Junia Frost

This as-told-to essay was submitted by Uma R. to The Growing Home and edited for length and clarity. I grew up outside Chicago, in a brick house on a quiet street where the lawn was trimmed, the bills got paid and dinner showed up at six. From the outside, my family looked steady. Inside, I … Read more

As told to The Growing Home by Uma R.; edited lightly for flow, length and clarity. I remember the exact night because the kitchen light was too bright, the tea had gone lukewarm and my husband looked older than I had ever seen him. We were sitting in our little brick house in Evanston, just … Read more

This as-told-to essay was shared by Olivia R. with The Growing Home and edited for length and clarity. I used to think unhappiness would arrive with a crash. I pictured slammed doors, a dramatic goodbye, or some giant loss that left a mark you could point to. What I had was softer than that. It … Read more

This as-told-to essay was submitted to The Growing Home by Lila R. and edited lightly for clarity and flow. I used to feel awkward when people said I had a beautiful soul. I would laugh, look down at my coffee and change the subject. The compliment felt too big for me. I was a regular … Read more

As told to The Growing Home by Sofia R. and edited lightly for flow and clarity. I grew up in a brick apartment building outside Joliet, Illinois, where the heat clicked loud in winter and every grocery trip had a plan. My mother kept a running list on the side of the fridge. My father … Read more