Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

My Unconventional Childhood and Why It Won't Define Me
Family is not defined by who was there when you began; it is defined by who stayed through it all. It is not defined by a man and a woman raising their biological child; it is defined by the experiences that you share with the people that you love, and who it is that would sacrifice everything for you. Family thrives in all different forms. I consider my friends to be my family. My dog is my family. My boyfriend is my family.
By Ella Riley8 years ago in Families
Children and Mental Illness
We make sure our children are fed, clothed, and try to keep them from physical harm. But do we take into consideration their mental health? We often perceive children as innocent little beings who are supposed to be happy all of the time because children don't have to worry about the problems of life like adults. We often assume that children live happy and stress-free lives. As adults, we often wish we could be five again because, as children, we didn't have to worry about paying the bills on time or maintaining a home, etc. However, this could not be further from the truth. Many children suffer from a variety of mental health issues similar to adults. Statistics estimate that one in five children between the ages of six and seventeen years will struggle with and be diagnosed with some type of mental illness by the time they reach adulthood. Most commonly, depression and anxiety. This is why talking to your children openly about their feelings from an early age is crucial for early warning signs of any onset of mental illness.
By Janelle Ouellet8 years ago in Families
How to Be Polish
Here is a list of to do's to fit into a Polish family: 1. Always come hungry to a Polish person's house. We will feed you many things! Even if you are not hungry, we will insist that you try one or two things. At the end of the day, you will end up eating anyway, so you might as well be starving.
By Ada Zuba8 years ago in Families
Cartoons and Young Children
Cartoons and the Child's Psyche: Is There Really an Impact? GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT! This popular idiom refers the concept that input equals output. Whether it be a business venture, a technological programming, or a personal health regimen, the results will equal the input. The same is true of human attitude and behavior, especially in reference to impressionable young children. In order to understand how outside factors (such as animated TV shows) affect a child, one must first understand the stages of development in a human’s life. For those in the preschool stages, brain development is largely at play.
By denise knight8 years ago in Families
How to Raise a Child Without a Screen—and Not Die in the Process
There are multiple studies that will back me up on this topic. Screens for babies, toddler and kids in general are like cocaine or other addictive drugs. I won't get into the specifics of the scientific research here because it can be slow reading but I can provide the necessary information later on for those who are interested. I want to get into the specifics of raising a baby and toddler without those screens and not die in the attempt (I am only going to talk about my own personal experience which is why I won't get into the older child). I have a 17 month old boy—a very active one. Since he was born, I have always strictly limited his access to media screens—not an easy job. Today, if you go to a restaurant they are full of giant screens on the walls or tablets on the tables. Well-meaning friends will offer to hold your baby and show them videos so the child won’t fuss. Well, I for one, do not want a zombie as a son! I want to limit how much damage I do to him as a parent (every parent damages their kids to a greater or lesser extent—just ask some teenagers). So what I have noticed that we (my husband and I) do differently:
By Fernanda Brito-Muñoz8 years ago in Families
Two Years
Two years ago, at this time, I was sitting on my mom’s couch when I got a text saying that things were taking an unexpected turn for my dad, but not to be worried. I instantly got this awful gut feeling that I needed to get to the hospital. My mom kept telling me to just wait and see how things went, and if something was wrong someone would message me, and then I could go. But I didn’t want to wait. Something kept telling me that I needed to get there. The rain was pouring and I had broken my glasses. My mom didn’t want me driving to Charleston blind, but I refused to stay home. I still remember that drive. I couldn’t see at all. The rain was beating down and my mom was following me shortly behind. I turned on K-Love, hoping God could give me a word of encouragement. The song “Home” by Chris Daughtry came on the radio. I knew what the words were telling me, and I begged God to not let this be it. I still remember the smell of the waiting room. I remember every corner and how the seats felt. I waited for what seemed like days in that room, yet when I’d look at the time I would be shocked to see that three hours had passed. I don’t even remember falling asleep. The last thing I remembered was my mom running to get everyone coffee. But, next thing I knew, I was being woke up at 4 in the morning. They said the doctor wanted to talk to the family. We all walked back into this tiny conference room and we knew something had to be wrong, but we waited for that sign of hope across the doctor’s face. That never came. Instead we got a “I’m sorry. We’ve done everything we could do. The only thing keeping him here is the medicine we have him