Family: Our Advice And Personal Stories

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Family is one of our favorite subjects. We are in contact with our loved ones every day and although it can be a source of daily happiness, it can at times also be hellish. Relationships with our family members, as well as parenthood are the subjects you can expect to learn about here. Check out our stories and advice because they will undoubtedly enlighten and touch you.

Family: Our Advice And Personal Stories

Ah home sweet home; a comforting and reassuring cocoon. Although, things can happen once the door is closed. From laughter, plans for the future, confessions, drama to arguments, our homelives aren’t always smooth sailing... Family is full of ups and downs, we can go from loving each other to hating each other in only a matter of minutes. In short, it's joyful madness!

Our team is here to tackle all the taboos related to family life.

'Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.'

 - Jane Howard

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✏ Our latest family articles

Do We Have To Love Our Parents?

When we’re little, we love them unconditionally and do anything to seek their affection. Our parents are our role models, our inspiration, our protection. Then, when puberty kicks in, and we become teenagers, war sometimes breaks out. This is all very normal, but once the period of hormones and braces has passed, it’s not always a given to love your parents, and that’s okay, plus admitting it feels fantastic!

10 Signs You Grew Up In A Toxic Family

We all have different rapports with our families and that's perfectly fine, yet as the saying goes, blood is thicker than water, meaning it can be difficult for us to judge whether we grew up in a healthy or toxic environment. Now, identifying blatant and brazen toxic behavior is straightforward, however, when it includes gaslighting, love bombing, and is also tinged with narcissism, the task instantly becomes more complicated. Although that being said, certain signs don't lie, so without further ado, here are 10 of them.

Why Does My Family See Me As A Child?

I’m turning 32 soon, and yet my family still treats me like a child. They infantilize me by criticizing my choices, whether they’re important or insignificant... But they also tell me what to do, without it being a suggestion, it’s really a step to follow. Nevertheless, I consider myself old enough to be able to make my own choices and act as I wish! Why am I being treated like this? How do we avoid infantilization by our parents, our family, and even our in-laws? Here are some answers.

How And Why To Talk To Your Children About Sex?

“Mommy, how are babies made?” I asked my parents this very question when I was a child. They told me a story about a pill that a “bride” had to eat during the wedding meal and BOOM, it made a child 9 months later. This story left a lasting impression on me because it misinformed me about sex. I kept asking myself questions, and the rumors at school didn’t help me. So if there’s one thing I want to do in the future is to talk about sex to my children without any taboo.

I Don't Want Kids

For women the expectations are still numerous, and if there is one question in particular that we hear more than any other. I bet you can guess it. Of course, THAT million-dollar question is; ‘when do you plan on having children?’ Even today, in lots of people’s minds, a woman still has to become a mom and if she doesn't want to, she will have to find concrete arguments to justify her decision. It’s time we said stop to this pressure and followed our own dreams instead of forcing ourselves to live up to expectations imposed on us.

Traumatic Childbirth: The Importance Of Talking About It

Giving birth went really well for me, I have fond memories of it, but I also remember one of my friends who was really sorry she couldn’t come and meet my baby at the maternity ward. She was so traumatized by her experience giving birth that she couldn’t set foot in the maternity hospital where her daughter had been born more than a year earlier. I remember her calling me from the car park, tears in her voice and shaking: “I can’t go in, it’s too hard... don’t be upset with me.” I knew that giving birth had gone badly for her, but I didn’t understand just how traumatized she had been by this event.

Open Letter To My Children

Do you remember those days at the beach? When we would leave early before the sun had even risen. I was always afraid you would be cold. It was magical to see the look in your eyes when the sea appeared through the car window. And then, inevitably, there were always my screams, and your screams too. There was always screaming. There are so many things inside us and our skin is only so thick… Of course, it exploded. In this story, not everything was perfect, but I did my best.

I Don’t Want To Leave My Baby... And That’s Ok!

There are many things in life I don’t like doing. Leaving my baby is one of them, and nothing annoys me more than being told to “tear myself away” from my son. I don’t like entrusting him with someone else, and it’s very hard for me to leave without him, but is it really a problem?

My Mother-In-Law Is An Intrusive Grandmother

On Monday, Grandma had a little present for him; on Tuesday, she was just in the area; on Wednesday, well it’s Wednesday, children’s day; on Thursday, she came to see if everything was okay; on Friday, she was still around and the rest of the weekend too. With the added bonus of advice and thoughts… Do I crack or get on with it?

