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.

How can I respond politely to unsolicited conception and child-raising advice?

My husband and I are planning to start trying to conceive this summer. I’m so excited about the prospect of starting our family and becoming a mother! We’re doing everything we can to prepare, and I want my friends and family to be excited for us too… but so far that’s not the response I’ve gotten.

A rainbow-themed baby shower from rainbow heaven land

Alexandra recently hosted a baby shower for her friend, and decided on a theme: RAINBOWS! Get ready for rainbows, rainbows, and more rainbows EVERYWHERE.

DIY Father’s Day gifts and activities you can pull off for under $10

Whether or not you’re co-parenting with a male, many of us know of a dad or two that we feel really deserves to be celebrated. So if it’s your partner, brother, best friend, or the guy who lives across the street — here are a few ways that you can help rock his world on Father’s Day without spending more $10.

What kind of comics can I share with a four-year-old?

Meredith wants to get her kiddo into comic books, but the trouble is she doesn’t really know a lot about them. Comic book geeks: fill her in on all of the kid-friendly but not cheesy-cartoony comics out there!

Tips for helping your offbeat student navigate the waters at public school

No one wants their child to miss out on the opportunity to be themselves, and creativity and individuality can seem impossible in a large, standardized school environment. I have seen, though, that it can work.

Collaborative photography with my autistic five-year-old

Lately, the line in my photography and Remy’s is blurring just a teeny tiny bit. (No, I am still not letting him shoot with my DSLR. It just weighs too much and would be too expensive to replace if he dropped it.) Remy has moved on from the Canon point-and-shoot I was letting him use when there were fresh batteries to be found. He has also discovered a love of the iPod camera, just as I have.

The joys of gardening with a toddler

Spending a couple of hours out in the garden on a sunny morning or afternoon is a fantastic way to spend some time with your children. They get to learn new things and have fun doing something productive.

How can I keep cool while baby-wearing in high temperatures?

Temperatures are currently on the rise as some parts of the world move into summer. How can baby-wearing mamas and papas keep themselves and their little ones cool and still wrapped?