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.

Fighting with your teenage daughter can really suck

Meadow doesn’t seem to know how deeply I am affected by these fights… but maybe I don’t realize how they affect her.

Debunking the myth of a “natural birth”

Does it take a vaginal delivery or medication-free labor to have a “natural” birth? We don’t think so.

Do and Dye: basic DIY fabric art tips for funky rooms

Want a fun art project to do with your kid(s)? Try tye-dying with fabric paint!

How we decorated the nursery without breaking the bank

Decorating your kid’s nursery with style doesn’t have to be a monumentally expensive task — you just have to know where to look.

How do you talk to your kids about people kissing on TV?

While watching TV last night, my 5 year old son asked why two characters were kissing. What’s the best age-appropriate way to talk about this with him?

Let’s talk about birth playlists that don’t revolve around Enya

Music is a HUGE part of many people’s lives, so it only makes sense that you’d want to push out a baby while jamming to your favorite tunes! Here are some of mine.

I spent my teens in the Rotary Youth Exchange program and it ROCKED

Wanna ship your teen out for a while? Liz went to high school in JAPAN as an exchange student through the Rotary Youth Exchange program.