Something You Can’t Fix

Naomi Weinstein, director of the Center on Addiction and the Family in New York City, explains what you should know if your parent has a substance abuse problem.Q: When is a parent’s alcohol or drug use a problem?A: If the parent’s use is causing problems in your life, that’s a problem.

What Family Means to Me

by Emily Taveras

Names have been changed. My first childhood memory is being in a strange room with other kids crying.  I entered the foster care system when I was 2 years old, and the memories I have of growing up in care are mostly fragmented, glued-together pieces.

Taking the Risk to Trust

by Nathalea Sky

When I entered foster care at 16, I felt confused. The adults around me saw me as a child all over again. Now, I had a curfew. I had to obey the rules set by my agency and my foster mother.

Learning to Trust Myself

by Anonymous

Names have been changed.  Growing up, I believed my family was a close one. My siblings and I spent time together, and we  traveled every year to new places as a family. We lived in an apartment in East Harlem and I felt comfortable living with my parents, who mostly seemed to care for me. 

Finding Luck

by Rylynn

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Luck said sadly, patting my shoulder.  The February air was cold and the trees bare. I brushed wet leaves from the damp picnic table and laid my backpack across it like a casket. I unzipped the backpack and pulled out the battered black Chromebook, covered in scratches from my dogs.

War Transformed Our Family

by V. T.

Growing up, everyone in my family was afraid of my mom. When she got angry, she would turn into a tiger. She’d scream loudly, and her voice turned throaty and scary. Sometimes, she even hit my younger sister and me.  Dad would also avoid mom when she wasn’t in a good mood.