Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
8 Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Teenagers and Young Adults. Top Story - December 2017.
Christmas is that time of year where most people stress about what to get their children. Sometimes their child is picky. Sometimes they already have everything that they could want. But when it comes to teenagers and young adults, buying Christmas gifts can seem like an impossible task.
By Samantha Reid8 years ago in Families
The Effects of Growing Up With Bottled Emotions
July 26, 2017, attempted to end @3:58 AM. Sometimes I still fall victim to the hardness that I once knew. I catch myself being cold when I feel as if I’m witnessing weakness. It’s sad really, where that comes from. Just now I noticed that I had banned my dog from my bed and had been cross with her because she was shaking from fear of the occurring thunderstorm. Making jokes to myself, I said aloud, “I didn’t put a quarter in the bed” and, “I love you but I also love to sleep!”
By Jessica Bateman8 years ago in Families
The Call
I can remember the day clear as glass. It was a beautiful day, it was filled with happiness, family, laughter and jokes. It was a day that you take a picture put it in a frame and remember it for the rest of your life. It was a day that you think nothing could ruin it. But God had a different plan for you to remember that day. The phone call. The call that you get as your walking in the door pealing off your shoes, as your crawling under the warm sheets still laughing and smiling. The phone rings and the first thought in your head they're calling to say goodnight and they made it home. But the tone is all wrong, it sends chills down your spine, and squeezes the breath out of your body when they say “He didn’t make it, it was an accident.” You drop the phone in disbelief, you have no words. But you run through every emotion like a rollercoaster so fast you can’t slow down to just think or breath. You start with denial “There is no way, I just said goodbye to him!” On to anger “Why is this happening? Why did he do this?” To a shattered heart “I can’t do it without him, I love him, he is my best friend.” You struggle for weeks on how to feel, what’s really happening and what to think. When it finally comes down to laying in bed emotionless, staring into a dark hole with no thoughts and no feelings. When finally a couple of months go by you seem to be getting better, life is getting back to normal but you catch yourself feeling happy again and it angers you. You shouldn’t be happy, your best friend just died, your hurt, your lost. And you go back down the slippery slope you finally finished with. But six months have come and gone, you finally realize they wouldn’t want you to be sad anymore, they don’t want you to suffer or miss out on happiness. They will always watch over you, they are always with you like that small breeze that brushes your face, or the small shimmer of sun that shines through on a cold breezy day or even that small hand on your shoulder you feel. They want to look down and see you laughing, smiling and happy. Because they know when it’s your time they will greet you with a smiling face and open arms. And everything will be perfect again, you will realize it was worth waiting for. You’ll forget the struggle you went through, all the hurt and suffering. It’ll be like your first time meeting all over again. You will laugh, joke and be happy together again. And you will never have to say goodbye ever again. Life will be filled with all of the loved ones that have moved onto heaven.
By Ice-Camelia Almack8 years ago in Families
It Is Your Right to Be Birth Informed
British Columbia. Canada. On November 9, 2017, I found out that we were expecting our first little bean. While our journey to become parents has not been long, my career of choice has always been motherhood, ever since I was a little girl. While up until this point I have had minimal involvement in birth advocacy, I have taken it upon myself to spend the last few years educating myself in preparation.
By Deidre Rawlings8 years ago in Families
The Beast
The Beast Part 1: Beyond the Tracks It was our turn to make the trip. When the day came, my brother and I hid behind a bare tree, close enough to the track so that we could reach the Beast. Although it was barely morning, the sun’s rays pierced through the skin on my arm. My entire body itched because of it. Cesar and I weren’t alone; others scattered behind the bare skinny trees with us. Papi always encouraged us to be practical for any occasion, so I clothed myself in a simple red t-shirt with “La Catholica” on it, black leggings, and Nike sneakers, while Cesar dressed himself in his school’s red t-shirt, jeans, and Vans sneakers. We attempted to match as much as possible in case we strayed from each other. When the coyote signaled the cue, we, and everyone else, darted for the tracks and waited for the rumble and vibration of the Mexican sand under our feet. When the Beast appeared in the distance, I grabbed Cesar’s arm and double-checked our backpacks hung securely over our shoulders. “Ready?” He nodded and I wrapped my fingers around his wrist. Tiny particles of orange sand danced while the tracks roared. My grip suffocated Cesar’s wrist as I lunged at the first railing in my sight.
By Maria Cedeno8 years ago in Families
Our New Normal
In October our lives changed forever. I picked up my daughter and her twin brother from preschool as usual. They each ate an apple and my daughter, Arabella, asked for a cup of water. Then another one. And another one. In the span of 2 minutes. When I told her to wait a little bit she started crying, insisting she needed another cup of water. So I poured her a cup. And then I called the pediatrician.
By Joni Thomas8 years ago in Families
Christmas
There I was, sitting down, swinging my stubby legs back and forth on the booth. Kicking the only pole that gave stability to the wooden table. The smell of syrup and crispy, hot bacon streamed throughout the place leaving children unsettled and adults, impatient.
By Vivian Padilla8 years ago in Families
