Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Families.

Open Letter to My Brother
To my brother... There was a time we used to be close. A time when I meant something to you. Okay, so I was a senior in high school with a job who also avoided being home at all costs, but I did show up at some point during a majority of the nights I lived there. If it was before your "bedtime," we could play music and act like fools for whatever reason our sleep deprived selves could come up with. If I came home closer to midnight, I would chill in your dark room and we would talk about random shit for awhile, nearly silently to protect you from your mom and step dad, or my dad and step mom, I don't even know.
By AM8 years ago in Families
Motherhood
Motherhood is something that I've always wanted to do and it's great!! I had my little one at 18 and don't regret it at all but then again who would.
By Catharine S8 years ago in Families
Supermom
Since having my fourth child, I have had some very interesting reactions. In the honeymoon stage of friendship with a fellow mom, you start to exchange information about your kids. Sometimes it's an outright "how many children do you have?" and other times you can literally watch them try and calculate in their heads as you give little tidbits of info. I have boys and girls–well, my older two are girls and then there are the boys, etc. So far, I have met a fellow mom of four only once. She was pleasantly surprised to have found a fellow "unicorn" mom. But I have to say that, overwhelmingly, the response is "WOW", "You have your hands FULL", "You must be SUPERMOM!".
By Kristy Cuevas8 years ago in Families
Top 5 Ways to Raise Thinkers
One of the most important things to me as a parent is raising critical thinkers. I want them to say the layers beneath and the reasons why things are the way they are. It isn't just a rainbow to us, it is sunlight refracting from the moisture in the air.
By Amy Jourdan8 years ago in Families
An Open Letter to a Shitty Ex Step-Dad
You came up in conversation the other day, like you usually do when I see old friends. "How’s name removed for privacy doing?"
By Maranda Carene8 years ago in Families
Empowering My Daughters
My job, my goal, is to raise my two daughters to be strong women, empower them, instill independence, morals, values, and never back down. To teach them to be passionate and go after what they want in life too. They can achieve anything they set their mind to. My husband has the same duties to them as me, but I feel it's a bit different being the mom to two girls than the dad. Seth is much more traditional than me, which can be a conflict in a society that is not usually traditional. Our daughters are Alina, age seven, and Catarina, age three.
By Lauren S.8 years ago in Families
Lincoln, I Love You
My life has always been a mess. At age five I almost drowned, at age six I was raped for a year, age eleven I was attacked by a grown man, and age seventeen I was robbed at gunpoint. Basically my entire life had been a constant barrage of shit thrown onto my plate, which made me hate myself. The only thing that ever made me feel like I wasn’t worthless, the only thing that made me proud, was my family. I had found the most amazing wife and we had the most beautiful and intelligent children; I was ecstatic. Until I got that phone call, which changed my entire life.
By Garrett Lukenbill8 years ago in Families
Co-Parenting
As a child I always dreamed of meeting prince charming! Whether he rode in on a white horse wearing a suit of armor, or sailed up to the beach in a beautiful ship, or if one day he came to my rescue in a swift and courageous manner! Let’s be realistic ladies (and gentleman) who doesn't want a fairy tale ending! Most kids hear the same basic order in which people believe life should go after you graduate high school, you go to college, get a degree, get a job, meet "prince charming," get married, then last but not least, you have kids. Now I don't speak for all women, but as for me, my life didn't go that way! I'm not here to talk about school or weddings or dream relationships, we’re going to touch on a much heavier topic for about 70% of mothers, children, & fathers in America today. That's right folks, co-parenting.
By Krysten Michele8 years ago in Families
The Unexpected
The day I knew you were growing inside me was perhaps the most nerve wrecking day of my life, and not just because of hormones, I didn't know what to say to my loving husband. I was not ready for a child, I'm still not ready to have a child. To be economically prepared for you to come is almost impossible. My dear unborn daughter I honestly don't know what Josh and I will do once you are born. I know I will love you and he will be a better father than I a mother. I don't know what to feel even being seven and a half months pregnant with you. The weight gain I have the nausea you bring me and the lack of sleep all makes me so much more scared. Hormones surge through my body feeling like lightning bullets in a vast open sky.
By Amanda Thurnherr8 years ago in Families
Finding a Childcare Center that Provides a Safe and Healthy Environment for Children
Parents can never do too much to make sure that their child, or the child of a friend or relative, will be cared for in a healthy and safe childcare environment. The following guidelines will assist parents in finding quality childcare. The first thing that should be asked, before going any further, is whether the Child Center, Child Care Home, or program has an open door policy allowing caregivers or parent to drop in as needed. If the answer is no, that provider should be crossed off the list.
By Jerrie DeRose8 years ago in Families
Parenting Truth
Parenting is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, financial, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood. When people think of parenting, they picture changing diapers, messy feeding times, chasing them around a grocery store, little league, back to school shopping, or paying for school lunches.
By Paige Whitaker8 years ago in Families
How to Talk to Your Teen About Drinking
Drinking can be a hard subject to talk to your teen about because they most likely have different views on the subject than you, but it is crucial to know how to talk to your teen about drinking. Based on what kids hear from their friends they usually think drinking increases their social status and makes them seem like an adult. However, as a parent, you need to instill in your child the contrary. Advise them that alcohol not only has a destructive nature but is illegal. When you talk to your teen about drinking you should be strict with your expectations for them and be proactive in making sure they listen to you and don't engage in underage drinking.
By Alicia Springer8 years ago in Families