Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
A Light In the Dark
Dear Naomi, When you were born, I felt the entire universe change and things started to align, I felt myself change. I was no longer just a normal person living her everyday life, just another number on a paper or screen. Suddenly, I was Aunt Britt, the person who would spoil you rotten and give you everything your parents said you couldn't have. I was the person you would go to when you couldn't tell anyone else your secrets without judgement, or the person you turned to when you had no one else. I was going to be the person that made you laugh until you cried, I would wipe away any tears you shed, happy or unhappy. I would make you smile and feel safe and I would make you feel important. I would do all of that and then some, because at that time in my life, no one was doing any of that for me.
By Brittney Heath9 years ago in Families
8 Things That Are Awesome About Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an awesome experience that is short and can go really quick if you just roll with it. There are many things that people tell you about, but there are many things that you will discover as you allow your body to change.
By Regina Stone-Grover9 years ago in Families
What to Know About Potty Training While Traveling
There is no need to get worried if you are in the process of going on a long trip with your child while trying to have them potty trained. These tips will be your best friend if you have a young child and are nervous about them having an accident or refusing to use a public bathroom.
By Jessica Herring9 years ago in Families
When a Loved One Passes Away
It is stated in nursing homes that when it rains, the residents pass in three's. I know this all too well as I worked in Nursing Homes as a CNA. My heart always went out the the families of those who felt it was their time to go. Over time, while working with said residents, I had the pleasure of not only assisting them on a daily basis but also formed a friendship with them. When it rained and I watched as my new friends take their last breath; I felt myself overcome with sadness. Although I knew my job was never done as I had other residents to care for, but it was the loss of not being able to walk into a room and bid someone good morning or walk with them down the hall to the dining room having a short conversation as to how their night might have been.
By Kate Adams9 years ago in Families
Moving
When I was 12 I lived in a small town called Ruch, Oregon. Ruch was mainly farming country. Lots of hicks and horses. It got cold in the winter, smoky in the summer, and it was perfect. My brother, my mother, my father, and I all lived in a beautful A-frame home in the middle of nowhere. It took us an hour to get to the nearest health food store, which we visited weekly. Of course, there was only one school in Ruch. My 9-year-old brother and I attended for 3 days. After my parents learned that the school was affiliated with the church next door they pulled us right out. We didn't like it much anyway. However, this left us with no place to learn and no place to go every day. So, my parents decided to homeschool us and while making that decision they could not have seen what was coming.
By Savanah Schafer9 years ago in Families
The Most Beautiful Baby in the World!
There a few, but most important events in my life that gave me great joy, a joy that made me feel like I was the king of the universe. These were times that, if I did something else at that point, I would have succeeded. If I had played the Powerball lottery or something else instead of these events, it would have resulted in a spectacular result. There was the first day of my life, finishing (successfully) grade school, high school and the getting FOUR degrees/diplomas from a major university. Then, there was getting my first teaching job and, eventually, becoming an assistant principal. I remember the music and athletic goals that I also set and achieved for myself as well.
By Maurice Bernier9 years ago in Families
32 Amazing Products New Parents Swear By
Babies are incredibly high maintenance, and anyone who tells you differently doesn't have kids. Part of actually keeping your sanity intact (and getting sleep at night) with a newborn is having products that make parenting easier than before.
By Mackenzie Lu9 years ago in Families
Step-Children Don’t Like You? Don’t Worry, It’s Normal. Top Story - September 2017.
I left an abusive marriage more than 30 years ago when my three children were quite young. The following two years were spent repairing the damaged relationships with my sons, who had all but been ignored during the travesty that was my marriage. Even though I vowed never to remarry, I met a wonderful man who was the exact opposite of my former husband and eventually we were married. Our relationship was perfect and my children were very happy. In short, we had the perfect family. One-by-one my sons asked if they could call Tom "Dad" and of course no-one was happier than their new dad. Tom and I agreed at the beginning of our relationship that I alone would be responsible for disciplining the children because I was concerned they may resent him, so Tom basically became a good friend to my three sons.
By Mari-Louise Speirs9 years ago in Families
Little Girl Lost
I was only a year and half when my parents got divorced. It was just my mom and me. I have a lot of memories of when I was little but most of those memories are through pictures and stories. I am not sure how old I was but I know that I was still in a crib because there wasn’t any room for another bed. Anyway I used to have a blanket that was light blue, and because I loved that blanket so much I took it everywhere. My mom and I had a female cat and she would climb into my crib and sleep with me. One day I noticed something was different. I woke and my blanket was bloody. I told mom to come here, and she did and she told me that the cat was having babies. She was having them on my bed on my blanket so she took the blanket out of my crib, and put them and the blanket on the bed so I would have room in my crib to sleep. She didn’t want me to touch them. Mom took them and the blanket and put them in the closet so I wouldn’t go near them because she told me that if I did the cat would kill her babies. So I left them alone. After the babies got big enough we gave them away.
By Crystal Greer9 years ago in Families
Adopted Struggle: What It's Like
How an adoptee handles being adopted differs from person to person depending on experience. I cannot speak for my older brother, but for me it has been an interesting journey with a lot of ups and some downs. Physically I resemble my mother, at least in my face. My body more resembles my adopted parents; which explains why it is easier for me to lose and maintain weight. My adopted mother is an organist and has never been athletic. My step-father is very intelligent and charismatic, again not much athleticism there either. However; I grew up playing all sports and was super active; baseball, basketball, soccer, and one season of football; I bruised my right Radius (forearm) during practice and could not play the rest of the season. Which at this point, I’m not too sure if my either birth parent played sports or were athletic; I do know however, that my birth father was in the military, so hopefully I received his genes.
By Nathan Stotts9 years ago in Families