Is My Mom A Narcissist? 10 Things Narcissistic Mothers Do

Do you remember back in the day when you were a teen and constantly fought with your parents, and in particular your mom? Whether it was because you wanted to stay out past your curfew or chose to parade around in your new miniskirt, many of us have faced constant battles with our mothers. However, for those of us dealing with a narcissistic mom, the problems don’t stop when we finish puberty, no, in fact, they stick with us throughout our lives and make it impossible for us to establish a healthy relationship with the person who brought us into the world. Now, if the scenarios below seem all too familiar, then you might just have been raised by a narcissist.

I Don’t Want To Breastfeed

When we’re pregnant or even way before being with child, we always seem to ask ourselves questions about how we are going to feed our baby. But don't worry, whatever choice you make, you will always, and I mean ALWAYS be on the receiving end of negative comments! The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding up to 6 months, and everyone with an opinion on the matter seems to side with them. I on the other hand chose not to breastfeed, and you know what? I think I'm a good mother anyway because my baby is healthy and happy.

My Boyfriend Is Very Family-Oriented... I’m Not!

And another Sunday at his dear mum’s house! My in-laws are everywhere. During our weekends, on our vacations, at some of our parties, and on our outings, I’m almost surprised we don’t all live together 🤦♀️. Should I suffer, or should I cut the cord for them with my teeth?

What Is Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is defined as the intense fear or worry of being away from the person we are most attached to. In fact, this feeling frequently appears in children and their parents, as well as in animals too! When we form such strong bonds with those dearest to us, it can be hard to spend time apart and get on with our own lives. Read on for more insights into this feeling, and discover how the impact of separation can be lessened between parents and their children.

Stop Comparing Your Children

Yes, it’s only natural to make comparisons between the eldest child and their siblings! Yet, every child is unique and develops at their own pace, with their own emotions, abilities, and personality. Just because your eldest child was potty-trained in next to no time, it doesn't mean your youngest, will be. In short, it isn't a competition, and some children feel devalued and rejected by such a behavior, so, beware of comparisons!

I’m Scared I’ll Lose My Friends After Having A Baby

When you’re the first in a group of friends to have a child, you may find that they don’t understand or are just unaware of your new situation. Fewer phone calls, no more invites, no news for days, the list goes on and on. Our priorities have changed, and the person our friends knew before isn’t quite the same person today. The fear of losing your friends after having a child isn’t unfounded.

How To Stop Yelling At Your Children

Sunday, 8.30 pm, it’s quiet again at home and I take the opportunity to make myself a promise; this week I’ll hold firm and I won’t scream at my children. Except I’ve already made myself this promise several times, yet never seem to be able to stick to it… Things have to change, but how can I get my children to listen to me without raising the decibels?

The greatest love of all

Telling Future Daddy About Your Pregnancy: Our Best Ideas!

Have you just found out you’re pregnant? If so, congratulations! It’s a very unique moment that can bring out many different emotions, including surprise, excitement, relief, doubt, fear and even panic…Whatever the degree of surprise, your pregnancy definitely didn’t come about through divine intervention. In fact, there has only been one documented case of this to date, but it was a very long time ago… For us average people, a future dad will have greatly contributed to arrival of this baby, but how should you tell him about the pregnancy? Discover our best ideas and plan your surprise reveal.

The Things You Really Need To Buy To Prepare For Your Baby's Arrival

The arrival of a baby is an exciting time, however it can soon turn into a very cost worthy experience, especially for first time parents. If we haven't already been there and got the t-shirt, the idea of what a baby really needs can be fairly cloudy, which means we often fall into the trap and temptation of buying everything that catches our eye. In reality, babies only require a few essential bits and there's no need to go overboard or to feel guilty about not being able to provide a whole range of toys and strollers. Here's what's essential for welcoming your little angel.

10 Tips On How To Cope With Joint Custody Of Your Children

Separated and divorced couples know the challenges of joint custody and although the thought of halving the time you spend with your kids may be daunting, it can be bearable thanks to good structure. I'm recently divorced, and when I was first confronted with this new organization, my two little children left a huge void in my life and their absence every other week was hard to deal with and became a big source of stress for me. I had trouble coming to terms with being a part-time mom, but I got through it and found other things to do with my time, despite missing my babies. Here are my 10 tips for coping with this ordeal.

How To Deal With Returning To Work After Having A Baby

Amongst all the things in life that can make us upset and feel down, going back to work after maternity leave is definitely one of them. Farewell mollycoddling, hours of cuddles, and tickles, and instead hello boss and annoying coworkers! Will the feeling of guilt get the better of us? Is your new life compatible with your previous professional one? With so many questions swirling around about the ordeal and challenge of missing your baby, we've decided to offer you some of our best advice to help you get through this tough period.