Top Stories

Stories in Families that you’ll love, handpicked by our team.

Gramma Lives On
When I think back on my life, and my childhood, it seems that crocheting has always been a part of it. One of my grandmother’s was a knitter, and the other a crochetter, and I remember being quite young when I was drawn to that single hook. Now, I am not so sure if it was the actual art of crocheting that enticed me, or time spent with my Gramma –side by side on the couch as she showed me how to start. I was only 9-years-old when I first felt the cool touch of that stainless steel hook; and although I spent many years making long chains, or the odd dish cloth, my skills have grown exponentially since then.
By Maeple Fourest5 years ago in Families
A Seamless Legacy
We never forget those who taught us to sew. In a way, it’s like learning to manifest your creativity. Being handed the keys to unleash your imagination. Liberation in the form of fabric and thread.
By Emilee5 years ago in Families
A Gift of Presence
Every person has a certain kind of love language. Some show their love through touch, others through their words. Some show it through gifts while others show it through actions. My mother’s love language is presence. Being there. Showing her support by showing up.
By Megan Clancy5 years ago in Families
The 3 Lessons I Learned at 24
I always thought that I had a pretty good grasp of who my mom is. My mom, or Judy as I may reference her, is the woman who cries at just about everything - movies, videos of puppies, and of course, any proud moment with her children. She is the woman who drove across the country by herself so that she could see what else was outside of her tiny town in West Virginia. She is the woman who still dances around the kitchen like a professional if I turn music on and the woman who plays every single instrument when I put on "Who Loves You" by The Four Seasons. Trust me, that's a performance you don't want to miss. She is still all of these things, but as a woman who has always shown me her strongest, most hardworking side, I learned who my mother truly was in 2019.
By Kam5 years ago in Families
Five Questions to Ask Yourself Before Becoming A Foster Parent
I’ve been a foster parent for five years, which is both longer than many foster parents last in the system, and a drop in a very big bucket. My partner and I have seen over a dozen kids through our home, some only for one night, and some for months at a time. With every kid, I’ve learned more than I ever thought my brain or my heart could hold.
By Dane BH5 years ago in Families
How Heavy Is the Burden You Carried Mother?
If you meet my mother today, she is a little old lady. At first glance, she looks very much like the other little ladies in her senior residency.
By Ronke Babajide5 years ago in Families
When Life Gives You Lemons, Make a Dress
My mother clears the dining room table. The centerpiece goes to the buffet. The candles move to the foyer. The stacks of papers are placed on chairs. I lay out the fabric on the wide expanse of the now-empty table. The smooth jersey is soft and yielding in my hands, pleasantly thick, but not overly so. The pattern is lemons: simple, big, bold yellow lemons. Here and there, deep green stems and leaves bloom between the fruit.
By Sarahmarie Specht-Bird5 years ago in Families
Love, Loss, and Purpose in the NICU
When I speak of my NICU experience, sometimes I am brushed off. Why? Because my NICU experience wasn’t a long one. It can make others uncomfortable.
By Krystal Roark5 years ago in Families
The Things You Left Behind
My boyfriend and I talk a lot about healing and growing as people. I share with him the deepest parts of myself, my soul, my thoughts, and my journey on trying to heal from the pain of the last few years. This week marked a big first in the last three years of my life, and I got to share with him that I, for the first time in a long time around this particular day, I was okay. The first Mother's Day I didn't break down crying at the thought of you. This is the first year where I wasn't sitting in dread over things like the day I lost you, or your birthday, or now, Mother's Day. I managed to smile and laugh, wishing Grandma and his Mom a happy one, and then I moved on. The thoughts don't leave, the absence never fully goes away, but for the first time since you left, it isn't tearing away at my being.
By MacKenzie Duncan5 years ago in Families
I Got It for My Mama: How to Find the Best (Most Meaningful) Mother’s Day Gift
Mother’s Day, a day to acknowledge the special mothers in our lives and remind them how much they are loved and appreciated.
By catchafrisbie5 years ago in Families
A Hui Hou!... (I’ll See You Again!...)
As she lay, deep in sleep, A faint whistle blew, and it felt like it was calling out to her... She then heard the familiar sounds of waves crashing the shore...
By WritingOfTheHeart™️5 years ago in Families
The recurring death
The death of any loved one is difficult and healing can be hindered by simply taking care of business. I vaguely experienced this with my mother and my grandmother but it's almost unbearable now that my husband has died. We spent 45 years together which is 5 years shy of being half a century. He has only been gone about 3 weeks but it feels like an eternity. Each time I believe I am having a good day something happens that causes me to feel as if he has just died all over again. It feels like smooth sailing and then waves crashing down over and over again taking my breath away before they subside.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in Families