grandparents
Becoming a grandparent makes getting older something to look forward to - all the fun of parenting, without the hassle.
The Apple Tree
It was a warm sunny day as Amber ran up to her parents all excited for the day they had planned to visit her grandparent's farm down by the coast. As they were driving along her mother told her that her parents had just recently got some new cattle and there was a big old bull amongst them and she had to watch where she was going when she was around the animals. Amber's cousin Jenny was meeting them at the farm so the girls wouldn't be bored while their parents were busy branding the cattle. As the truck turned off the main road onto a long dusty driveway Amber noticed the big bull out in the pasture running around and further down the driveway she noticed Jenny sitting on the fence.
By K.C. Keats4 years ago in Families
Grandmas Disappearance and Subtle Reappearance
Life is unexpected. You never know when you are in a dream or facing the defeat of reality. My name is Jade. I'm 18 now. When I was in the depths of being a 16 year old, I had a grandma. A grandma that baked cookies, a grandma that spoiled you half to death whenever you stayed over. I had a grandma that stood by my side through the worst. I was very close to my grandma.
By Anonymousauthor2014 years ago in Families
Mariela's pick
Carrying the heavy box, Mariela sits down at the kitchen table of her youth. As a child, Mariela would sit on a stool and watch her abuela as she made centuries-old family recipes. Closing her eyes, she can see the yellow and blue tiled kitchen, full of pots on the stove, spices filling the air, while her grandmother lovingly made her fideo con frijoles after a long day at school. As she opens her eyes, the smell of the soup fills her nose and she wishes that her grandmother were still with her to make it. Unfortunately, she passed away a week ago from a battle with cancer. The only positive thing about her grandma dying is that she would be able to add her grandma’s photo to the Day of the Dead altar this year since it begins tonight at midnight.
By Jacqueline R Conway4 years ago in Families
Marigold Tea
Kait drew herself off the bed and onto the floor, disturbing a stack of magazine cutouts that waited next to a new bottle of clear glue and an empty cardboard box. Reaching back for her phone, she compulsively checked for messages and saw none. Feeling summer’s ennui, and total lack of focus, she ambled downstairs to where Mom and her brother sat at the kitchen table, lost to the world while assembling a Batman puzzle, generally unhelpful to her cause to quell the boredom.
By Kathleen Hyland4 years ago in Families
Summer Love
Summer has always been my favorite season, especially spending time with my family in New Orleans. As a young girl I remember visiting my grandparents beautiful Victorian rose pink house with white trimming around it. Waking up every morning smelling my grandma's delicious biscuits, pancakes, beignets, and bacon cooked for the entire family, made me warm inside. I've always adored my mom and aunts smiling faces when they would see me sneak up on them. Their giggles were contagious and you couldn't help but giggle as well. Playing with my cousins was the highlight of my day, running around the front yard, laughing and screaming with joy. What made me happy was helping my dad, uncle, and grandpa in the garden, admiring each flower you can think of. But there was on particular flower that stood out from the rest. A flower so mesmerizing and I still remember my dad saying the name of it, Marigold. Now that I'm a college student, I still visit my grandparents house every summer even though they are no longer with us. My mom and aunt always made sure that the house stayed the same as it did before. Especially that beautiful rose pink and white trim around the house, but I couldn't wait to see my favorite area that brought back memories. Sure enough the garden was still there and every flower I remembered. And there it was, beautiful as I imagined before but this time more marigold flowers had grown around the original one. The night I arrived, my family called a meeting about turning the house into a bed and breakfast which my grandparents planned on starting when I was a little girl but never had the chance. So now my mom and aunt had turned their parents dream into a reality. The day had finally arrive to welcome tourists and travelers to our family home. Hopefully our future guests will enjoy some southern hospitality as they visit New Orleans. As I'm helping around the house with our guests, I noticed a little girl in the garden looking around, it brought back memories. Right then and there I felt like that little girl again smiling on the inside. Happiness immediately came over me remembering the time I had with my family. I decided to approach the little girl and ask her if she likes the flowers in the garden. With a big smile on her pretty little face, she pointed directly to the marigold. The joy in her eyes was the same joy I had in my eyes as well. It was something magical about my grandparents garden that I couldn't explain. Just in that moment, I realized love was always embedded in my family and the house I grew up in. As I watch my family take care of the guests, I noticed how elated and relaxed everyone was. I'm pretty sure that this new chapter in our lives will remain for a long time and a memory that is going to last forever. Meeting new people everyday and hearing their stories brightens my day. As the years pass by, things back home hasn't changed, even our families bed and breakfast is still open for travelers that we welcome as family. Every now and then I would visit just to spend time at the house like old times. Happiness and love has taught me to value the ones close to you no matter what. Having a family of my own now, I plan on creating memories that will last a lifetime. I even started my own garden in my back yard, growing every flower you can think of and yes the one I admired as a little girl. My love for summer will always have a place in my heart more so now.
By Jasmine Filmore4 years ago in Families
Coming Home Again: Part IV
Dustin Henry had finally come home. He had not come home to settle down and help his Grandfather run the farm, as he had once expected. He had come home to bury his Grandfather. Had he seen it coming, Dustin would have put his continuing education on hold, taken a sabbatical, and joined Grandpa Wilbur in his final months and days.
By Linda Rivenbark4 years ago in Families
Baby Blue
My mother-in-law taught me how to knit many years ago when I was a young mom and unable to concentrate for long periods of time. I wanted to learn because it was a way to bring me closer to her and I liked the idea of having a maternal hobby that required the skill of relaxing and focusing. Dolores was a magician of patience and kindness, she pulled out patience from nowhere like a rabbit from a hat. Her kindness was like a magician pulling an endless rope of silk scarves from their sleeve. She was truly magical. She put together a knitting kit with all the essentials: scissors, measuring tape, row counter, circular needles, straight needles, and everything a beginning knitter would need. She handmade a special tote bag to put everything in along with her handwritten tips and directions pinned to miniature knitted samples she made herself so I would have a visual reference to the patterns. She helped me knit an angora shawl, a felted purse, a halter-top, and our last project together, a blue baby blanket in a fan and feather pattern.
By Meladee Gardella4 years ago in Families
Is Nursing Home Abuse Medical Malpractice?
When people trust nursing homes to care for their elderly loved ones, they expect a certain standard of service. While most facilities are diligent in their duty of care, some fail in their obligation to provide the best conditions. In these homes, staff may neglect or outright abuse the residents. Nursing home abuse can manifest in many forms, including negligence and physical abuse. Some cases can qualify as medical malpractice.
By Scott Distasio4 years ago in Families
