Every morning, I told her I worked in “building maintenance.” That’s not technically a lie, right? I just didn’t have the heart to say I clean the school bathrooms she walks past every day. She’s in fourth grade now. Smart as anything, sharp-eyed, always asking questions. I’ve raised her to be proud, to speak up, … Read more
I was flying home to meet my fiancée’s parents for the first time. The nerves were eating me alive, a frantic butterfly dance in the pit of my stomach. This was Clara, the love of my life, and her parents’ approval felt like the final, towering gate I had to pass through. Before my flight, … Read more
My house used to be spotless when it was me and my husband. But then his friend came to stay and fights and clashes began. My husband didn’t care how I felt or about the distress I shared. It all finally came right when I took matters into my own hands. When my husband offered … Read more
Living with my son Andrew and his strong-willed wife Kate wasn’t exactly the peaceful arrangement I’d imagined. A minor leg injury—slightly dramatized, I’ll admit—meant I needed a temporary place to stay, and though Kate agreed to let me move in, I could tell she wasn’t exactly thrilled. One crisp fall morning, I stepped out onto … Read more
I was set to go on a date with my crush, but he canceled last minute. My hair was done, and I looked stunning, so I decided to spend the night on the town. I arrived at the restaurant, ate my meal and went for a movie. As I was standing in line, someone tapped … Read more
For weeks, my neighbor’s son kept ringing my doorbell and running away. When I told his mom about it, she said, “He’s just being a kid. You’re overreacting.” Later, I got a furious text from her: “Was that really necessary? He’s been crying all afternoon!” That’s because I finally caught him on my doorbell camera, … Read more
Of all the sweet flavor combination out there, chocolate and caramel might be one of our favorites. From Twix candy bars to ice cream to cakes and cookies, it’s hard to go wrong with this classic pairing. So when we first came across these Caramelitas we knew they were going to be a winner. It … Read more
This story originally appeared at Goodfullness by Christine. If you’re anything like us, you’re probably looking for ways to shake up your beauty routine. There’s something to be said for not allowing ourselves to fall into a rut that we can’t get out of. What can we do when we’ve outgrown certain styles of clothing and find … Read more
From escaping slavery as a young man to arresting 3,000 outlaws as a deputy, the story of Bass Reeves is the stuff of legend. Contrary to what classic Westerns might lead us to believe, one in four American cowboys was actually African American. But we don’t necessarily get that reality when the only image of … Read more
At the Las Vegas airport, I witnessed the shocking behavior of a woman with her dog. Little did she know that her actions would set off a chain of events that would lead us both to question the nature of justice and karma. I arrived at the Las Vegas airport at 6:30 a.m., blue-eyed and … Read more
