siblings

Siblings are the only enemy you can't live without.

My Friends, My Friends.
We were a small group but we were tight. We all met around the same time, Todd was the first I had met in the 6th grade. Larry, Jeff, John, Dennis & I met a year later. Dennis stood out as he had a full beard in 7th grade, (not even kidding). And upon meeting him I swore that he had been held back so much that he had to be 25, but he was our age. His father had been a Green Beret and had taught him a great deal about survival and hand to hand combat. We all gravitated towards him for this reason as we had a strange fascination for the Vietnam war and those that had served in it. This was around 1983 - '84 and I believe we did this as we all had at least one family member that either served in the war or had been affected by it in some way. But this also made us misfits in school as we were the only ones in camo and field jackets with some of the medals our relatives had given us pinned to he collars and combat patches on the sleeves. You could feel the looks and hear the conversations of some of the other kids that just didn't understand us at all. But we didn't care.
By John P. Creekmore5 months ago in Families
Things I Wish I Could Say at the Dinner Table
Dinner tables in brown households are their own kind of theatre. Everyone has a role: the talkative uncle with endless stories, the aunt with unsolicited advice, the parent who slips in reminders about grades or weight, the sibling who tries to disappear into their phone. And then there’s me, the one quietly calculating which version of myself will cause the least chaos.
By Tavleen Kaur5 months ago in Families
I Raised My Sibling — But No One Raised Me
There’s a strange ache that comes with being the eldest in a brown household. You’re born into a role you never signed up for, and before you even realise it, you’re balancing two identities: a child in your own right and a substitute parent for the one who came after you.
By Tavleen Kaur5 months ago in Families
The Unspoken Bond
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the narrow street where Ayaan’s family home stood — a modest two-story house, weathered by time but filled with memories. Inside, Ayaan sat motionless on the faded sofa, his gaze fixed on a photograph resting on the wooden table.
By Shehzad Anjum5 months ago in Families
Why Is It
Author's Note: I have had to pick and choose what funerals I would attend since the pandemic began back in 2019/20. People are still not having funerals within the first weeks after a death. The funeral I am attending today was for a June death, for example.
By Denise E Lindquist5 months ago in Families
Trinity Health Ann Arbor
Trinity Health Ann Arbor, located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, is a nationally recognized teaching hospital that continues to set the standard for compassionate, high-quality care. As part of the Trinity Health Michigan network, this 560-bed facility has built a reputation for combining advanced medical expertise with a strong commitment to community well-being. Whether it’s through groundbreaking treatments, award-winning specialty programs, or outreach initiatives, Trinity Health Ann Arbor remains a trusted partner in health for thousands of families across southeast Michigan.
By salamguide6 months ago in Families
British Royal Family and Aristocratic Connections: The Story of Anita Patience Guinness
This article explores the British royal family’s history, influence, and modern role, while highlighting the aristocratic connections of Anita Patience Guinness. It outlines her heritage within the Guinness family, her marriage into the Rothschild dynasty, and her children’s ties to other elite families. Anita Patience Guinness (born 7 December 1957) is a notable member of the distinguished Guinness family, historically tied to Ireland’s brewing and banking legacy. Born to James Edward Alexander Rundell Guinness and Pauline Vivien Mander, her upbringing reflected tradition, prominence, and interconnected aristocratic kinship. The piece also shows how such aristocratic networks often parallel and intersect with the royal family’s world, reflecting the enduring legacy of Britain’s high society.
By Elbert Robert6 months ago in Families
When the Last Goodbye Changed Everything
sGoodbyes often seem ordinary, but sometimes they echo forever, reshaping lives in ways no one anticipates. For Arman, a young man of twenty, the word “goodbye” was just a routine exchange—until the day he stood at Islamabad Airport watching his father walk away. That farewell, meant to be temporary, became the turning point that changed everything. A Goodbye That Felt Different It was a cool morning, the kind where the sky glowed faintly golden, and the city had not yet awakened to its daily chaos. Arman’s father, Saleem, was preparing to fly back to Dubai for work. He had done it countless times before. His small suitcase was neatly packed, his jacket draped across his arm. “Don’t worry,” Saleem assured his family as they gathered at the departure gate. “I’ll be back in a few months, just like always.” The children nodded. His wife, Naila, clutched his hand longer than usual, as though her heart sensed something her mind could not explain. And Arman, standing tall as the eldest son, tried to mirror his father’s calm. But inside, unease stirred. When the boarding announcement came, Saleem hugged each of his children. To his younger ones, he whispered promises of gifts. To Arman, he leaned closer and said, “Take care of your mother. Study hard. Be strong.” Arman gave a nervous laugh, brushing it off as routine advice. Yet his father’s gaze lingered, steady and serious. His final wave as he disappeared beyond the gates felt strangely heavy, as though it carried more than the promise of return. The Call That Broke the Silence Two days later, as dusk fell across Rawalpindi, the phone rang. On the other end was Saleem’s brother, his voice trembling. “There’s been an accident… a heart attack… he’s gone.” The words struck like lightning. Naila collapsed onto the floor, her cries piercing through the house. The younger children clung to each other, their innocence unable to grasp the weight of the news. Arman stood frozen, the receiver