.... where family is the source of humor!

Humor Is Relative's 2004 Stories' Archive - Can you relate?

Complete listing of Humor Is Relative's 2004 collection of humorous parenting, or family life, stories and essays! Selections listed from the oldest to most recent of our offerings, so ... get something to drink, sit back, click, and enjoy! Can you relate?

Humor Is Relative sincerely thanks all the writers and humor columnists for submitting the delightfully humorous stories, within this archive, to share with others.

2001 Humorous Family Stories Features sharings from Kimberly Ripley, Elizabeth Palmer, Brenda Graham Shrieder, Renee Ripley ... and more!

2002 Humorous Family Stories Features sharings from Catharine Bramkamp, James Collins, Jim Spense, Linda Sultan ... and more!

2003 Humorous Family Stories Features sharings from LaVonis Miracle, Liz Masoner, John Sheirer, Glenn Arnold ... and more!

2005 Humorous Family Stories features sharings from James L. Snyder, Marilyn Rudenstein, Terry Lerdall-Fitterer, David Westbrook, and more!

2006 Humorous Family Stories features sharings from Pat Carey, Melinda L. Wentzel, Erica Stux, Robert Crane, and more!

She isn't even engaged yet. But she is older now and entering her 20's. Only so long before she does sit down and tell me, "Mom, I've picked my wedding date ..." So it wouldn't hurt for me to start coming up with some ideas to share with her? Of course not!

My mother always told me as a child "the pen is mightier than the sword". Which means, loosely translated, to be careful what you write down on paper. You never know when someone may find that piece of paper and read it! Claudine also heard this saying, apparently, and always remember to have the sugar bowl next to the inkwell?

One year Carol shared news, with her parents, about deciding to participate on one of the high school athletic teams. Her best friend, at the time, convincing Carol that she would fit right in and be an asset to the team. Gosh, was Carol gullible back in those days ... or what?

John treats the Humor Is Relative readership with a sneak preview? The following is an excerpt shared from an upcoming memoir of his! In this humorous, but oh-so-easy to relate to story, he shares about when a sibling calls on the telephone and has the knack, as we would say in my hometown area, of being able to talk one's ear off. How many of you are guilty of the "uh-huh" method of phone conversations? Especially when a member of the family is on the other end of the phone line?

One recipe asked to be shared to become a part of a class's small cook book. Parental dilemma about which one would make the child proud of their parent's cooking talents. Yet the child remains adamant about doing as the teacher instructed and submit a recipe from Carol's collection that is the child's favorite.

Rudy shares, for Humor Is Relative's readers enjoyment, an excerpt from her new book "Take Heart!". Her parents try to find an activity to help keep her, as a child, occupied. Problem wasn't in keeping the child occupied as much as that the activity couldn't be strenuous due to Rudy being born with a heart defect. Add in car rides, a piano and a flute, pair of roller skates, swimming lessons, and a sibling to have - well, humor [plus one occupied child] as the end result of her parents' efforts!

It is interesting to see your child noticing another person, around their age, receiving stares and giggles over something they've done. Watching, along with you, in silent awe and disbelief. "Did they really do that?" Then your child, a moment later, seeming to think "It wouldn't happen to me ..."

Those of us, growing up pre-1970's, will remember the dime store. We will also remember a certain kind of box, with side air-holes, that hinted about what was inside. Something sold, in my home town area, within dime stores and hardware stores only during a certain time of year. I may be giving away my age by saying I could relate to certain thoughts within the memory LaVonis put into words. Question is, though, can you relate?

Carol shares about a time she took her mother to a movie. And how a visual joke, shared in the movie, led to an uncomfortable conversation with her parents. [Thanks to the 2004 Super Bowl - this story is rated PG-13]

I'm absolutely delighted about Cappy sharing this story for Humor Is Relative's readers enjoyment. The phonetic touches of the Southern dialect helps add a dash while not distracting readers from the humor within the story; which is not about Cappy's own family but a story relayed to her, one day in a store, about another woman's family.

A deal is a deal and many young children, in the United States at least, learn that when one loses a baby tooth to expect some kind of monetary compensation. And that money comes from this mystical figure known as the Tooth Fairy. What happens, though, if the Tooth Fairy is broke?

Being a mother looks so easy. After all, how hard can it be? Our mothers raised us and television moms make it look even easier than our mothers did! Then one day you find yourself with children ... not just any children but your children that need to get to school. Are you up to the task? Read this humorous story from Shannon and see if you can relate!

Here is a treat from Debbie Farmer's new parenting humor book "Don't Put Lipstick on the Cat!" What mother cannot relate to wishing to be the perfect mother only to find out you are ... well, slightly less than perfect? Oh, stop looking innocent over there while saying "Who? Me? Think such a thing?" and start reading this excerpt where Debbie shares her less than perfect but humorously shared moments with us!

The merry month of May is when Carol's life odometer ticks over another yearly notch. Here is a story of the time one of her children wanted to make "Mom's birthday" extra special - but slight problems with the plan kept surfacing and helping to bring humor to the day instead!

It's a rite of passage from babyhood to full-blown toddlerdom stage before turning into a pre-schooler: potty training. Then you have to remember there is one important element to this "rite": the child. How many readers of Humor Is Relative can relate to this story from Carrie?

