humanity

Humanity begins at home.

Struggling With Forgiveness
I met him in the seventh grade. He was in the the eighth grade. My soul mate. Now, almost 12 years later, we're still together with a son and we're pregnant. We had our son young. Just like any other parents, we wanted the best for our family and to build an amazing life for our child. (The love of my life, we'll call D.) We had an incredible opportunity presented right before us and we couldn't say no. You see, D's mom, we'll call her M, had recently moved down to Tennessee and she offered for us to come stay with her and her boyfriend and start fresh. We had gone down to visit and the view from the back porch was to die for. I would wake up in the morning and sit on the back porch, drink my morning coffee, smoke my morning cigarette, and just take it all in. So beautiful. Peaceful. Although it was extremely hard to leave all of my family here in Ohio, I knew if we didn't at least try, we would regret it and constantly wonder what if.
By Halie Marie8 years ago in Families
The Truth About Living in a Homeless Shelter
Everyone has this picture in their head of what homelessness looks like. For some, it’s bums in tents, somewhere in the woods or under a highway overpass, drinking and drugging to their heart's content. Others, particularly in larger cities, see the men or women sleeping on park benches, at bus or train stops, or in a pinch on church steps. My image was that of old drunks with holes in their socks riding the rails, like a 1920s comic strip. Yet, when it happened to me, none of these images would prove to be my fate.
By Cameron Boster8 years ago in Families
Cultural Inheritance vs Assimilation
Language. Food. Religion. Tradition. All these things and more combine to create what we think of as cultural heritage. Both of my parents come from India, but I was born in the US. I lived in Canada for most of the formative years of my life before returning to the US for high school and college. When someone asks me where I’m from, my immediate answer is Canada. I sometimes follow that with a, well… Michigan, now, I guess, but instinct tells me to say Canada. That’s always going to be true. What I’m never going to say, not without being asked and intentionally thinking about it, is that I’m Indian.
By K S8 years ago in Families
Vulnerable
You know, the one thing that I have struggled with all my life is the feeling of being unloved. Now at the young age of 27 I have gotten over it, but it sucked the life out of me. My ability to trust was ever clouded, and I dove headfirst into a tidal wave of unhealthy relationships. Given the fact that I settled down with my husband at 16-years-old says a lot.
By Jessica Briggs8 years ago in Families
Chronicles of a Biracial Kid
Growing up, I learned about races, cultures, skin colors and what differences they made socially. But, it has never been a trendy topic in my house. You see, I am biracial. My mom is White, Russian and my dad is Black, Cameroonian. I grew up in Yaounde, Cameroon, living with my mother for the biggest part of my life. We never spoke clearly about what it meant to be biracial. All my life, she told me that I was different and I had to understand it. I should not expect to understand everybody and they could not fully understand me either and that is just life. The show must go on. I grew up as a very unique character with two very different cultures, two very different views on the world that somehow blended into each other. I never thought it was a problem, an advantage or a disadvantage on others... until I moved to America.
By Sofia M.8 years ago in Families
The Start of Something New
The news hit me like a rock, my stomach twisting in an almost uncomfortable knot. “I can’t find a job,” Mom continues. “Your uncle is willing to let us stay with him in Texas and help me find one there. You’ll get to go to a bigger school, one that has a library and no school uniforms. It’ll be a new beginning.”
By Sharisse Martinez8 years ago in Families
Breastfeeding in Public
Breastfeeding is a controversial topic. Some people love it, some people dislike it, and most people don't care. At least that has been my experience so far.
