’s home country should be fun and an escape to be children, but for my siblings, it was not the case. They had no idea they were leaving and always asked me when they would return, worried they would miss school. And miss school they did. I am getting a little bit sidetracked, but it is because there is a whole story with many chapters of negativity and many more with moments of sunshine. Today I pray to one day soon be reunited with both my siblings and show we are capable of more light and love than the woman who raised us. This is our story, from what I experienced and from what I was told many times, which I will never forget.
By Ingrid Estrada8 years ago in Families
Dealing With Divorce
I was 11/12 when my parents divorced, and to say I was blindsided is an understatement. Like every child, I thought my parents were going to be together forever; the perfect family. Looking back now, as an adult, I can see the small indications that something was wrong. No affection, Dad working late nights, the small arguments etc., etc, But as a child, I didn't pay much attention. Why would I?
By Becky Stanway8 years ago in Families
Places You Should Never Breastfeed
Breastfeeding is a natural thing that women do. Unfortunately, there's some stigma attached to breastfeeding in public exactly because it's something women do. Remember, America is a patriarchy fixated with controlling women's bodies. That translates into bullying women into breastfeeding in places you should never breastfeed, and then blaming them for breastfeeding there! Meanwhile, if men could breastfeed there'd be breastfeeding stations everywhere and it'd be a huge part of popular culture. Captain America would be breastfeeding in The Avengers:Infinity War and Chris Evans would be breastfeeding on The Late Show while promoting it. If Chris Evans wouldn't nurse his child in these places you shouldn't either.
By Lauren Skopkowski8 years ago in Families
Listening
When most people think of communication, their minds go to dialogue, arguably the most prevalent form of communication, and when they think of dialogues and everyday conversation they think of the act of speaking. Yet I believe the ability to speak clearly or effectively verbalize your thought is not the most important tool in the process of communicating. I believe that listening is the key to keen communication. The simple quote “We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak,” said by greek philosopher Epictetus, has been recited to crowds or classrooms of children an immeasurable number of times, primarily with the purpose to hush them and direct their attention to a speaker. However it would benefit them if the implication that listening is more important than speaking was taught and understood. Applying effort to the act of listening, and training yourself to be observant and attentive, can greatly improve your daily communication, and hone your wit as an additional bonus.
By Miakoda Natane8 years ago in Families
'Bail 'Em Out' Parents
I sat on the phone with a friend; it’s 10 AM and we’re Face-timing with each other over our morning cups of coffee. She’s a hard-working, medical professional, currently living in a trend-setting major Canadian city, and I, a self-employed musician living in a seventy-five-year-old country home, in arguably one of the most rural parts of the East Coast of Canada. For just how starkly different our careers (and we) are from one another, we get along like eggs on toast.
By Elizabeth Webb8 years ago in Families
Having Three Kids at Home
So, I'm a mom of three beautiful daughters, and I'm always getting compliments about my daughters on how beautiful they are. People even stop me in stores saying, "Aw, I bet she is the sweetest thing on Earth!" Little do people know that having three daughters is hard! For the moms who are going through this just like I am, you know how it is. Every day I wake up to my middle daughter Mollie, screaming at Ellie (the oldest), "Give it back, Ellie! It's mine, give it back!'' You would think that they would quit by the time I roll myself out of bed, but no! This happens every day and literally all day! Fortunately, my youngest daughter is only three months old so she doesn't have to deal with them fighting with her yet.
By Allison Wray8 years ago in Families
Que Sera...?
It’s getting worse. The tension is rising. Something is going on? Something’s happened? Though I’m not sure what? You’ve changed. You sit in your armchair like a modern ‘king’ that once sat in your throne, peers to be seen and not heard and in some cases not even seen. You goad your weight around like life won’t toss you a bone. I remember your absence, not physically but mentally and emotionally. You were there somewhat unwholesome to your surroundings. What was on your mind?
By Becky Leigh8 years ago in Families
