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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Come indulge in sweet baby-Hobbit-sized chairs and vintage family photo goodness

If you dig all things vintage, you’ll love this family photo session — especially the old vinyl and handmade baby chair!

Pushba had her baby!

Because how could I not report the birth of my favorite Russian mama’s second child?! From what I can tell from Google Translator, Pushba gave birth last week to a health boy named Elisey via emergency c-section.

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Our genderqueer family has a lesbian Dad

Many genderqueer parents pick alternative names for their parental role — nothing felt right for my partner, so we’re using Dad.

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DIY handmade felt hats for birthdays (and other days, too)

Princess Lasertron is at it again — this time she’s making super cute felt birthday hats and sharing the how-to with us!

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Do you cuss around your kids?

Emi doesn’t want to censor herself or her future kids, but also doesn’t want to just piss people off — how do you talk about cussing with your kids?

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How will my grandchildren shock me?

I think about the stuff that SO outraged my now-deceased paternal grandmother and am baffled at about how old fashioned she seemed.

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Stop wasting your time arguing with other mothers

Emma Donoghue, author of the book Room (which I found uplifiting, despite its darkness), has written a wonderful piece for the Guardian about how mothers need to back off from bitching at each other about EVERYTHING.

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Becoming a mom motivated me to learn to ride a bike

I wouldn’t say bike riding was a phobia, but I was 22 and I didn’t know how to ride. There was definitely a psychological part to it, but mostly I was just embarrassed. When you’re five, you’re fearless! When you’re 22, not so much.