Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Beloved
“Anything dead coming back to life hurts.” There is no experience that could possibly match that of being a mother. Valued for all they are, mothers have been created by the media to be the loving, nurturing type, but are never truly depicted facing the trials of what it means to be a mother in its entirety. Beloved, a love story rooted from the sincerest of love, is a Toni Morrison classic following the life of a woman found in the two greatest minorities: being a loving mother, and a slave. Throughout the novel, Sethe, the mother of four, is in constant turmoil after relentless abuse and mistreatment. It is this collection of experiences and her painful past that cause Sethe to face the most difficult of decisions as a mother. With the goal to provide and sustain a happy life for her children, her choice to kill one and attempt at the others was rooted in her love for each child.
By Kayla Starr8 years ago in Families
E.R. Drama
My doctor decided it would be best to have an inducement the week before my due date if I wanted to avoid a c-section at all costs, which is what I said I did not want. So I had an inducement. Sadly, though, my mom showed up after the birthing event was over. My husband was present for most of the entire time. Naturally he complained that he could not sleep, because the inducement I had took all day to put me into labor and my screaming from pain was very upsetting to him. So I also decided to have an epidural. The birth was so successful to the point that there was no death, and even though live birth is no fun for any mother, I am not here to complain about the contractions during labor. Most of the pain was just turning my spine into a melting bendy straw anyways. I was and am happy enough when it was over and I am not talking about the pain. I am here to tell what the doctors and nurses did and said and how they treated me. My first doctor and all the nurses were great at first. But as soon as the baby was heading down the birthing canal, my doctors' shift ended. The doctor and the entire nurse crew went home and were replaced by a new crew. This crew was not so nearly as delightful. My replaced doctor allowed me to be in any position I wished to lay. My previous nurses were so great they had just put a hot cup of mint tea in the sink for aromatherapy before they left. They spoke to me as if my wish was their command. This all turned around completely when the whole crew shift replaced. The second set of nurses were not so nice. The new doctor was impatient. As soon as the new doctor entered the room, they dumped the still hot mint tea that was in the sink down the drain. The new doctor put a catheter in the way of the opening along with other un-necessary equipment and put my legs up into the air and my head was then lower than any of my other body parts. No one any longer was listening to anything that I was trying to say. I could barely talk, and when I tried to speak a nurse told me to not to. My husband, at that moment had gone to the cafeteria to get coffee, so he didn't hear that sentence spoken to me, neither had the other doctor been present. By the time my husband got back the nurse decided to ask him to grab my leg and push it into my chest as if that were supposed to help me push. I could not push for myself, my body had to do most of it. I had an epidural. My legs were rubber logs. I could not breathe. The nurse had the one leg, my husband had the other leg, and there was no way I could let out a single squeak. I was so angry at that nurse, but I couldn't show it. The doctor returned and had them put my legs back into the cold metal stirrups that I could feel by then because the epidural was wearing out. My husband had no idea whatsoever that he was not exactly helping me out and he completely flipped out after the baby was born because the placenta fell out. He had thought that I had lost some stomach and other important organs or something and that I was going to die. He had not been raised on a goat farm like I had been. He had never witnessed anything give live birth before. He did not know that such a thing as a placenta even existed, I did. Let me tell you those goats had a better experience from me than from my treatment, because that is true. I was able to stand back on my own two feet very shortly after I was done giving live birth. But not before the doctor stitched up the slice they had made to make the opening down there bigger. My son was born after 11:00 am and is turning three soon. I am on my second pregnancy. I hope my experience is educational to any woman whom may want to know, or any caring husbands of theirs.
By Sarah Worley8 years ago in Families
Being A First Time Mother
Being a first time mother is hard. I never thought I would ever become a mom. My doctor told me that I couldn't have any children. Well look at me now doc. This is how it all began. It all started a week after my honeymoon. I was working at the register with a customer, then all of a sudden, I fainted. Next thing I knew, I woke up with my husband sitting next to me. He told, "You fainted while you were at work." Then the doctor came in and told me that I was pregnant. I was excited, but I was very nervous that I was expecting. I think I cried for like a week straight. All these thoughts were running through my head. What if I'm not a good mother? Why did God choose me to be a mother? Am I good enough to be the mother of this baby? Then my husband sat me down and calmed me down. "You are going to be the best mother in the world" my husband whispered in my ear. Then we fast forward a few months later. It was time to find out the sex of the baby. I said, "I think it's a girl." "My guess is a baby boy" my husband replied. The doctor looked at the sonogram and told us, "IT'S A BOY!" I have never seen my husband smile so hard. We were happy to finally find out the sex. And then we chose a name for our son. The thing that I was scared about was changing a boy's diaper. Because when I would baby sit or work with babies, they were mostly girls. I have never changed a boy's diaper.
By Shante Hernandez8 years ago in Families
Becoming a Teenage Parent
Becoming a parent is hard enough. Becoming a parent while you yourself are still considered a child is even worse. Yes, you made the decisions that put you here, but that doesn't make it any less scary. If you're young and expecting, here are 5 things you should know before your little bundle of joy arrives.
By Bethany Bickford8 years ago in Families
Mom
I think about you everyday. Everything I do has a little bit of you inside. The way I wash the dishes, fold the laundry, raise my children. This year has been full of ups and downs and big events. I only wish you were here for even a simple phone call to tell you about my achievements and failures.
By Callie Roberts8 years ago in Families
4 Things I Wish I Knew About Becoming a Mom. Top Story - December 2017.
Being a mom is the best feeling in the world. You get these beautiful creatures and wonder how you got so lucky. Of course you'd do anything for them and all that mushy, sweet stuff everyone always says. But what about the other stuff? The not so sweet things aren't always talked about. Especially in my case. Here's 4 things I wish I would have known to better prepare myself for being a mother.
By Rachel Mcmichael8 years ago in Families
Foster Parenting - Not for the Weak of Heart
It was about 14 years ago that I saw my first foster mom. She was in her late '60s, retired, and had a four-year-old and a six-month-old. The baby was adorable and the four-year-old was hell on wheels. She complained about the baby crying and would just stick a bottle in her mouth and move on, never checking her diaper, etc. I was shocked that she was just so callous with these kids.
By Lynn Jansen8 years ago in Families
Things I Leaned Before I Was 18
Growing up, we all count on our parents to teach us. We depend on them, and sometimes, they depend on us. They teach us how to brush our teeth, how to go to the bathroom, and even if we don't realize it, they teach us how to love. They mold and shape us and we do the same, in a way, to them. Now, some of us are lucky. We are born into happy, full homes to someone who wants us, who already loves us. They have our names picked out by the first doctor visit, our nursery painted and ready before our baby shower. They wait and pray for our arrival. They will grow up feeling loved, they will grow up knowing they can do whatever they decide. But not all of us are that lucky.
By Ruth Cross8 years ago in Families
