Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Why I Would Put My Child in Daycare Even If I Didn't Work
I sobbed, like most mothers out there, all the way home the first time I dropped my son off at daycare. Ugly, can’t catch your breath sobs. When I was leaving and was holding back tears, a woman made a comment “First time huh?” I could only nod. While it was a day I still wouldn’t go back to, how oddly grateful I am that my husband and I were forced to be put in that situation where our son had to go to daycare.
By Tiffany Williams8 years ago in Families
Why the Belchers Are the Family We Should All Aspire to Be!
I assume you know the FOX animated show Bob's Burgers, and if you don't, you are missing out! This Emmy winning cartoon centers on the life of Bob Belcher and his family, who work in his burger restaurant, appropriately named Bob's Burgers, as they all try in their quirky mundane way to get their spatula off the ground and make a name for themselves.
By FloralFawn .8 years ago in Families
They Say a Picture Says a Million Words
Three years, $30,000+, and a mother who chose a drug-dealing, wife-beating husband over her own flesh and blood fresh out the womb. That's what it took for my dad to get custody of me, and for what? A better life? There is always someone with a life worse off than you, right? That's what they told me growing up, as if it was their way to tell me to just be happy with what I have. Growing up, it was mostly my dad and those around him until my stepmom came in to take the role of "mom." Even then I got the occasional reminder that there was, in fact, another lady I was supposed to call "mom." That term meant shit to me growing up because I never really knew who to call mom. The biological choice was awarded custody of me because in NYS, any mother can get custody of their kids and good luck getting it from them. You could be a horrible mother, crack head of all crack heads, child beater of all child beaters, and you still have custody somehow. It's unbelievable. Trust me. I know because I was the child in the middle for years and years. My Bio mom, whom we'll call Susan for (ID protection of my profile) wanted custody of me for one reason and one reason only: DSS. And for those of you who don't know the abbreviation, it stands for Department of Social Services, AKA food stamps and free rent give away center. To her, I was a meal ticket and free housing. To this day, you'd never believe me when I say she'll admit to that very fact. I vaguely remember the good times, but for some unknown reason, no matter the age, I've always remembered the bad. I remember standing under the doorway and this unknown man throwing dagger knives above my younger sister and I. He thought it was funny as he held a cigarette in his teeth and laughed, throwing another. I remember waiting in the window on nights of school concerts with a "guaranteed promise" she would show up to support me and enjoy what I worked so hard for. I remember being late to those concerts because I was so sure she was coming. I remember being young on Christmas day waiting with my dad at Stewart's Shop for over an hour for her to take me for a holiday and her not showing up. My dad called and called and there was no answer until she picked up only to say she wasn't showing up to get me. Tears in your only child's innocent, yet desperate eyes. How do you fix it? You can't. She's going to remember every single bit of it all. Even the free milkshake the ladies gave me to cheer me up didn't make it better. It merely coated the way back to my car seat for the ride back home. I remember all the promises of spending the weekends with her and "no gas," "no money," and the no to anything excuses for years and years. I remember the anger you caused me and the depression that consumed me over the years. I remember the damage you did to me because you weren't the mom I needed you to be. I needed you there for a lot of things and you weren't anywhere in sight. I fought with my dad to defend you and told his wife she wasn't my mother when all she tried to do was raise me into a proper woman. For years, the fighting went on and so did the oncoming damages that are now what have scarred the only relationships I have left with my dad and stepmother. I fought so hard and so long with someone who could care less I was even breathing.
By sara sullivan8 years ago in Families
Motherhood at Its Finest
As a new mother, there are a thousand challenges I never thought I'd ever have to endure. I always used to be one of those people who would say, "I'm never having kids. I'm never getting married." Well, here I am, 24 years old, and I now have been married twice and have a beautiful baby boy. I wouldn't trade the life I have now for anything even though I didn't think I would cut it for motherhood.
By Nicole Hallman8 years ago in Families
My Brother Is Autistic
There are two moments in my early childhood that would help define who I would become. 1. The day my baby brother came home, that night we had spaghetti for dinner so for ever his nickname would be "my little ghettie". This was the moment I would become a big sister. My job was to love him, protect him and teach him. Though I was only three I took my new job very seriously and I loved my baby brother. 2. The day my parents came home from a doctor's appointment and my mom uttered three words that would change our lives forever "Scotty is autistic".
By Nica McLaughlin8 years ago in Families
The Day My Grandpa Left...
Kendrick Campbell I remember every other weekend you would pick me up from my house and always tease me about taking forever. When I would climb in the backseat you would hand me a bag of candy. You always knew my favorite. We would sing songs all the way down to Riverdale Road. You would show me the "shortcut" way to skip out on the nasty traffic into I-15.
By Kaitlin Campbell8 years ago in Families
My Dad Is Still Here, But He Is Wearing a Disguise; He Is Wearing the Mask of Cancer
Growing up I was a Daddy's Girl all the way. We did everything together. Wether it was dancing to the nutcracker or having tea parties, my dad did it. He would do anything to put a smile on my face. Once a week, before dropping me off at daycare, he would take me to Krispy Kreme Donuts. It was like our special thing because he didn't do that with my bothers. He was not only my dad, he was my best friend, my hero.
By Clair Rhodes8 years ago in Families
My Father’s Journey
You never think growing up that you’ll have to live without your parents, especially if like me, you started out with both of them under one roof. Eventually though, things happen, and your family becomes disjointed. In my case, my parents divorced. My brother and I were along for the ride of two people sharing custody of their kids they so desperately wanted to see and loved. As time went by, my dad met my stepmom. As you can tell by me calling her “my stepmom,” they eventually married. I knew they wanted to have kids of their own one day, even though my stepmom loved my brother and I dearly. After my first year of college, and a year of my dad being in remission from non-smoker’s throat cancer, they did find out she was pregnant. And not with one baby, but TWO! But as always, good things must come to an end...
By Karen Jackson8 years ago in Families
Bad Parenting
I am a single mom. My day begins and ends with picking up toys. Harry the Bunny's theme song is stuck in my head for 90 percent of the morning. My "me time" consists of a bubble bath where I'm turning the water off every five minutes to listen for crying. Why? Why is this my life at 24 years old? Because I was a fucking idiot and had sex with an even bigger idiot. But he was "the one" and we were going to be together forever. Even though we weren't really together and instead of paying me child support this month he decided to take a vacation outside of the country. As soon as that test turned positive he turned into a positive asshole. Not that that stopped me from trying to get him to be a dad or sleep with him when I was drunk... but we all make mistakes, right? Just took me almost four years to learn that he was a mistake. Sorry dad, you were right. He's a loser. I did get one good thing out of those somewhat wasted years though: our daughter is pretty fucking amazing. I have no idea what I would do without her. I also have no fucking idea what I'm doing with her.
By Michelle Schultz8 years ago in Families
My Dad
Carl Emil Mortenson IV 12/14/1969-03/05/2012 It's hard. I still think about him every day, I still have dreams about him, and I still miss him. Does it get easier? For the most part. Except on days where I'm having a rough day, or I'm not doing enough to keep my mind occupied.
By Dakota Mortenson8 years ago in Families
The People Who Changed My Life, I Call Them Mom and Dad
Adoption is special. Adoption helps kids have a chance in the world to be loved and to be happy. If I wasn't adopted who knows where I would be. Definitely not here talking to all of you wonderful people about my adoption story. Let me begin...
By Clair Rhodes8 years ago in Families