on.” We didn’t want to believe it. How? How could there be nothing left to do? We needed him. He needed to be here. This wasn’t supposed to happen. How could this be the next step? How could this be it? I had so much I wanted to share with him. I had memories left to create. I had a baby growing in my stomach that he knew nothing about. I needed him. I dreamed of the day to see him chewing on my son’s cheeks and seeing him smile. We all walked out of that room, into his. I didn’t want to say goodbye. I couldn’t get myself to get a single word out. I had so much in my head that I just wanted to pour out to him, but I couldn’t. Time seemed to stand still. Yet, when I looked up at the clock, it was already 7 in the morning. Fifteen minutes later and his soul would be above us. My mom had the privilege of telling him that he was going to be a grandpa. I know he couldn’t hear her, but I really hope he knew somehow. As the seconds dwindled down, I held tight to my stomach telling myself that "I live for the both of you now." That I live to make him proud and to make my son happy. That I’d do everything in my power to always do the right thing. Man, I hope I’m making him proud. I begged God for 9 days to give him a healing. And he did. Just not how I thought. I prayed and believed that he’d walk again. I put such faith in it. And he is. Just not where I thought he’d be. I know he wouldn’t have been happy being in the state he was, but he would’ve had the biggest support team to help him through it. I hope he realized just how many people adored and loved him. I had my eyes opened on how proud I am to be named a Bryant. The number of people who reached out to me from all over the world telling me kind words of my father was endless. My favorite was the countless times people told me how he never stopped talking about his kids. I’m thankful and blessed to call him my father. I just wish we would have had more time. I would’ve made all the wasted seconds count. Even in the hospital, I still just let the seconds slip away from me. I took every single one for granted. I hope my presence was enough to let him know how much I love him. I just wish I would have been bolder in my role as his daughter. I wish I would have showed my appreciation more. I hope he knew.
By Ky Bryant8 years ago in Families
Our Roots
Our Roots, What We Are Built On When people ask your family history, where you come from and the fundamentals on how you were raised, one thing pops into mind. Our roots, the basis of all foundations. The very foundation our grandmothers were raised on, our mothers and aunts/uncles, the strong and sturdy roots my very own grandfather was brought up on, my own father and brothers all the way down to the current stop on the roots at my heaven sent nephew and neice. We think of the people who hold us up, build us, and grow with us. I'll water this tree as long as the roots continue to grow.
By Rae.b Havener8 years ago in Families
Loss of Someone Special
Everyone at some point in their life will lose a loved one. Recently I lost my grandmother; she was a huge part of my life. My gran was my person, the one who has supported me through it every thing and never judged me.
By Trisha Ruby928 years ago in Families
First Blood: The Type Of Separation Anxiety No One Needs (Or Deserves)
The sight out my bedroom that morning looked spectacular. The sun was just beginning to rise and the sky was a soft orange hue, flecked here and there with yellow and blue paint streaks, like pastel colors or my favorite crayon set strewn across the cosmos. I smiled looking out, and excitedly thought about how it was the perfect day to go on an adventure—at least so I thought.
By Dylan Balde8 years ago in Families
Placing My Daughter for Adoption
The moment I found out I was pregnant was very raw for me. It was a moment I was not expecting to have for years down the road. Being unmarried, I did not plan to get pregnant until after being married. Not only was it something I did not want for myself, being born to an unmarried mother was not something I wanted for any child I would have. It was the end of the day, I was expecting my period, and I was craving chicken wings. The thought crossed my mind that there was a chance I could be pregnant. It was something I didn't want to think about, yet I found myself in my yellow VW Bug driving to target to buy a pee stick. When I got home, I took the test. I bawled. I was angry at myself for getting into this situation; a situation I was not nearly equipped for.
By Alexis Fox8 years ago in Families
Predicaments of a Pregnant Woman
Daily routines can become so mundane, that we don’t even think twice about what we take for granted. Anything and everything we do seems to have convenience factored in. For me, it was the loss of my driving privilege while being pregnant. Talk about a wakeup call. Then again, a good reality check is something we all need from time to time.
By Not Important8 years ago in Families
My Favorite Men
On January 2, 2018, in the early morning hours, my wonderful father took his last breath. This man was our family patriarch. He took the role of father and husband seriously. He was hard-working, faithful to the love of his life (my mother), devoted to his children, respectful to his parents, sacrificial for his students, and committed to his Savior. My daddy was not perfect, but he was pretty close. He instilled, in me, a love for education and a passion for family. Integrity and morality was of the utmost importance to him. Men like my daddy are rare these days. His passing has left a great void for many who loved him.
By denise knight8 years ago in Families