Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

How to Know When a Person with Dementia Is Nearing the End of Their Life
Watching someone you love slip away through dementia is heartbreaking. It's that slow fade where their spark dims, and suddenly you're wondering if the end is close. One of the toughest parts is spotting the signs death is near dementia – those quiet signals that the body is shutting down. I've been there with my own family, holding hands as the room grew still, and it helps to know what to expect. This isn't about giving up; it's about being ready to comfort them through those final days.
By Shelia Baileyabout a month ago in Families
Chiraq XV
chapter 15 – Growth & Development The gym echoed with cheers as Big Shorty finished the final drill. Coach blew the whistle, dismissing the players, and the stands began to empty—except for one person who remained frozen in place.
By Organic Products about a month ago in Families
When Brooklyn Beckham Finally Spoke
For most of his life, Brooklyn Beckham has existed in a strange space. Famous, yet voiceless. Privileged, yet constantly questioned.
By Aarishabout a month ago in Families
Jatuka
Growing up, going to Kabondo was not just an Ordinary trip it was a Special Treat. It was a time to reconnect with my cousins while My Mother bonded with her Siblings. The journey was always kept a secret till the very last minute and every once in awhile I would accompany My Mother Home to Kabondo. She had a way of sneaking in and leaving without telling me. And each time she returned, I would throw a tantrum and refuse to eat as pay back for not being invited on the trip to Kabondo. You see My Mother’s hometown held a special place in Our Lives yet she never spent the night there whenever she visited. Her trips were conducted early mornings and she would returned by evening the same day. I seldom wondered why she didn’t like staying overnight. Maybe she explained it, but it never sinked in until now. Once you lose your parents, going Home nolonger feels the same. To me Kabondo was Heaven yet for My Mother it was Bitter sweet. Each time she left me behind I would cry and plead to go on the next trip but the answer was always No. The few times I was able to go she would conduct a prep-talk a day before the trip. No we cannot spend the night, no you cannot stay behind and no don’t ask your uncles to ask me. Be on your best behavior when we arrive and if you go play outside, stay within close range. And that was the order nothings for many of the trips to Kabondo. No one ever pleaded with her for us to stay longer. Maybe it was her strict demeanor that scared everyone, or maybe they tried and gave up. Either way, the Trips to Kabondo were always short lived. All the uncles, cousins, extended relatives would always meet and gather at Uncle Wilson’s house each time we visited. I sometimes wondered where the rest of them lived, but dared to never ask. Remember I was summoned to be on my best behavior while in Kabondo, and if I disobeyed I would be dispelled from visiting again. I knew not to ask questions in order to continue accompanying Mommy on her trips.
By Pam Zeeabout a month ago in Families
Blessing Platinum-Williams on Church Belonging, Family, and Accountability: Community as Sacrifice and Care
Blessing Platinum-Williams is a London-based, self-taught software developer and the creator of Tonely AI, an “auto-reflect” keyboard for iOS and Android that surfaces the likely tone and intention behind a message as you type. Tonely aims to reduce everyday digital harm by prompting users to reconsider wording that may sound blunt, passive-aggressive, or manipulative. Privacy is a core design choice: Tonely runs tone detection on-device and, per its terms and privacy policy, does not upload or store your messages. She founded Tonely AI Ltd in Britain. She also has a law degree and a therapy-informed perspective on language for everyone.
By Scott Douglas Jacobsenabout a month ago in Families
Family dynamics played out in public....
Family dynamics are rarely one hundred percent natural - as a society we are the subject of expectations, unwritten norms and scrutiny….
By Paula S.about a month ago in Families
Who Are Einstein’s Great-Grandchildren? Uncovering the Quiet Legacy Behind a Brilliant Name
Albert Einstein’s name is synonymous with genius. His theories reshaped modern physics, his image became a cultural icon, and his ideas continue to influence science, philosophy, and technology. But while the world knows Einstein the scientist, far fewer people know anything about Einstein the grandfather or the great-grandfather.
By Andy Royabout a month ago in Families
Observation and story
“Congratulations, Hamna! Your story has been published again this month.” As soon as Hamna entered the house, her grandmother congratulated her warmly. Hamna was a ninth-grade student.
By Sudais Zakwanabout a month ago in Families
Malka Shaw, LCSW: Orthodox Jewish Community, Belonging, and Resilience
Malka Shaw is an Orthodox Jewish social worker (LCSW) and educator who focuses on trauma, antisemitism, and Jewish community resilience. She founded Kesher Shalom Projects, offering workshops and support groups that build leadership, communication, unity, and Jewish pride. Raised loosely Conservative and drawn in adolescence to Reform youth programming, she describes her move toward Orthodoxy as a gradual, decades-long process deepened through immersive volunteering in Israel and sustained study. In clinical and communal settings, Shaw applies social-work principles—especially the principle of meeting people where they are—to help individuals and leaders turn isolation into connection and purposeful belonging. She trains allies in cultural competency.
By Scott Douglas Jacobsenabout a month ago in Families
My Take on The Brooklyn Beckham's Family Bombshell
Brooklyn Peltz Beckham has reignited global attention this week after posting a lengthy Instagram statement saying he does not want to reconcile with his family.
By Anie the Candid Mom Abroadabout a month ago in Families
How to Create a Self-Care Ritual That Lasts
We’ve all been there: You buy the fancy candle. You download the meditation app. You block “me time” in your calendar like it’s a business meeting.
By Aris mustaphaabout a month ago in Families
The Portal of Creation:
Across ages and civilizations, the feminine principle has been revered not merely as a companion to creation, but as its very portal. The phrase “portal of creation” captures a truth whispered through myth, mysticism, and sacred geometry alike — that the universe expresses itself through a generative matrix, a womb of becoming. In this cosmology, creation is not a passive event but an eternal pulse flowing through the living body of the feminine.
By Aja Truthabout a month ago in Families