Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

What a Jerk Kid Wants to Tell Her Dad
Hey Dad. //// No, this is not one of those articles written for a late father—the usual “Things I Wish I’d Told My Dad When I Had the Chance.” My Dad is very much alive, still doing his morning swims every morning (even during winter). But I was never close to him and since my parents divorced early, he was more like a third-degree uncle and it would be weird for me to tell him anything intimate. So yea, it’s still pretty much the usual “Things I Wish I’d Told My Dad When I Had the Chance.” ////
By Judy Mae8 years ago in Families
The Phone Call I Dreaded Answering
"So, How Are You?" Oh shit, is it 1 am already? Mom usually gets home around now after visiting Bibi (my grandma) and she will probably kill me if she knew I stayed up this long but hey, this essay isn't gonna write itself! Bibi seemed better tonight, she managed to whisper out "I love you" before I left for the first time in months so that must be a good sign. Will's probably tired. You know, I said I'd take the bus home but for some reason they don't trust a teenager on the bus by herself past 10 pm! The hospital's not that far though so I'm sure he doesn't mind driving us back and forth in the cold... and the dark...
By Ghezal Amiri8 years ago in Families
The Birth of a Mom
Four thousand. Children. Families. Lives. Four thousand. An estimated four thousand children every year are born in the US with clubbed feet, making it one of the most common birth defects.
By Destinee Amber8 years ago in Families
A Hard Rain. Top Story - January 2018.
We heard the news. On this night, my mother was in Los Angeles at a “quit smoking” resort (she still smokes.) My brother, Franz, had come to join us. Pointer, our family friend, also decided to enjoy an evening of wine and debauchery. We had two dogs, Rosy and Wahoo, a German Shepard and a Golden-Retriever respectively. My father was there too, of course. He owned the house, after all. It was a lovely two-story home in Old Metairie, an affluent neighborhood. We spent the majority of the evening watching television, and I had fallen asleep on the couch.
By Layne Radlauer8 years ago in Families
Monitoring Our Children Online
Working as a paraprofessional in an elementary school containing grade 1-6, I learn a lot about what the kids are into these days and some days I'm flat out disgusted with what these children are listening to and watching online. I was lucky enough to grow up in the generation that started out without technology being used for everything but was able to learn about technology and how important it would be in our daily lives. I also learned that technology is not the answer to all our problems but it can be useful in the appropriate situation.
By Kimberly Nightengale8 years ago in Families
Adoption
People think adoption and assume that every part of that word means you went through something horrific and maybe you aren’t as normal as the rest.
By Felicia Owen8 years ago in Families
Leaving the Nest
I love the question, "How are you surviving without your mom?" Or this one, "I would never survive without my mom, she does everything for me." I love the questions and statements solely because I have answers to them. To answer the question, "How are you surviving without your mom," is simple. I don't but in a way I am. Yes, I am married and living over 1,000 miles away in a different state. So you ask, how can you say you aren't surviving without your mom? I call my mom everyday. In this day and age, technology has given us the power to be able to speak to our loved ones with ease on a daily basis. If I ever have a question about finances, food, cleaning supplies, even relationship advice I know my mom is always a text or phone call away. So I do survive on my own but I will always need my momma.
By Brooke Clarke8 years ago in Families
Mom Evolution
My first venture into Facebook-land was back in February 2008. I set up my account the same day that my beloved New England Patriots were taking on the NY Giants in Superbowl XLII. I posted a picture of my two year old son beaming at me with his arm around his floppy one month old brother, both wearing their carefully selected New England jerseys.
By Rachel Aldrich Rader8 years ago in Families
Being a Mum...
I've never done anything like this so here goes. My journey begins somewhere around this time last year when my partner and I found out that, surprise surprise, we were pregnant. I found out by my colleagues at work joking around because Icouldn't keep my evening meals down for weeks. So I took the test, possibly too many times and it was positive.When it came to deciding, we had different opinions on the matter but we came to the conclusion it was too late in the pregnancy for a termination. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I had terminated so late.
By Rebecca Stubbs8 years ago in Families
Life as a Daughter of Agent Orange, Part 5
Part four was probably seen as a bit harsh, especially towards those outside my immediate family—it is how I viewed life at that time and remember, I was only a teenager. I did not have the maturity that I have now for better observation skills and discernment. In my emotionally wild teen years I was harsh and quick with my judgments and unforgiving with what I saw through those skewed eyes. I know there are things said and done that I have never been told about where people stood by dad and my family—as I said, as a teenager I was not the best person to share things with because of how quickly I would jump to the wrong judgmental conclusion. I do not apologize for what I wrote, but I want my readers to understand that is not who I am anymore; I lived what I lived, but I have grown past who I used to be.
By Elizabeth Kozlowski8 years ago in Families
Accepting Fate
“I just have to live my life like she’s dead to me,” Melanie said with a shrug. “If she wants to treat me as such, then there is no reason I can’t do the same.”
By Ashley Reed8 years ago in Families
Daddy's Little Girl
I’m just a boot wearing, horse riding, deer hunting, truck driving, cute little old country gal. I may look city on the outside, but on the inside, I'm country all the way. I am a sassy talking, Pepsi drinking, deer eating, blue jean wearing, big truck riding kinda country loving girl!
By josh napper8 years ago in Families