Tag: family
Part 5: A new career path for Charlie
In the early 1900s, hard farm work and illness tested the Myers family. With his brother Harry apprenticing in Pittsburgh and his mother hospitalized, young Charlie gave all his earnings to support her surgery, reuniting the family on their Ohio farm.
Closet cleanouts: How my daughter keeps my fashion in check
From linebacker shoulder pads to pantyhose sold in plastic eggs, fashion trends come and go. Kymberly Foster Seabolt reflects on the hilarity of mother-daughter shopping, decluttering decades of outdated clothes, and letting the next generation keep her stylish.
Part 4: Starting over in Ohio
After losing her husband and daughter, Laura returned to Ohio in May 1897 with five young sons. Thrust into farm labor, 12-year-old Charlie stepped up as the man of the house, helping the family navigate tragedy, heavy plows, and a fresh start on a small Spring Valley farm.
Childhood magic: Why ordinary days beat expensive vacations
Parents often spend years and fortunes trying to engineer magical vacations, only to realize kids cherish the simple moments most. From trampoline snacks to parking lot burgers, the true magic of childhood is found in ordinary days spent together.
Autumn glory
We romanticize autumn with flannel and foliage, but the reality brings Ohio weather roulette, furnace standoffs, and reluctant dogs. Kymberly Foster Seabolt embraces the chaos of soup season, frost, and chilly days in this humorous look at the true fall experience.
Part 3: Tragedy befalls the family
In the late 1890s, a Pittsburgh family's thriving life was shattered by a typhoid epidemic and sudden loss. After losing his sister and father, 12-year-old Charlie Myers boarded a train to an Ohio farm to begin life anew. Read Part 3 of the Myers family history.
How a child’s gleeful innocence brought grandpa’s sparkle back
After a tragic 1946 loss silenced a family's joy, a toddler's playful bond with her great-grandfather Charlie brought back his sparkle. From shaking straw bales for circus peanuts to farm truck rides, reflect on the special memories that healed a grieving heart.
How a Farmall M and family restored Grandpa Charlie’s spark
Life is full of sad and glorious moments. Discover how an autumn 1959 farm sale, a red Farmall M tractor, and the love of a growing young family helped restore joy, purpose, and laughter to a grieving great-grandfather who had lost his spark.
Caregiving crisis: A growing challenge for farm families
As the farming population ages, more agricultural families are forced to balance off-farm jobs, demanding daily chores, and caregiving for aging parents. Ohio State University Extension's LuAnn Duncan explains the impact of this chronic stress and why open communication and planning are vital for rural caregivers.
Childhood memories: The sensory scents of late summer
August brings a unique sensory blend of late summer and early fall. Kymberly Foster Seabolt reflects on the powerful nostalgia tied to everyday scents, from sunscreen and fresh pencils to Jergens lotion and old wood floors, proving that our childhood is often stored in the smells of the past.
