Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
A Mom's Christmas Fantasies Vs. Christmas Realities
Ahhhh, the magical feeling of the holidays. A time where all you want to do is snuggle up with your loved ones under your perfect Christmas tree and count down the days till Christmas morning. Also, in this fantasy I am wearing a gorgeous Christmas sweater, size 6 jeans, and have two children who hug and love each other and say things like "please" and "thank you." Not to mention my tree is freshly cut from the forest looking more like a Pottery Barn ad than an artificial Home Depot pine decorated with glued macaroni and picture-less frame ornaments. I like to call these visions my “Santa pipe dreams.”
By Jus L'amore7 years ago in Families
Multiple Kid Mayhem
Ever have one of those moments where you are crying and laughing at the same time over something horrific and yet super funny? My husband had one of those moments on this particular day when he heard me frantically yelling for him. When he came running out to my calls for help, what he saw, he thought, was the funniest thing ever! I had been sharing cuddles with our two youngest daughters on my lap in my easy chair. When he entered the room, he found me frozen with disgust. One of our daughters had been coughing rather violently. She coughed so hard she threw-up all over herself, it also went down her sisters back, and into the V-neck of my shirt and onto my cleavage! Our son, only two years old at the time, must have seen I couldn't get up and took the opportunity to get completely undressed, tear off his diaper and run around the living room swinging it over his head. Now before you ask...yes...it was poopy. Our two youngest children are twins. They work together with their sister, who is only a year older, to do stuff like this. They are like a crew of professionals in a heist. One distracts while the other goes to do something, and you don't even realize the third one has your keys! But today was just jumping on an opportunity. There was a time (like a year ago) when I would have chuckled, too! 🙂
By Kat Archer7 years ago in Families
Clay Born
The Saturday farmers market in Little Italy lines six or seven blocks intersecting India Street with fruit and vegetable stalls, fresh fish and flowers, burritos and tamales, flavored salts, garlic presses and shimmering kitchen knife displays. It is a trajectory from the old world crossing into the new. It is here that I find myself wandering up and down the pedestrian road hunting supplies for tonight’s evening meal.
By Igor Goldkind7 years ago in Families
Being Thankful for Family
With the holidays coming up, a lot of us are thinking about family. We're either thinking about how much we're dreading spending so much fucking time together, or trying to remember how thankful we are to just have them, or maybe we're thinking about the family we used to have and wishing with everything that even for this one little holiday, we had that back. In whatever form, most of us are thinking about family. With Thanksgiving coming up, we are reminded to be thankful for what we have and who we have.
By Michelle Schultz7 years ago in Families
It's More Than Just Blood
Family has nothing to do with blood, but everything to do with love. I grew up in a family so big we lost count of how many of us there were. I remember times at Thanksgiving that our house was so packed that some of us stood around the table and even outside eating. If you asked my mom how many kids she has, she would tell you around 50, last time she counted. None of that is blood-related kids, but every one of them means just as much as the four children she gave birth to. See the "family" I grew up with was much different than yours. I grew up with more brothers and sisters than you could ever imagine and I wouldn't change it for the world. You see my family and I grew up far from my blood family so all we had was our close friends here and, to be honest, they were more family than my blood ever had been.
By Kirsta Harrington7 years ago in Families
A Granddaughter’s Story
Marcella runs around the house making sure the house was clean for her husband when he gets home from work. She just finished baking a fresh batch of muffins which made the whole house fill with the delicious aroma. She would need to pick the kids up from school soon, and she knows how much they like coming home to homemade chocolate chip muffins.
By Megan DeMeo7 years ago in Families
Surviving Suicide
So it has been precisely one year, three months, and sixteen days since my younger brother hung himself in his apartment on a sunny day in late July. Right now as I start writing this, I am listening to a cover of "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd. I do wish you were here. I think about you every single day. The depression and PTSD I have developed since your death make sure I remember you in the most painful of ways. I remember your voice as I hear it in my head, but it feels like it hits my eardrums like actual sound, I turn to my friend who looks at me questioningly because no one has said anything as I ask "Yah, what?"
By Amethyst Pearson7 years ago in Families
17 and Pregnant
April 15, 2012 was the day I found out I was pregnant. Only 17 years old and unsure what I wanted to do with my life. I was scared, wondering what I was going to do; abortion? No I don't believe in that. Adoption? No I have to at least try. I got in this mess, I have to raise this child. What if I don't have a choice? No I always have a choice. My choice is to raise this child I created.
By Janetta Poitra7 years ago in Families
Tips for Breastfeeding
Nursing your baby can be more difficult than you might think, so it can't hurt to pick up some tips for breastfeeding. You're a new parent, so you've got enough to be concerned about already, you shouldn't have to worry that your baby isn't getting enough breast milk on top of it all.
By Amanda Stamper7 years ago in Families