Category Archive

Families

Our sister site Offbeat Mama launched in 2009, became Offbeat Families in 2012, and was merged into Offbeat Home & Life in 2015. This archive contains all the posts ever published on those sites! We believe that while children change your life forever, being around kids doesn’t necessitate abandoning your identity. We believe in supporting and inspiring parents and caregivers who are moving beyond mainstream visions of parenting. We welcome anyone who’s interested in families, whether you’re pre-parental, in the process of becoming a parent, or choosing to live childfree.

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“All our love, Mommy and Momma”: considering identity and lesbian families

I don’t know what it’s like to grow up with a mom and dad, and neither will the daughter I hope to have.

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The midwife-assisted “home birth” of Georgia June (in photos)

Natasha and Paul live in Alabama — a state that doesn’t allow licensed midwives to be present at home births. To get around this, they went to Tennessee to give birth to their baby, and here are the photos from the day.

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What are the pros and cons of being a self-employed parent?

Being self-employed rocks on many levels, but trying to fit all the things you need and want to do into the hours of the day can sometimes really suck.

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All about my unexpected love affair… with the stroller

There Karla was, just sitting around, wearing her baby and minding her own business, and then…A STROLLER CAME INTO HER LIFE. Whatever could this mean?

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Wedding photog Jason Lee and his amazing technicolor photos of his kids

Photog Jason Lee lets his kids drink coffee, get on Facebook, and sneeze germy tissues all over each other. Wait, what?

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Has becoming a parent changed your values?

Becoming a parent made author Jonathan Safran Foer become a vegetarian. Has parenthood changed you?

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Walking through the Land of Birth: how our daughter came into the world

Throughout the preceding ten hours of labour, I had not moved, not spoken, not even opened my eyes or mouth to speak. I was meditating. I was CalmBirthing. I was the Birthing Buddha.

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How should we plan baby showers for additional pregnancies?

We’re throwing a baby shower for a second pregnancy — how can we make it fun without stirring up drama?