Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
The Newest Toy to Take over My House
So around the beginning of November, I took my daughter with me to Walmart so I could take her down the toy aisles and get an idea of what she may want for Christmas. At first, it was the typical stuff like dolls and dress up stuff. Then we came down the last aisle and she spotted it. A whole section dedicated to "calico critter" toys. We have never had these at our store before so she was so excited when she saw them. I have to admit, as soon as I started looking at them I fell in love with them as well. I was instantly wishing that I had these little critters when I was little. They made me think of a 1950s English look. It definitely looked like something my grandparents (from England) would have sent me on my birthday. I knew I had to get her some for Christmas. So, as soon as I got home I went right to Amazon.com and found exactly what she was looking at for, a better price too!
By Rachel Mcmichael8 years ago in Families
The Hardest Experience I've Had
“If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.” ~Albert Einstein Middle-childhood. Six year olds. I understand very little of what comes out of their mouths. It takes a great concentrated effort to untangle the day’s happenings from the truths, half-truths, sensitivities, and general understanding of the sequences of life.
By Anneke Olvera8 years ago in Families
Play and Leisure
Play and leisure is a key part of a child’s development. They learn through play and leisure; it helps their imagination grow and their social, emotional, intellectual and communication development will blossom. They will learn what works and what doesn’t in certain activities by simply doing it themselves. Role play helps to build on their imagination and social skills whereas they will play together and make friends, all of this will increase their self-esteem also.
By Hollie Taylor8 years ago in Families
Kids: The Calming Peace and Complete Chaos
Kids, ya love 'em, then you also hate 'em at times too. It's kinda of a love/hate relationship ya know? One minute they can be Heaven's God-sent angels and then another minute they are the spawn of Satan himself. They are so lovable but they test you. And make you realize how much you can hate being a mom in moments. Motherhood really sucks at times.
By Rheana Roose8 years ago in Families
The "Other" Side of Step Parenting
Let’s face it… Parenting is not easy. I must hear that in some form or another at least once a week if not more. Now I do not entirely disagree, there are sometimes when it is difficult but I was blessed with a very easy going, smart and helpful daughter, who is now 11. Sometimes I have so much on my to-do list and all she wants to to “do something” with me. Sometimes she gets sick at very inconvenient times. Sometimes dealing with her father, my ex, is not fun, BUT all in all, I do not believe parenting is hard. In fact it is easy and fun and one of the things I know I was meant to do in my life.
By Jenn Gaskins8 years ago in Families
Habits Your Kids Need to Break and How to Help Them Do It
Children don't tend to have an aptitude for being able to tell what is socially acceptable and what isn't. What an adult or a parent might consider a bad habit is, to a child, a natural thing to do. However, your kid can't grow up and still be nose picking in public as an 18-year-old. With your guidance, those habits your kids need to break won't be so tough to conquer.
By Taylor Markarian8 years ago in Families
Making Our Way Through the Muck
Tonight my middle child, my youngest daughter, made me cry. We were sitting around the supper table remembering when my youngest daughter and her brother first met my husband. We talked about their first reactions and we laughed about them. As we cleared the table my daughter said, “You know mum I remember that I wasn’t very nice to you (at that time). I feel bad about that and I am sorry how I treated you back then.” I gave her a hug and told her how she was but a young child then and she was going through a lot; her father and I had split up and he had been abusive to all of us. I told her that I bared a lot from all three of my children at that time, but I had big shoulders and took it because I knew they were hurting. We hugged and she said she was sorry and that she loved me. I am grateful for her apology.
By Janet Rhodes8 years ago in Families
My Child Did Exist
You never know how much you love the tiny person growing within your own body until you hear the words: "I'm sorry, but it looks as if you are going to have a miscarriage." Those are the words I was told in a cold, heartless tone on Friday, November 13th, 2015. Ironic, right? Friday the thirteenth finally did bring hell to my life. I always have people messaging me whenever I share miscarriage posts online, talking about my angel baby. The only reason they message me is because they don't believe me that I lost a baby...
By Mother Mayhem8 years ago in Families
The Space Between
I had a space between my ears; it was empty. Or so I thought. I spent years conditioned to believe that whatever I had rattling around in there was useless, and definitely didn’t allow for my own thinking. In fact, whatever rattled around in there rendered my mouth useless, too. It seemed that, even though I had graduated with honours and headed to college a year prior to when I should have, sometime between when I met my first husband and we got married, it melted. I’m not entirely sure how I didn’t feel it turning into sludge as the weeks went by, and no one is really quite sure how I let that happen. My sludge brain made a family, brought little ones up and they mostly manage to function like normal human beings, except sometimes, like in the morning, or bedtime, or lunch time...OK, all the time. But basically, I raised small chimpanzees and they are doing just fine.
By Rachelle Hanlan8 years ago in Families
Being The "Stepmom"
Ever feel like being the "stepmom" to your children will just never be good enough to some people? Like no matter what you do, to some people you will just never be good enough? It is a constant battle between you and your mind, you and your stepchildren, as well as you and the biological mother, who constantly seems to be the biggest conflict of all stepmother situations that have ever been started.
By Mother Mayhem8 years ago in Families
Why I Won't Encourage My Children to Have Children
I love my children more than life itself. I’m honestly a little obsessed with them. I didn’t know what love really was until I became a mother. They are beautiful little souls and the mere thought of a life without them makes me burst into tears.
By Jessica Rowe8 years ago in Families
