Do I really have to give up my cats because we have a kid?
Three years ago I had my first two babies — my cats, Samson and Thing. I have always had cats in my life, and never had any behavior problems from them. But I haven’t always had (human) babies in my life — until my daughter Abigail was born in April 2012.
Jenny and Skot’s sunflower and music maternity session
Jenny and Skot took advantage of their last pre-baby vacation and had a friend shoot a few maternity photos — complete with happy sunflowers and music playing.
The family that Star Wars costumes together stays together
I have two boys who are very particular about costumes — it is pointless for me to even offer suggestions. It is just not a battle worth fighting for me. A few years ago they decided they wanted to be Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker. I’m not the biggest fan of dressing up, but we found ourselves invited to a costume party at which EVERYONE was supposed to wear costumes — kids and adults. I relinquished control and let the boys decide what the rest of the family should be… and of course they chose Star Wars characters.
I am a transgender dad in a gay relationship who breastfeeds his baby boy
Near the end of my pregnancy, I went to my first breastfeeding support meeting, facilitated by La Leche League. I was excited at the opportunity to learn, and terribly nervous in a room full of strangers — I was a guy at a women-only peer-to-peer help group. When it came to be my turn to speak, I gave my carefully prepared spiel: “My name is Trevor and I am able to be pregnant because I am transgender.”
Our child’s grandparents are Israeli, Syrian, German and Irish — how do we include their traditions without forcing the ideas on our child?
Both my husband and I come from ethnically and religiously mixed homes. My husband is the child of an Israeli Jewish dad and Syrian Muslim mom. I am the daughter of a German Quaker and an Irish Druidic Pagan. We don’t want our child to grow up confused about his/her own background or feel obligated to explore all paths if there’s one they prefer.
Thoughts on deciding whether or not to tell your kids you’re a sex worker
Back when I worked as a stripper, I was just about as out-and-proud as they come. I wrote a blog about stripping under my real name. I cofounded a magazine by and for sex workers. I found community in the sex worker rights movement. But when I gave birth to my daughter two years ago, I began to wonder if I should shut up about my years in the sex industry.
How can family members be extra helpful to a Mom recovering from a Cesarean section?
We just welcomed twins into our family! I’m thrilled to have a new niece and nephew, but my sister-in-law had a cesarean section and no one else in our family has ever experienced one. I’ve always helped and done what I can to help our family’s new moms with housework, pre-made meals, and doing whatever little things they need to have done if welcome — but I’m not sure if there’s something extra I could be doing in this case.
I had to learn to love my baby
I hear my husband coming up the stairs with our four-day-old baby. I hide my head under the duvet and dread their entry to the room, knowing it means I’ll have to feed him. Exhausted and sore from the birth, I wish the baby would disappear for a few hours so I could have my old life back.