slipping from his hands, his heart hammering against a reality too cruel to accept. The man who had been their anchor, their provider, their guide—was gone. The last wave at the airport had not been a routine farewell. It had been final. A House Full of Silence The days that followed blurred into endless visits from relatives, the sound of prayers, and the heavy presence of grief. Yet within the noise, silence dominated. The kind of silence that settles deep inside the chest, pressing down with an invisible weight. Arman replayed that final goodbye again and again. His father’s words echoed relentlessly: Take care of your mother. It was no longer just advice—it was a command, a responsibility passed down in those last few moments together. The world expected him to step forward. As the eldest, the unspoken duty of carrying the family fell squarely on his shoulders. And though he still felt like a boy inside, life no longer allowed him that luxury. Forced Into Adulthood Before his father’s death, Arman had been a university student, dreaming lazily about the future, uncertain of who he wanted to be. Overnight, that future collapsed into urgent realities. Bills had to be paid. Groceries had to be bought. His siblings needed guidance, and his grieving mother needed strength. He found part-time work, juggling studies and jobs, often staying up late into the night to keep up with assignments. Every rupee mattered. Every decision carried weight. He learned to bargain with shopkeepers, to comfort his brother when he cried at night, and to reassure his mother when the loneliness became unbearable. Each act of responsibility carried the echo of his father’s absence. Yet, in the midst of exhaustion, a quiet strength began to emerge. Saleem’s final words had not been in vain—they had prepared Arman for the role he was forced to embrace. The Seed of Storytelling During long nights, when the house grew quiet and sleep refused to come, Arman found himself scribbling thoughts into a notebook. At first, it was nothing more than scattered reflections—fragments of grief, memories of his father, questions without answers. But over time, those scribbles turned into stories. Stories of families facing loss. Stories of children learning resilience. Stories of the fragile beauty of human connection. He never expected anyone to read them, yet when he shared a few pieces online, the response surprised him. Strangers reached out, saying his words reflected their own pain, that his honesty gave them comfort. For the first time, Arman realized that grief, when expressed, could become something more than sorrow. It could heal. It could connect. That last goodbye, though devastating, had planted the seed of a storyteller within him. Lessons From a Final Farewell As months turned into years, the sharp sting of loss softened into something quieter. The scar remained, but it became part of who he was. Through it, Arman learned lessons he might never have discovered otherwise. Love hides in small gestures. His father’s final wave, the squeeze on his shoulder, the whispered advice—these moments became priceless treasures. Goodbyes can be beginnings. What seemed like an ending was also the birth of his strength, his sense of duty, and his path as a writer. Pain can transform into purpose. Writing, once an outlet for sorrow, became his voice, his way of reaching others, his way of carrying his father’s memory forward. The Goodbye That Lives On Even years later, Arman often returned to the memory of that morning at the airport. In dreams, he would rush forward, hug his father tighter, say the words he never spoke aloud—how much he admired him, how deeply he loved him. But even in waking life, the silence of that unfinished goodbye spoke louder than words. It shaped his choices, guided his actions, and lived on in every page he wrote. His father’s absence remained an ache, but it was no longer only pain. It was also presence—a reminder, a guiding force. Conclusion Goodbyes are inevitable. Some fade quickly, while others carve themselves into the soul. For Arman, his father’s last farewell was both a wound and a gift. It shattered the world he knew, but in the broken pieces, he found responsibility, strength, and purpose. The day his father waved goodbye, he thought it was just another trip. He did not know it was the moment that would end his childhood and begin his journey into manhood. That single goodbye changed everything—not by ending life, but by reshaping it. And though his father never returned, his voice still lingers in Arman’s heart: “Take care of your mother.” Words that continue to guide him, words that prove that some goodbyes, though final, never truly end.
By Sajid 6 months ago in Families
She Left a Note on the Coffee Table—Three Words That Broke Me
I still remember the way the light filtered through the curtains that morning. It was one of those soft, golden mornings that should have promised peace. But instead, it delivered heartbreak. The coffee was still warm in the pot. The silence of the apartment was heavy, unnatural. And there, in the center of the living room, was a note.
By Engr. Mansoor Ahmad6 months ago in Families
Ten Sisters And All Thought They Were The Black Sheep In The Family
Rose often wrote in her journal that she was different. She was so different from her nine sisters that she considered herself the black sheep of the family. She thought she was unlike her siblings. Furthermore, she wondered if she was adopted. However, she kept those thoughts to herself out of fear that it would be just one more thing her sisters would tease her about.
By Margaret Minnicks6 months ago in Families
Unconditional Love
Lena had never imagined her world would shrink to just the two of them — her and her little brother, Max. When their parents passed away suddenly, the weight of the world fell on her shoulders. At only twenty-two, Lena was still figuring out her own life, but now she had to be both sister and guardian.
By Hakeem Khan 6 months ago in Families
How Labubu dolls conquered the world | Adorable or just weird?
Whether you reckon they are cute, ugly or just plain weird, chances are you have heard of the furry dolls that have become a global sensation - Labubu.
By Kamran Khan6 months ago in Families