By Samantha Reid8 years ago in Families
Diary of a Working Housewife
Wednesday March 21, 2018 9:30 PM: Do all women wonder how they got here? How society expects us to juggle home, children, love, work, drink eight glasses of water everyday, and squeeze in the exercise session in between the load of laundry, homework, and making dinner. We end up feeling like failures if we don't achieve our daily to-do lists. Sad and unrealistic expectations that today I give you all permission to set on fire! Yes! Throw them out the window! Let's start by blaming our mothers! These superwomen who have guilted us into thinking we have to be as great as they are! Now, I'm not going to dish on Mom because I will never hear the end of it, but let's be realistic. Times have changed. Back in the day—mind you I'm 40 years old—moms could stay at home and tend to the needs of their children and the household, one income covered it all, and life was a bit more simple. No, I did not say that it was a piece of cake, being a housewife never is. No sick days, no pay, all of the work and none of the appreciation. Yes, I get it! BUT add a job we have to go to and please ask us when do we sleep?! The answer is barely ever! Resentment sets in when our significant other gets to sleep in late or go to bed early. Little by little our moods shift and then BOOM! We no longer feel like ourselves after so much has been thrown unto us. As I'm writing this, I am sick with the flu and so is my five-month-old son. My significant other has decided he is exhausted and has gone to sleep. It is 9:30 PM and I haven't showered. I stayed home from work today to be able to take care of my sick son. In between his naps, I have washed towels, disinfected the bathroom, Lysol sprayed the door knobs, made my daughters bed (the top bunk), washed dishes, and prepared dinner. I have also worked on homework that was weeks overdue, (I am enrolled in an online program), usually the result of all the chores I have mentioned above. The struggle is real! The more time you spend trying to catch up to what you didn't get to do that day the deeper you sink into the abyss that is guilt. Depression? Yeah, that little monster kicks in once in a while and you just want to quit it all! Well ladies, it's time to STOP! Easier said than done, I know, but I'm on a mission, starting today, to liberate my fellow women from seeing themselves as anything other than what they truly are. You are all wonderful women! Follow me as I lead you into the struggles of a working housewife. Whether you are a single mom, have a boyfriend, or are a married woman, you will see how much we are all experiencing the same feelings and doubts. We as women must stop judging each other and attempt to support each other emotionally as much as we are able to. It's OK to throw those chicken nuggets in the oven for dinner tonight! It's OK to fabreeze that school uniform for your little one to wear tomorrow! Go take a bath! It's OK to be human! In my next diary entry, I will talk about myself in more detail and show you that you are not losing your mind. You are not a failure! I will bring my daily challenges into light and expose the imperfections of raising a family, maintaining a household, and keeping a relationship all the while going to work every day without looking like you just got hit by a train. Hope everyone enjoys reading a diary of a working housewife! May the Goddess bless you all and surround you with her divine white light.
By Azaris Morales8 years ago in Families
When I Grow Up
I was at my niece's nursery graduation recently and made some interesting observations. Before this I had thought the idea of children graduating nursery was a little on the silly side but when I got there, saw how excited the kids were, especially my niece, I realised that going to school is a huge milestone in a child's life. If we can't have pomp and ceremony to celebrate that then when can we?
By 🕷️Vivika Widow🕷️8 years ago in Families
Everybody Lies
Everybody says you have to respect your elders, despite if they respect you or not. They say respect is a thing you earn, unless it’s to your elders, then respect must always be given. I do not believe in that phrase. Being an elder does not give you the right to belittle and shame the young. Respect is earned, no matter who you are. The level of respect varies from person to person; some give it away quickly, some keep it until it is blatantly evident that respect has been earned. It all depends on the person.
By Rocket Man8 years ago in Families
Intentional Migration
According to Gramling in his article on clouds, he stipulated that we can predict climate change through observing cloud patterns. “They’re crucial to forecasting the future but devilishly hard to model.” Even worse, he goes on, “...storm clouds have gotten taller and have shifted toward the poles...making climate change worse!”
By A New Dawn Brenner8 years ago in Families
Words He Cannot Say
I write with no intent for sympathy. I write with no intent of money or to be pennywise. I write because these words may never be spoken otherwise. I write because I love so deeply. And I write because it cleans me.
By Emma Coonan8 years ago in Families