My badass seven-year-old hero saved the chickens — and his mom
Everyone wants to be a hero — a badass. Few things compare with that feeling of knowing you were there, just at the right moment, and completely changed the outcome of a situation doomed for darkness. I could argue that maybe it’s this need that fuels motherhood, because being a parent requires being a badass many times a day.
My retired midwife mom delivered a baby on a ferry yesterday
The title pretty much says it all. My mom, a retired midwife and midwifery educator (and yes, she’s written for Offbeat Families), delivered a baby girl on the Bainbridge Island to Seattle ferry run yesterday afternoon. Here’s the news report from the Seattle Times…
I’m genderqueer and pregnant: how my tattoos are helping me maintain my identity
Throughout the years I have experienced many different responses to my tattoo work. My tattoos are very personal — the experiences and tattoos themselves are very spiritual to me and all my work has deep symbolic meaning. I’ve recently found myself 35 and pregnant (something I never thought would happen), and my pregnancy has uncovered another benefit to my tattoos.
What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen?
A year-and-a-half ago our then fifteen-year-old daughter told me she was bisexual. She asked if a girl she’s experimented with can spend the night as a friend, but we’re not sure how to answer her question.
Got a princess in the house? Here’s how you can make a felt and tulle princess hat
I am the mother of a (surprisingly, at least to me) very girly-girl, and I have very reluctantly entered the sparkly, pink, flowery world of princesses and twirly skirts and all other such fancy things. Since this seems to be all that my wee girl thinks about these days, I’m just going with it, trying to also emphasize the importance of independence, smarts, strength, and a good old-fashioned mess. While it’s far from my everyday, fancy is quite fun! So I’m letting my sweet one guide me on this sparkly adventure.
How can we work pre-kid hobbies into our life with a toddler?
We have a wonderful one-year-old daughter who we love hanging out with, but we find ourselves feeling stuck at home. Neither my partner or I feel that satisfied, renewed or entertained by our weekends as we tiptoe around nap times, clean up after our toddler or each other, and come to terms with the fact that spending a lot of time sewing, home brewing, driving, or vegging out on Dr. Who marathons is very difficult (and not so desirable) with an active toddler. How do you accommodate pre-kid hobbies into post-kid reality?
How are you modeling a grateful life to your children?
There are two words that you’ll probably hear a lot this time of year (especially this week, if you live in the United States): grateful and thankful. The internet is filled with all kinds of artwork and preachy articles extolling you to make sure you’re doing your best to exhibit each both of these qualities — but depending on what is or isn’t going on in your life, they’re not always easy words to live by.
Our friends are adopting internationally — what can we do to welcome their child?
A couple I know are currently in Ethiopia picking up their son — a beautiful four-year-old they are adopting. I have been seeing photos of him and hearing of his arrival for months and am quite excited for them! We all live in a small, rural town, so I’m sure I’ll be seeing them frequently. Are there any suggestions from parents of adopted children, particularly those who have adopted children from other countries, for what would and wouldn’t be helpful to the family?