Lifestyle
For the lives that we love, and everything that comes with it.
They Say a Picture Says a Million Words
Three years, $30,000+, and a mother who chose a drug-dealing, wife-beating husband over her own flesh and blood fresh out the womb. That's what it took for my dad to get custody of me, and for what? A better life? There is always someone with a life worse off than you, right? That's what they told me growing up, as if it was their way to tell me to just be happy with what I have. Growing up, it was mostly my dad and those around him until my stepmom came in to take the role of "mom." Even then I got the occasional reminder that there was, in fact, another lady I was supposed to call "mom." That term meant shit to me growing up because I never really knew who to call mom. The biological choice was awarded custody of me because in NYS, any mother can get custody of their kids and good luck getting it from them. You could be a horrible mother, crack head of all crack heads, child beater of all child beaters, and you still have custody somehow. It's unbelievable. Trust me. I know because I was the child in the middle for years and years. My Bio mom, whom we'll call Susan for (ID protection of my profile) wanted custody of me for one reason and one reason only: DSS. And for those of you who don't know the abbreviation, it stands for Department of Social Services, AKA food stamps and free rent give away center. To her, I was a meal ticket and free housing. To this day, you'd never believe me when I say she'll admit to that very fact. I vaguely remember the good times, but for some unknown reason, no matter the age, I've always remembered the bad. I remember standing under the doorway and this unknown man throwing dagger knives above my younger sister and I. He thought it was funny as he held a cigarette in his teeth and laughed, throwing another. I remember waiting in the window on nights of school concerts with a "guaranteed promise" she would show up to support me and enjoy what I worked so hard for. I remember being late to those concerts because I was so sure she was coming. I remember being young on Christmas day waiting with my dad at Stewart's Shop for over an hour for her to take me for a holiday and her not showing up. My dad called and called and there was no answer until she picked up only to say she wasn't showing up to get me. Tears in your only child's innocent, yet desperate eyes. How do you fix it? You can't. She's going to remember every single bit of it all. Even the free milkshake the ladies gave me to cheer me up didn't make it better. It merely coated the way back to my car seat for the ride back home. I remember all the promises of spending the weekends with her and "no gas," "no money," and the no to anything excuses for years and years. I remember the anger you caused me and the depression that consumed me over the years. I remember the damage you did to me because you weren't the mom I needed you to be. I needed you there for a lot of things and you weren't anywhere in sight. I fought with my dad to defend you and told his wife she wasn't my mother when all she tried to do was raise me into a proper woman. For years, the fighting went on and so did the oncoming damages that are now what have scarred the only relationships I have left with my dad and stepmother. I fought so hard and so long with someone who could care less I was even breathing.
By sara sullivan8 years ago in Families
A Pet Owner's Journey (Pt. 11)
Dogs have a limited perception of time. When you leave the house they don't know if you've been gone for five minutes or five days. This may be a slight exaggeration, but dogs are always happy when you come home regardless of the amount of time you've been gone.
By Samantha Reid8 years ago in Petlife
"Girl Problems"
We all have them. Girl problems. In some way shape or form everyone has got at least one girl problem. Even boys. But the kind of girl problems I'm gonna talk about today though are the ones that only girls can have. And if you're easily grossed out or faint hearted, here's your chance to escape this article unscathed. Proceed with caution! Also sex is mentioned in this article, if you are innocent-eyed and minded—please press the back button before I get in trouble with your parents.Periods are typically uncomfortable, messy, smelly, and sometimes painful. For women with hormonal imbalances that cause problems with it, periods can be even worse. And it makes it hard to tell when there could actually be a problem because every woman is different—so that means... every woman's period is different.
By Hope Martin8 years ago in Viva
Scraps
I had always wanted a speckled weiner dog. I didn't actually think they existed as I had never seen one before and I never thought to google one. In 2014 I moved into my own apartment and wanted a dog. I did not want to live completely alone. I began the search for my dream dog. I had low expectations on finding a speckled weiner dog so I looked into all types of the breed. I checked into my local shelters and even met several dogs but I had a gut feeling that I needed to keep looking. One day I happened on a Craigslist ad. All it said was that they were looking to rehome their wiener dog to a good family. There was no picture but I took a leap of faith and called the number.
By Nica McLaughlin8 years ago in Petlife
Let's Play a Game
I've always said I should write a book about my life. Then again I guess we could all say that. I find it easier to tell my story in bits and pieces, because 33 years is a lot to sum up into one story. This story is true, something that really happened to me. I find a kind of solace in being able to tell my story, as dark and disturbing as it may be, some might say, "Stop I can't hear anymore" I wish that it was that easy for me.
By Megan Vasquez8 years ago in Viva
Tattooed and Still a Lady
Anyone who has ever been tattooed knows the stock phrases that other people will use to judge your choice to ink a design onto your body. "That is going to look so bad when you are older." "Aren't you going to regret that?" "How is that going to look on your wedding day?" And similar lines to that effect. One of the more prominent ones for me is the fact that my tattoos somehow make me "less of a lady"—tattoos in themselves are apparently "masculine" things to have, and proper ladies shouldn't have them. Today, I am gonna walk through my basic issues with those statements, one lady-like step at a time.
By Catriona Boardman8 years ago in Blush