It's many males dream: to own a motorcycle and feel the wind whipping across their face while going down the highway. Part of you reminds you to be practical yet another part is quick to counter those thoughts with reminders of the past. Ever notice the other side, presenting those counter-arguments, fails mentioning about prices increasing over the years? How many men relate to Mark's humorous two-wheel plight?

My husband sometimes felt unsure how to react when first meeting my children from a previous marriage. They would share little things with him, things they felt were spectacular but him - well, he was stumped on exactly what would be the appropriate response.

For those of us, thinking in younger years that our cousins looked forward to our family visits, may get a chuckle out of LaVonis' story! Ah, hot summer nights - lightning bugs dotting the humid skies' horizon - and the scary stories shared in our youth. Can you relate?

A simple chore. All one needs to do is go to the store, get the items on the list, pay, and leave. However children have a knack for making simple things not so simple. How many of you can relate to Paula's humorous story about something so simple as grocery shopping?

Carol's mother occassionally shared a side which wouldn't have her regarded as the "Most Patient Woman". Only so many times "Later, Mom" could be said before she started suspecting "Later" may need help becoming "Now". Carol's father, on the other hand, was a very patient man. However it appears even he had a point on how long he would display such patience. One of those stories where it depends which family member is asked, "Do you feel this was a humorous event?"

Humorous story about family trip to the zoo: mother, father, and their twins. As many parents know, however, a simple family outing - even to the zoo - can take on some spins thanks to children. Such is the setting for Brett's sentimental excerpt from his book One Fine Day: A Collection Of A Father's Anecdotes available from Equilibrium Books.

For Humor Is Relative's readers enjoyment here is another excerpt from Rudy Wilson Galdonik's book "Take Heart!". After recovering from open heart surgery Rudy and her husband, Bill, consider having children but unsure if they were ready for the leap into the world known as parenthood. What else to do but practice?

History has a knack of repeating itself. Either that or there is some truth to the parental threat of "I hope one day your kids do to you what you have done to me ... just so you know what it is like"? Or just a humorous coincidence? Whatever it is, this story will help explain why the previous story about teen bedroom cleaning habits was shared ...

A picture perfect day out with the family. What can go wrong? A potential opening for a little humor as, well, except that boys will be boys - regardless of age or their mother's wishes at times. Fellow mother of sons - can you relate to Rhonda's story?

"Honesty is the best policy." I am probably not alone remembering my parents telling me that phrase which I later passed along to my children. Jill's submission had me giggling reading about her hopes, goals, trials, triumphs, and even some future planning to help her children learn a valuable lesson about telling the truth.

A seemingly innocent and uneventful family trip to a local shopping mall. Who would have guessed what dangers lurked within certain kiosks in the center of the mall walkways? Oh, and did I happen to mention humor lurking and waiting to spring out too?

Christmas is a time of reflection at times; especially if one is a parent. This year, in our home, my husband is not missing one seasonal tradition. A tradition, of sorts, shared by many parents of young children around this time of year. Me? I find myself missing it already.

Humorous Book Recommendations:             [ view all ]
Life in the Fast-Food Lane (Surviving the Chaos of Parenting)
[Debbie Farmer, Shauna Cramer; 140 pages]
Debbie's newest offering! More stories themed around the hectic but sometimes humorous realm known as parenting. Debbie Farmer is the columnist of Family Daze, a syndicated column appearing in many American newspapers.

Humorous Book Recommendations:             [ view all ]
Write Now! What Are You Waiting For
[Kimberly Ripley; 108 pages]
Another treat from Kimberly Ripley to help the writer in us!

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If you're yearning for the good old days, just turn off the air conditioning.
-- Griff Niblack in Indianapolis Star

Think you have a funny story about your family, or moments in parenting, that our readers may enjoy? Review Humor Is Relative submissions guidelines & submit your story! Who knows, we just may like it!

Meet Humor Is Relative's contributing writers!

I've just heard that photons have mass. I didn't even know they were Catholics.
--Don Geddis

Humor Is Relative Contributors Published Works:
Growing Up Irish Catholic
Patrick Carey
Humorous Misadventures Of A Tropical Island Mom
Faith R. Foyil
101 Haiku for Mom
Faith R. Foyil
Storky: How I Lost My Nickname and Won The Girl
Debra Garfinkle
Don't Put Lipstick On The Cat
Debbie Farmer, Jana Christy
Life in the Fast-Food Lane (Surviving the Chaos of Parenting)
Debbie Farmer, Shauna Cramer
Take Heart! True Stories of Life, Love, & Laughter
Rudy Wilson Galdonik
Simply Southern
Cappy Hall Rearick
Available in hardbook.
Family Life & Other Strife
Linda Sultan
Being Miss Behaved: Humorous Essays For The Politically Incorrect
Catharine Bramkamp
Free Chairs
John Sheirer
Saying My Name
John Sheirer
Shut Up and Speak!
John Sheirer
Freelancing Later In Life
Kimberly Ripley
Breathe Deeply, This Too Shall Pass
Kimberly Ripley
Write Now! What Are You Waiting For
Kimberly Ripley
Lily's Gift
Kimberly Ripley
The Ghost of Useppa Island
Kimberly Ripley
Clinical Dialogues In Family Therapy
Howard Defonsky M. S. W. R. S. W.
When a Family Considers Therapy
Howard M. Denofsky M. S. W. R. S. W.

A child becomes an adult when he realizes he has a right not only to be right but also wrong.
-- Thomas Szasz