Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
I Am NOT the Adoptive Daughter Of...
My uncle and I stood awkwardly across from one another in the nursing home room. In between us, my mother lay dead in her bed; her mouth agape and the left side of her face blackened from a violent fall a few days prior. Her final expression was one of fear and discomfort and not one of the peaceful relief my father had conveyed when he passed away from cancer 26 years earlier.
By Christine O'Reilly8 years ago in Families
Winter in the Woods
It was the beginning of my fourth grade Thanksgiving weekend, a wonderful time away from school, and more importantly, the assignments and homework that come with school. "Hurry up Nathan, we're going to leave soon”, said my mom as she rushed me out the door into our freshly packed van. We were spending the weekend in the snow-covered mountains of Sisters, Oregon in a rustic log cabin.
By Nathan Daniel8 years ago in Families
In The Time Of My Parents
The other day, I heard my Mother laughing and it reminded me of my Grandmother. Immediately, I was taken back to those afternoons after school that were spent with my Grandparents, the holidays when we gathered at their home and my Grandmother made her positively delicious Mirliton dressing, laughter and my Grandfathers' favorite Christmas music wafting through the house.
By Kimberly Denesse8 years ago in Families
What to Know About Adopting as a Single Parent
It's extremely admirable and beautiful to adopt a child regardless if you are married or not. However, adopting as a single parent is viewed as amazing since you are by yourself and still find a place in your heart to care for a child in need. The process of adopting may seem daunting at first, but it's fully manageable and doable with a solid support system and necessary research. If you have a tight-knit group of friends or family members who have offered to help you and you know what type of adoption you desire and have done the work researching agencies then you are prepared to adopt as a single parent.
By Jessica Herring8 years ago in Families
Step Parent Part 1
Parenting is hard under the best of circumstances, but under the worst circumstances, it can be and is a nightmare. It's like a walk on a long dirt road all alone, no one to talk to, no one to share what it really feels like. No one cares no one sees and everyone just closes their eyes to your pain; it doesn't matter to them they only see what they want to see. So why do it? Trust me, I have asked myself that question more times than I can count. Still do to this day. My mother said once that I must enjoy making my life harder than it has to be. Truth is I love my husband and would never leave him. Truth is no matter what is thrown at me and no matter how much I am hurt by these children, I do love them. Does that make me pathetic? Honestly? I don't know. Some times I feel that way. Sometimes I get in the car and drive, music cranked up and I scream as loud as I can. I yell. I cuss. I cry. But at the end I drive back home and start again. This is my story. This is what I have been through and this is what I have felt and do fell. It is my rant. It won't be pretty and it will not be sugar coated. For years I have kept this all bottled up and hidden in the darkest places of my heart, mind and soul. I haven't shared this with family and only one friend has heard most of this. So why now do I write this down and share it? Simple, I can not keep it locked away any longer. I no longer feel embarrassed. What I feel is pain and anger and I feel done most days. I feel alone in this and I am done feeling alone. Maybe others can relate or maybe others will hate me, but if there is just one person out there that is going through the same type of thing and that person feels alone, then they will know that they are not alone. And since I decide to write this all down and throw it out into the world, I feel a weight lifted from me. For the first time in a long time I feel good. So here it goes and I'll see where this journey takes me. Who knows maybe I'll even be happy in the end.
By Deanne Jensen8 years ago in Families
Discipline
While many people advocate that corporal punishment no longer has a place in today’s modern society, many parents still stand by it. In many cases, it is a tried and true form of punishment while in others it only aggravates the situation making it worse.
By Mary Hunter8 years ago in Families
It's a Girl
Sitting here next to my beautiful four month old daughter, wondering who will read this. I don't think many will but I'm hoping it at least touches the thoughts of a few people. May 8th 2017. The best day of my life and also the most terrifying. After two days of unruling back labor I finally gave birth to a tiny 6 pounds 7 ounces baby girl, only 17 inches long. I know what you're thinking "She was a premie?" No she was full term. I was always told growing up that God will only give you what you can handle, and it that is the case he must think I'm superman. The hospital had broken my water and 18 hours afterwards my darling Cecilia made her appearance, but to my shock she wasn't breathing. At the time we had no idea what was happening I mean really? I just gave birth I was feeling all kinds of emotions and couldn't think straight. My fiancé was by my side repeating the most heartbreaking question any parent would hate to hear. "Why isn't she crying?"
By Martina Hayes8 years ago in Families
