extended family

All about how to stay connected, strengthen ties and talk politics with your big, happy extended family.

Marriage Made from Heaven
Marriage Made From Heaven -In-Laws from Hell... Remember when you saw "the one" that special someone you wanted to get to know better. The person that you thought about all day long. That person you just could not wait to see on the next date... You took the time to get to know that person deeper and more personally. You talked about long term goals and short term goals, conversations about your families and how you grew up. You shared stories about how your parents raised you and all the special things that you kept deep in your heart. You did everything together and could not see a life without that person in it! You both knew that he/she was the one for you... Talks about marriage came up with the long term conservation of kids including how many, and when to start. Both of you knew that the other one would make an amazing husband/wife and would make a wonderful Mother/Father some day.
By Barry Wick8 years ago in Families
The Crazy Chaos of Critical Family Members
From the time I was a kid, I would constantly be dealing with my dad being very critical of everything I did. I realized after I moved out and started my own life and cut my dad out that he was trying to help. But at the same time, he was trying to control me. We eventually had a sit down, heart-to-heart conversation about how we were both wrong and have worked toward a great relationship where we talk constantly and I go to him for advice.
By Hailey Elizabeth8 years ago in Families
Why I Love Christmas
It seems to be fashionable nowadays to dread Christmas. Often I read amusing articles with tales of nightmare families and a stressful time shopping and cooking for the big event. This is so far removed from my own experiences, that this article is for me an antidote to Christmas dread.
By Sarah Seddon8 years ago in Families
Coparenting
As a young girl I loved the idea of being a mother and I still do. I worked at a store and this man would come in almost every morning I was working and would have to go through my line, he wouldn’t go through anyone else’s but mine. He was divorced with 2 boys. I fell head over heels in love with him and I still am. Going on being together for 7 years and married for a little over a year. Coparenting with his ex at first was awful, but it eventually got better for us. If my husband's children would ask for something for their mother he, being the awesome father he is, would always get it for them to give her. I’m not going to lie when I say it made me a little upset and jealous that he would do this for his ex wife who betrayed him in their marriage. It would honestly hurt me because it always seemed he was going out of his way just for her. On the other hand if he didn’t get her what they asked for her to have, they would tell her and that always ended up with him getting either a text or phone call. That to me was a tad bit petty of her because it honestly wasn’t his place to make sure she had a present of some kind for a holiday, that should have been left up to her new husband. That’s when I started making sure the children had a present for their mother for the holidays. It may seem petty to most but being the first serious relationship since my husband's divorce I took it as making sure she wasn’t getting the wrong sign from him.
By Nora Lane8 years ago in Families
About Me
My Life from Birth Let's just say I haven't had the best of upbringings or so you say, childhoods. Let's just get right in, shall we.
By Jessica Ramsden8 years ago in Families
Relationship After Baby!
Ever wonder what life after a baby with your hubby will be like? Well let me tell you. It's the most amazing experience you can experience together as a family and it brings you closer and closer. As time goes on, things CAN get hectic and crazy! But you try to hold it together as much as you can.
By Kayla8 years ago in Families
Tired as a Mother...
I'm tired, and not like the normal tired. The tired of being a mom, tired of being a student, tired of being a wife, tired of being tired. I'm busy, like always, if I'm not taking care of kids, getting my husband set up for the day or doing schoolwork, then I'm doing laundry or cooking or doing something. When does it end? When do I get appreciated? Don't get me wrong I love my kids and my husband but why am I everyone's slave? My husband and I have been together a little over 3 years and we came to the marriage with 3 children (2 girls from his previous and 1 boy from my previous) we then added one more boy. All our children are under 8 years old and though we have 3 of them part-time, I'm a full time mom. Oh, side note, we also live with my in-laws, yes they’re great but that’s 2 more mouths that I’m responsible for feeding. That’s 2 more people I need to make sure have dinner plans before I just decide I don’t want to cook for.
By Mother Superior8 years ago in Families
A Family Christmas?
Families are complicated. We all know that. We all wish we could change something about our families. Whether we just wish our fathers would tell less dad jokes or our mums would finally learn how to cook without burning everything. (My mum is an amazing cook, I'm the one who burns everything!)
By Felicity Yvette8 years ago in Families
Step-Mothers: They Aren't All Bad
Step-mothers have been made out to be villains throughout fiction. They are the people that we love to hate in every Disney movie that we watched growing up. Snow White and Cinderella are the most notable of these films with the Evil Queen in Snow White and the Lady Tremaine (wicked step-mother) in Cinderella.
By Samantha Reid8 years ago in Families
The Thanksgiving Rock Throwing Incident
Okay, let me state first that the following story was quite true so I changed some names around. Though I have to admit I'm better remembering details than names, so I should be covered. This was Thanksgiving 2001. It ended up being the last one I'd spend at my grandmother's house, as she would pass on that next April. As usual, there was a lot of family present.
By Benjamin Alexander House8 years ago in Families
Step MOMster
When I met my boyfriend, I knew he had children. I knew their ages and knew their names but I didn't know them. When he and I met, it wasn't supposed to end up how it has; it was supposed to be friends and then everything else happened. We somehow started a family, a very broken and messed up family but a family nonetheless.
By Alysha Clark-Walters8 years ago in Families
I Am a Mom
I never wanted a family. Well, let me take that back: I never wanted to be a parent. Not because I don’t love children and I don’t love the idea of creating life or sharing life, but because I believe myself to be unfit.
By Alysha Clark-Walters8 years ago in Families