Category: Family

Family

Family Language

October 11th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

Familect: the memory and meaning in our weird, family-specific, words often born of the wild minds of children.

Caitlin Gibson, The Washinton Post. September 3, 2025

Along the way, actually last month, I learned the word familect.

While not knowing the definition of familect, I experienced its beginnings over thirty-five years ago. My middle son asked for up-lups at bedtime. When my husband and I had no idea what he wanted and told him so, our son became more insistent. Finally, my husband said, “Show us the up-lups.”

I vividly remember the little finger pointing as my husband carried him down our long hall until the finger pointed to our 1950s pink-tiled bathroom and finally the bathroom cabinet. My husband opened the cabinet, and my son pointed to a bag of cough drops. My husband pulled them out, and our one-year-old helped himself.

We’ve moved beyond smashed potatoes and pupcakes aka cupcakes, but up-lups have remained. And, as Gibson says in her article, familect is a sweet reminder of the simpler days. For our family, it’s when our now-grown son wore red short overalls and was beginning to walk.

May your familect bond and bless your family.

Family, Stories I Share

The Blessing of Unity

August 16th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

When my Uncle Floyd passed in 2020, I received the chance to make new memories with my brother. We spent more time together than we had since he drove me to graduate school in 1978.

Due to Covid-19, my brother and I were the only family members at the funeral. Aside from a model train set, we were also the only heirs. As we went through Uncle Floyd’s possessions, we shared memories, perspectives, and generosity.

My brother identified my grandfather’s sacred M&M dish. (My grandfather never shared.) My brother admitted he snuck them. “The clank of that lid was loud,” he said. Law-abiding Mollie was shocked.

We laughed over an 18-inch Santa in a sealed box. “I guess one night Uncle Floyd turned on QVC and thought, ‘Perhaps I should order that Santa,’” my brother said.

I treasured our unity. He took the Santa. I took the M&Ms dish. He transported my choices that I couldn’t take on the plane—cast-iron skillets, handmade quilts, and my Aunt Margie’s 1928 toddler’s chair. We agreed on items to give to give non-heirs. We didn’t argue over anything.

Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! Psalm 133:1(ESV)

Family, Friendship, Parenting

The Power of Cake

June 21st, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

All the world is a birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.

George Harrison.

I have incredibly wonderful memories of my grandmothers. Unconditional love, sacrifice, understanding, laughter, special gifts, family stories, and more. I remember some of those in detail but not all.

However, I remember in detail the cakes my grandmothers fed me. Almost forty years after my last bites, I can visualize the appearance and recall the taste of homemade apple stack cake made by Mamaw and the red velvet and coconut cakes Grandmommy bought from Miller’s Bakery.

What’s another cherished childhood memory? The rainbow cake my parents bought from Glenwood Bakery. That Saturday outing lasted only one or two years, but the memories have lasted sixty. The colorful layers that were revealed after that moist cake was cut were marvelous to my young eyes.

My book club shares their cake details and photos.

I hadn’t thought about my childhood cakes until I read the opening quote by George Harrison. I googled the psychology of cake, and the best description is below.

Cake is not just a food; it’s an emotion.

Anonymous

Let’s take seriously the joy of cake and its effects on us.

Family, Holidays

Why? It’s Tradition

December 23rd, 2023
Mollie T. Cox

Before I had children, I said things like “Wouldn’t this be a nice tradition when we have children?” I didn’t know that traditions are unplanned.

The first day of our first beach trip, our sons made a late-night run to the grocery store. I gave them a list, but they had discretion. First-day, late-night grocery runs at the beach as well as purchasing unnecessary items became a “tradition.”

The evening before my sons took their first College Board Advanced Placement tests, my youngest wanted a new pen. Buying a new pen at Wal-Mart the evening before an Advanced Placement test became a “tradition.” Purchasing a pen sooner or at a different store would violate “tradition.”

Christmas morning—minutes before we gather to exchange gifts—my sons scramble to wrap the presents they are giving. Days earlier, I suggest that presents should be wrapped. I remind. I have even said, “Pretend it’s Christmas morning and wrap your presents.” My husband finally told me, “Forget it. Wrapping presents on Christmas morning is a tradition.”

Along the way I learned that traditions are events you either couldn’t stop or didn’t stop from continuing.

What are your unplanned traditions?

Family, Friendship

Cups Of Tea

September 29th, 2023
Mollie T. Cox

If you are cold, tea will warm you;

If you are too heated, it will cool you;

If you are depressed, it will cheer you;

If you are excited, it will calm you.

William Ewart Gladstone, British Statesman

This quote describes me although changing “tea” to “making tea” would also be accurate. I suspect I make more tea than I drink. The exception should have been aboard the Emerald Princess this week as I cruised to Canada. However, I learned today that teatime is no longer offered daily.

I don’t know if I will make the only teatime offered because the number of guests is limited. If I do, I suspect that the waiters in white jackets moving among the white-clothed tabletops will remind me of my aunt who likes to ask, “Who will bring her a cup of tea?” (See here.)

May someone bring you a cup of tea this week.