Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Life as a Daughter of Agent Orange, Part 6
Later this week my dad will be going into surgery to fix a problem caused by him not following post-surgery orders nearly a year ago (that is a chapter all on its own!). With this surgery looming on the horizon, I keep thinking about my past as his daughter. I see how far I have come since I left for England six years ago on the 22nd of January. Those six months were exactly what I needed; they allowed me to grow as an adult in a way I never would have experienced if I had stayed home. For the first time I was able to go where I wanted whenever I wanted without parental permission or explaining why I was leaving. I walked nearly everywhere in Newcastle and felt like one of the locals most of the time (except for when I opened my mouth to speak). Being in such a beautiful city with lovely people, I was free to detox from all the years of negativity. My study abroad group went on several excursions and aside from those, I visited a few places on my own. The countryside of Scotland was by far my favorite; I lost myself in the rolling hills dotted with sheep. I admit I was scared the first time I went to a new town all on my own with no form of backup, but that fear was simply because I had never been given the gift of exploration as a child. Once I found out I could travel on my own in a foreign country, my wings took off and my spirit soared.
By Elizabeth Kozlowski8 years ago in Families
First-Time Mom Overload
The minute you announce that you are pregnant everyone seems super eager to get you things. This is a wonderful thing. People love to buy baby stuff, for some reason. And people love to buy baby stuff for babies that they don't have to look after. So, naturally, you can get a little overwhelmed as a first-time mom.
By Samantha Reid8 years ago in Families
The Trials and Tribulations of a Stay at Home Dad
On my first day as a stay at home Dad, I felt like an impostor. I’d spent years watching my wife make bringing up little people look easy; from her boundless patience to her never-ending supply of rainy day games, I was sure I was a painter and decorator to her Picasso.
By Paul Rooney8 years ago in Families
A Letter to My Little Sisters
To the three most important girls in my life, Look, girls, I know I'm still young myself but your big sister has seen enough of this big bad world to be able to give you some advice. Please read carefully and although it may not all be applicable to you, keep it in mind anyway.
By Carly McCullough8 years ago in Families
Dear, Baby Boy
This year, you turn four-years-old. I walked into your life when you were one-year-and-three-months-old. I didn't know it then, but that was when my life changed forever. I had no idea what was in store for me. I had no idea of the struggles and late nights, nor did I know of all the love and snuggles I'd be getting throughout the years.
By Sierra Brown8 years ago in Families
Only God Knows Why
On this day, the trees were changing from that nasty greenish brown color to the beautiful autumn orangey yellow color. There were freshly carved pumpkins sitting outside the doors of the houses. The air was just warm enough for a long-sleeve shirt and jeans, but too cold for a t-shirt and shorts. In the house lingered the smell of fresh apple pie my mother made. That morning I woke up and thought it was going to be a normal day where I would be driven to school, sit through about 8 boring hours of Mrs. Walker's third grade class, then get picked up and go home. Needless to say, I was not expecting that this day, October 3rd, 2003, would be the day my whole world flipped upside down.
By Tiffany Tushkowski8 years ago in Families
A Mother's Fear of Not Doing Enough
I have a two-year-old. In October, she will be three—and so on each year she will get older. Recently I took "stress leave" from work. I am currently doing a career change (I guess I can call it that), with not as much luck as I'd hoped. My daughter goes to daycare three days a week: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. I get four whole days with her and with not working at the moment I have plenty of time to do a lot of things with her.
By Raphaela Agecoutay8 years ago in Families
How Does Divorce Effect Children?
Divorce amongst couples with children has become so common that when a child says “My parents aren’t together” it isn’t quite a shock as it may have been years ago. Most of us have experienced or know someone who has experienced a divorce in their family. The divorce process within a family can have a variety of negative effects on a child. Today I'm going to explain to you the different categories that these negative effects may fall under according to the Article titled: The Psychology of Divorce: A Lawyer’s Primer, Part 2: The Effects of Divorce on Children written by: Portnoy. The first being psychological effects and the second being emotional.
By Vanessa Solorzano8 years ago in Families
A Boy
This is the story of a boy. From the day the boy was born, he loved unconditionally and purely, although his mother did not share the same feelings. She was disgusted by his existence and regretted conceiving him. Day after day as the boy grew, so did his mother's distaste for him, and yet he was unaware and only sought to be loved by his family. The boy had an older brother of four years difference, and he looked up to and cared very dearly for this brother, oblivious to his brother's hatred for him that was fueled by a deep envy, so powerful it had consumed the older brother. Mom did drugs. He used them with her, enjoying the fact that he fit in somewhere in this equation. The day came that he could take care of himself, as well as his mother, whom consistently found herself too fucked up to do so for herself. He was about seven years of age and eager to please, hoping to validate his position in the family. This effort made his mother feel some affection for him, and with a polluted conscience, she expressed that affection in a horrid way, sexually molesting the boy, confusing him about who he was to her, and what love even was. Still, he endured for them, never thinking that he had any value as a person on his own. The months passed and his interaction with Big Brother took an extreme turn. Big Brother had a few ideas for his body being used, for himself and friend. He was coaxed into a back room of the trailer on the end of River St., enticed by video games to be played with Big Brother and his friend.
By Marshall Alexander8 years ago in Families
Under the Mulberry Tree
The sun shone in golden streaks through the dense branches. My lips, fingers, and feet were dyed a deep red. A little berry-stained hand grasped each of mine as we danced beneath the shade of the mulberry tree. Our bare feet stomping the ripe berries under them, we giggled.“Ashes, ashes, we all fall down” and we did, our bottoms hitting the grass under us.
By Alicia Durfee8 years ago in Families
