Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

A Family No More
It was the middle of August and it was another year of school. Sami was going to be a senior this year and she couldn't shake the feeling of how this year may end up the worst year of her life.
By Cee H8 years ago in Families
I Am... an Adult Child of Alcoholism
After leaving years of pain behind me when I turned 18, and hoping to follow a path that led to happiness and fulfillment, I found myself even more lost at 28, 10 years later. I now had a family of my own, lots to be proud of, a promising future with one thing holding me back. I was an adult child of alcoholism. The one thing I ran from, only came back to haunt me in my future. I had bouts of depression, and struggled severely with anxiety. I questioned myself constantly, to the point of exhaustion. I found myself sitting in front of trained professionals, hoping they could tell me what was causing this pain I felt. How can I make it go away? Am I just crazy? After sitting in front of therapist after therapist, I finally found one that brought to my attention the many characteristics I have as a result of my dysfunctional alcoholic home as a child. The many years of uncertainty, of self doubt, of teasing, and of abuse, had formed my flawed self. From birth until 18 years of age, I had developed coping mechanisms to survive this painful experience. Unfortunately, these coping mechanisms are still present and have caused many issues in my adult life.
By Donna8 years ago in Families
Why My Son Lost Christmas this Year
My son has lost Christmas this year. Yes. You read me right. My son isn’t getting to celebrate Christmas. Before you get angry, take a moment to find out why. My son is very ungrateful. I have been using GameStop’s layaway program and scrimping and saving for an expensive present for him. $300 dollars worth. Something that I normally wouldn’t have been able to afford. I love my son dearly, and I want to see him happy. He has ADHD. What most people don’t realize about ADHD children is that electronics make them happy. They thrive on electronics. Everything electronics. His whole world revolves on electronics. I moderate his electronic time. Most of the time he does amazing. His behavior is very well managed when he is able to earn electronic time. He wanted a Nintendo Switch for Christmas. I knew that would make him very happy. I was buying it for him.
By Deena Hayes8 years ago in Families
How Children's Television Reminded Me of 5 Important Life Lessons
If you don't know me, then you may not know that I have a 3-year-old son, who pretty much rules the majority of my life. Outside of my long hours at work, my time is mostly spent with my son, Brycen. He's a little man on a mission 90% of the time, and he gets incredibly excited when he knows I'm about to come home from work. He spends his days counting down the hours, if he actually could count down, until I get home. Brycen is always daddy this or daddy that and he has picked up many of my mannerisms, to my wife's chagrin I'm sure.
By Matthew Bailey8 years ago in Families
Shoutout to the Single Dads. Top Story - November 2017.
Single Mum Survival Special: A Shoutout to the Single Dads Let's face it. Dads have got a bad rep. Let's be honest about it too, some women would have been better off going to Sweden and getting themselves a nice sperm donor (good genes without the hassle). Countless baby daddies are jumping from woman to woman like grasshoppers, siring children they don't give a second thought to once they've left. Maybe one day they will grow fat and bald, and the inadequacy of impotency may find them sitting in their armchairs thinking "I wonder how my son is doing?" They may make a somewhat feeble attempt to communicate with their various progeny out of guilt, to find themselves talking with a fully grown man or woman that doesn't want to know them. Stepfathers are walking stepdaughters down the isle in the absence of their biological parent, sons are growing up without a father figure and a single mother trying to make ends meet. It's easy to see why vitriolic abuse is hurled at these men. Yet the absentee father overshadows a very different kind of man. The single dad; he is the man who steps up, takes on the burden of playing both roles, and effectively too. He is the silent worker bee, tying up his daughter's hair before school.
By Eve Tawfick8 years ago in Families
Cancer Won, and I Think HE Cheated
I lost my mom to cancer in December 2010; I was 20 years old. I'm sure if you're reading this, you knew someone who has been touched by cancer. What am I saying!? You have known someone who has been slapped across the face by cancer. It sucks, especially if cancer wins.
By Erika Watson8 years ago in Families
Forgiveness is an Act of Consciousness
Has it every occurred to you that you would fall in love and marry someone outside your religion/ethnicity? Let me tell you a little story about myself. My name is Michelle, I am 22 years old I was born and raised in Chicago, IL. I was raised in an old-fashioned European lifestyle where respect is everything especially in the Polish culture. I live an average life, a perfect family and a toy poodle named Mia. Everything sounds good right? Wrong have you ever felt like you have everything but yet you're still unhappy. People always telling you what to do because they want you to be successful and not struggle like they did in life to get where they are? It was killing me inside, it led to altercations that didn't need to happen, it led to hatred between parents and siblings. It made me feel like I was always the bad guy because I felt trapped. You felt unheard of. So one day your friend gave you an opportunity to let yourself be you, let yourself be free and do what you want to do, so you move to another state.
By Michelle Zubek8 years ago in Families
My Experiences with Autism
Autism is a brain disorder that makes it difficult for the affected to communicate or relate to others. It is something that I am all too familiar with since my little brother suffers from it. For years he didn’t speak and when he finally started too only a few people could understand him. He also could not and still can not sit still for long periods of time. My brother is constantly rocking back and forth with repetitive hand motions as well as head motions that sway back and forth. He doesn’t like his daily routine interrupted because it is what he is used too. All through school he was in special education classes which were difficult for both of us. Teasing was something that was regular.
By Alyssa Horn8 years ago in Families
Expectations, Hurt & Understanding: A Vicious Cycle
You wake up in the morning and start your day like any other. You get your coffee and head to work. You think it is going to be a normal day and then your phone goes off and you receive a text message. Whenever you receive a text message from that individual, your heart kind of sinks into your stomach. You never know what to except and you are always hoping for a good text or a nice text. 99.9% of the time you do not receive the text you are looking for. Today, when you received that text message, nothing was different. Although, this time it hurt you a little more than usual and unfortunately the text is from your mother.
By Stephanie Lukasiak8 years ago in Families
Some Stuff You Just Don't Make Up
Today is one of those days. My head is congested and I feel a fever brewing in my chest. On top of my current health status, I have lost pretty much everything that holds you together as an adult. Well let's see—I got really behind on my rent payments so in August I moved back in with my mom. Ugh, yes. See our relationship is not the greatest (story for another day). And last night, I woke up to my Jeep, (that I was super proud of myself for being able to get almost two years ago) honking the alarm in the distance as I realized it was getting repo'd. It's the end of the month, and my sales haven't been the greatest for November. And those damn NSF fees keep taking my money and the commissions don't pay out quick enough. All around yes, it is a shitty situation.
By SanJuanita Escobar8 years ago in Families
A Family Christmas?
Families are complicated. We all know that. We all wish we could change something about our families. Whether we just wish our fathers would tell less dad jokes or our mums would finally learn how to cook without burning everything. (My mum is an amazing cook, I'm the one who burns everything!)
By Felicity Yvette8 years ago in Families
The Man Behind the Curtain
Growing up, I loved the Wizard of Oz. There was something magical and timeless about the Yellow Brick Road and the passion of Dorothy to find her way home, Scarecrow to find his brain, Tin Man to find his heart, and the Lion to find his courage. All to find out that the man behind the curtain was just a man, whose hope and wisdom fulfilled all desires by encouraging everyone by exploring their own virtues.
By Carissa Novak8 years ago in Families