Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
The Toddler Life
No one told me sharing or teaching a toddler would be hard. You know what, scratch that, no one told me raising a toddler was going to be hard. I figured it would be a breeze. I thought raising a toddler would be something like off a TV show. I had this little world where my son would listen to me, finish every meal, and have no problem eating his fruit and veggies (we're working on this). Raising a toddler isn't that bad, if you figure it out. Every toddler is very different in their own little personality way, but I try to make the best of it in our own little lane. Our good outweighs the little satanic tantrum moments. I'll give you the greatest moments, since learning how to raise an in-tune human being.
By Gayle Lebus8 years ago in Families
Toxic Family
It seems nowadays many of us have issues with our family members that either force us to walk on egg shells around them or avoid them entirely. We prefer to skip out on holiday gatherings and screen our relative’s phone calls and texts like they're bill collectors. There are some people who can’t be around their family without experiencing a strong sense of anxiety and others whose relatives are a major cause of their depression. Perhaps they have a father whose substance abuse made growing up more difficult than need be, a sibling who bullied them to the point where they have developed self-esteem issues, or an overly critical and emotionally detached mother who makes them feel worthless and unloved. Question is, how do you handle it and do what is best for you?
By EJ Shannon8 years ago in Families
Infertility and Our Journey to a Forever Family
I was just like any girl, always dreaming of the day to finally get married and have children. I had the names of both boy and girl picked out back in high school. Once I had actually typed the names all on a piece of paper and I kept it in my purse. Back in high school my worst fear was not being able to have children. It is almost like I had a feeling I would never have a child. I remember telling my mom one time “Mom, I want kids so bad, I bet I won’t be able to conceive”. She said “don’t say that Stephanie”. I guess when you want something all of your life you wonder if it will actually happen…
By Stephanie Geisler8 years ago in Families
My Life
Just take a deep breath, calm down. I repeat that to myself at least 10 times a day, or tell myself it will get better. Life can’t possibly be this crazy all the time. I am a stay at home mom and well, basically I feel like I could go insane at any given moment. I know you other moms know how I feel. Some days I feel like a complete failure cause I can’t manage to get things done; sometimes I feel like super mom and get everything done. My son is four with the attitude of a teenager and energy like the Energizer bunny. My daughter is almost 10 months old and in a stage where if I’m more than 2 feet away from her she completely freaks out! I love that she’s a mommy’s girl, but some days it’s impossible to get anything done, which goes back to why I feel like a failure. My son is just now becoming jealous, so he’s always doing something to get attention. When we first brought her home he always wanted to hold her, help feed her, didn’t want anyone having her, and now he hurts her, sometimes on purpose but he still wants to hold her and doesn’t like her out of his sight. He’s a sweet kid and loves his sister but oh my gosh he’s non stop with the questions, back talking, bothering his sister, etc... When I tell him "no" he says, “well, I said yes,” or if I tell him I’m going to take his tablet, he replies with, “I take your phone.” Don’t get me wrong, I love being a mom, and I am glad I get to be home with them but sometimes I need a break, something my husband doesn’t understand. He means well, as I’m sure most men do, but in reality, any stay at home mom NEEDS A BREAK! We don’t ask for much, we would just like to make it through a shower without being needed or maybe sit down and eat our food while it’s hot, not get up to get everyone something they forgot to ask for or wipe a butt. Not even going to lie, days that have been completely crazy, after dinner I go hide in the bathroom, LOL. Sometimes you just have to. I’ve tried being the “Pinterest” mom— setting schedules, trying different activities, and baking. But I’m human and so are my kids, so it just didn’t work out like I had hoped, but that’s life. Kudos to those moms who can make it work. My life is chaotic and messy, some days I don’t know how I’m going to make it through and just want to scream, others I love on my kids all day long, when they let me. My son says he’s a big boy, so his hugs and kisses are rare. At the end of the day, I’m glad and proud of who my kids are; they make my world go around and drive me crazy, but I love them and I couldn’t imagine my life without them. I dread the day they don’t need me anymore. I may complain until I’m blue in the face, but I love doing for them and will always do for them. Being a mom is a blessing; I didn’t really have one growing up so a lot of my efforts come from what my dad showed me what a parent should be and what I wish my mother would have done.
By Brianna Brookshire8 years ago in Families
Life of a Practically Single Mom
I was only 16 when I found out I was pregnant. I’d been dating the person who I thought was the love of my life for almost a year and he was going to basic for the Army National Guard. It was rough finishing school when his sisters had told everyone the news. I finished my sophomore year and tried to tough the summer out being pregnant by myself.
By Just a mom Doing her best8 years ago in Families
The Professional Mommy
Wife. Four children. A ten-year career in human resources. Two businesses on the side. I know it sounds like a lot, but there is more. I describe myself as a serial entrepreneur. My brain gets bored easily and I love innovation and learning new ways of doing old things.
By April Stephens8 years ago in Families
The Hardest Goodbye
2017 has been a rollercoaster, full of "high on life moments" while also dragging a stick through the mud. My baggage behind me gets heavier and heavier. Burden upon burden is laid and all I can do is stand taller to keep my head above the clouds. However, September 8, 2017 was when my world was turned upside down.
By Chloe Hoover8 years ago in Families
The Effect My Father’s Suicide Had
Let me start by saying this: I lost my father to suicide in 2014. We hadn’t spoken in just over a year when he took his life. I realise now that this may have been partly because of the mental illness he tried hiding from everyone.
By No One’s Daughter8 years ago in Families
My New Life as a Single Mum
I don't ever know how to start these posts, but here I go. I started this new, crazy life as a single mother to a four year old son and I am having another boy due the end of January or early February. This pregnancy has been so different compared to my first son. My first son, I had his father, my ex- husband now, and had all the support in the world from a lot of my friends and my family. However, with this pregnancy, I don't have a father figure for my son; he left when I was 23 weeks pregnant. That is when I had to figure out at that point in time that I didn't need a man to help me with this baby. Then, a couple weeks after he left, I was told my normal pregnancy wasn't so normal after all. At 25 weeks, I was classified as a high-risk pregnancy due to my unborn son having developed a C-PAM or a Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation. Okay, for those that aren't medical professionals like myself, it is described as a benign lung lesion.
By Kayt Peaslee8 years ago in Families
Coming Face to Face With Me Part Two
There was a lot that has happened in those eight years that I was in foster care. The system that was meant to help people did not seem to help me that much. I think in my whole time within the system I was in four group homes and seven foster homes.
By Lizz DeBow8 years ago in Families
