extended family
All about how to stay connected, strengthen ties and talk politics with your big, happy extended family.
Why Growing up in a Religious Household Made Me Hate Religion
I grew up being raised by a family that devoted their whole lives to their religion. That's great, don't get me wrong. I think believing in something gives you hope. We could all use a little of that today. But I ended up feeling differently about it.
By Valentina Sophia7 years ago in Families
Raising Six
It has been nothing short of a struggle with six kids—two being my biological, and four being my boyfriend's. My two are with us always. Their father, my ex husband, left a couple years ago and jumps from state to state and he doesn't call for months at a time. His four, we have five-six days a week. His ex wife is supposed to have them Friday night through Sunday early afternoon but rarely makes it her whole visit. They are R–three-years-old, H–three-years-old (they are two months apart). Then there is K–six-years-old, C–seven-years- old, L–eight-years-old and A–ten-years-old. I couldn't be more in love with there dad and I wouldn't change things for the world. I love all of them so much. But let me tell you. Stepping in and taking in four more that aren't my own is exhausting. And he knows that. He knows that he hit gold finding a women that has done just that as their "real" mom has begun to bail. He cooks he cleans and he takes better care of me then I have ever experienced being as I was married to a complete POS. We're a team and we do everything according so. My son, being very very mildly autistic has accepted and loves him. And my daughter adores him. She has really never had a father figure in her life beings as her dad left when she was nine months and never really had anything to do with her when he was home anyways. So I'm gonna try writing each day. Or every couple and share our crazy world with everyone. It started off a little bumpy. We were very on and off. But things got serious. He begged for a chance. And now we all live together in a tiny 1000 square ft house. Two bedrooms. Two baths. But somehow we balance the chaos and we make it all work. He's my best friend and teammate. There isn't screaming or arguing and fighting like both of our past relationships. When we disagree we agree to disagree and move on. Or if we come to an obstacle we talk through it. We find a solution together.
By Becca Pace7 years ago in Families
A Letter to My Mother In Law
Dear Mother in Law, I remember years ago, getting off the school bus and strolling slowly down an unfamiliar path to your house. The sun was shining, ponies were in the field next to us as I walked hand in hand with your son, on my way to meet you for the first time. I was so nervous, I wanted to make a good impression and I had never before met the creator of somebody I so desperately wanted to love me. I was 16 years old, had never been in love before and yet when I saw your son, something in me stirred and I knew he was special. In my 16-year-old brain, I was the first person to see him that way. Now I know better.
By Jaz Johnstone8 years ago in Families
How I Went from an Only Child to a Woman with Two Siblings, Seemingly Overnight... at 40
It was a typical lazy Sunday. My kid was playing video games, I was folding and hanging up laundry. I decided a needed a break, so I went on Facebook, because...isn’t that what we all do while breaking? I had friend requests from some people whose last name I recognized, so I thought nothing of it. I accepted them all and went about my day doing laundry.
By Andrea Ortiz8 years ago in Families
Godparents - The Orthodox Version
Here you are visiting your best friend's house. Both she and her spouse are excited to have you there. There is a special reason for you to be there today. She is pregnant with either a boy/girl. Her partying days with you are officially over. They sit down, offer you something to drink and eat, and then they ask you...
By Girl in a paranormal world8 years ago in Families
How I Define Family
Family. That group we are born into once we are removed from our mother’s womb. Individually, we are related by blood and along with others who share that same bloodline, we are considered family whether we reside in the same household or not. Traditionally, families consist of mothers, fathers, and children sharing the same home. But that dynamic has changed throughout the decades for various reasons. The first 10 years of my life I lived in a single parent home that was shared with my mom’s aunt, uncle and family friend. I never questioned the relation to the family friend because he treated us with love and compassion like family did during that era. And I knew that whenever he told me to do something, like go to bed on time, I should respect him and do it. When our living arrangement changed to my mom, my sister, and I moving into our own apartment, the family love and compassion grew even more stronger and included more members of our family. We moved into an apartment complex that was in one of Chicago’s rough areas, though not as bad as I later found out. The good thing about the apartment was that our building was directly across the street from our new school so mom was able to watch us from the kitchen window while we walked across the street onto the school ground.
By Nathonia Smith8 years ago in Families
