immediate family

Blood makes you related, loyalty makes you family.

A Simpler Time
My mom is a very interesting person. The experiences of her life have shaped her into the strong woman she is today. I wanted to better understand how this shaped her and learn about her life. I started by asking her about her childhood. It was 9:54 PM, on August 23, 1973, the hottest day of the year, when Grandma Jackie delivered Michelle Bonnie Gackstetter into the hands of Dr. Richard Mulder. When he unwrapped the umbilical cord from her neck, and she started to turn pink instead of blue, he probably started calling her 'Pumpkin.' My mom said, “The Catholic nuns from the hospital in Ivanhoe, MN, would pray for me every day from then on out, and knowing that has always made me feel a little more close to God.” I like to think that my mom has always been a fighter. I never knew that she had been born with her umbilical cord around her neck. I bet that really scared my grandma.
By Almárëa Laurësil7 years ago in Families
We Were Cowboys Before Cowboys Were Cool
There was a horse named Hacksaw He was known by all as an Outlaw Fire Red Eyes inspired Fear & Awe Beware of him lest you end up Raw
By PAT CHANEY7 years ago in Families
After Shock
When our 20-year-old daughter found out she was pregnant and we knew she would not be raising it, decisions had to be made, most of which were out of our control.
By Michelle Edwards Szynskie7 years ago in Families
A Star in the Sky
Hi, my name is Ryland. I am a 10-year-old girl. I live in Cincinnati, OH with my mom, dad, and two brothers. Growing up as the only girl in the family is different from what most would expect. Forcible tea parties, my brothers pretending to play dress up, but are really cosplaying, and my mom and dad not treating me like the princess that I feel I really am are just a few differences from the norm. Ryan and Rick are older than me and the only twins, so their special attention always outshines mine. They are always the focal point of every holiday, picture, and special occasion. There was nothing extraordinary about little old me.
By LaLa Leo7 years ago in Families
Life with Kids
Just to get started, I'm going to tell you a little bit about myself. I am the help! I don't know how many of you have worked as the help before, but it can be a very difficult job. There is an upside; it teaches you many things. Don't get me wrong, I love my job but there are some days I just want to run away to a deserted island and never return.
By Misty May7 years ago in Families
Old Flames
Four months spent in Denmark, and not a single moody day. No tears, no anger, just the usual comical, Irish temper I get from my dad. The kind with muttered short and stuttered, ‘stupidfrickindumb,’ under my breath as I broke open the yolk on accident while I fried an egg. The same egg I scraped off a grimy pan I forgot to butter, and eventually burned my impatient tongue on.
By dk7 years ago in Families
My Husband Killed Me
I will start by saying to all the people in my life, "I am sorry!" I thought he loved me, some of you knew that I was wrong, but I really thought he did.
By Jodi Roberts7 years ago in Families
Dealing with Your Family When Sickness Strikes
It's never easy dealing with an illness; particularly if one of our family members is suffering. We want to help the sick household members feel better. Being the caregiver for another human (or even a pet) can be overwhelming at times. Thus, knowing what methods are best for each situation is key to staying on track. When caring for loved ones that are ill, it is imperative to keep calm, and take preventative measures to keep the ailment from spreading, or developing into something more serious.
By Jade Pulman7 years ago in Families
Fabulous Dining Ideas to Promote Dinner Table Conversation
Promoting strong family ties is a must do for many parents. Parents look to bring together kids and mom and dad for fun conversations where everyone feels comfortable. A family dinner makes the ideal time for everyone to talk about the things that are most important to them. Parents are looking out of the ordinary ways to spark kids imagination and make dining fun. From educating kids about different cultures to getting everyone excited about an upcoming vacation, dinner time is a great time for everyone to eat a great meal and share happy memories.
By Sasha McGregor7 years ago in Families
I'm Sorry I'm Not the Perfect Daughter...
I was by no means the perfect daughter in my early twenties, and growing up I tried so hard to make my family proud, but no matter what I did it was no use, because my dad wanted no reminders of my birth mother in his life… Yet there I was; just a constant reminder of the disaster that she was. This is my story in just a brief version, and let me start from the beginning… almost the beginning.
By Alyssa Horn7 years ago in Families
Family Court Review
On 21st May 2019, the British Government announced there would be a review of the family courts and how they do not protect children from abusive fathers. The review will be run by Ministry of Justice and will run for three months. The panel will include leading academics, charities, and senior members of the judiciary. This follows an investigation by the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme, and a call for a full independent review by MP Louise Haigh, Shadow Minister for Policing. The Prime Minister Theresa May rejected calls for a full independent review saying that there was no evidence that the Family Courts weren’t putting the safeguarding of children first, despite four children having been killed in court ordered contact with their father despite him being a domestic abuser.
By Clare Scanlan7 years ago in Families
My Life, My Choice
I lay here in the dark listening to my lovely fiancé snoring and light breathing, watching his chest rise and fall, although not wanting to close my eyes as not wanting to miss a second of this lovely meaningful night. So I pulled the cream fluffy comfy blanket over him so he wouldn't notice me leaving. As the whole house begins to fall into silence, it's as if the spirit of the house was watching over us, making sure that everyone was safe so that no harm could ever come to those it was protecting.
By Shannon Davies7 years ago in Families