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 to live with your in-laws while still feeling like an adult and maintaining your autonomy

Loads of us are shacking up with in-laws to save money, but it’s not always easy to feel good about being in the ‘rents house. Luckily, Offbeat Bride’s Community Manager Ang has a WEALTH of ideas on bringing your style to a prohibitive cohabitation situation.

How can my partner and I find common ground about adopting vs. having biological children?

Tara and her partner aren’t quite on the same page about what their future family will look like — how can they come to a mutual decision?

Parents are people, too: musings on the lessons that we teach

It’s super sweet when your kid copies something great that you do, but that’s not always the case — the lessons your kids learn from you at a young age can impact their young adulthood and teen years.

“All our love, Mommy and Momma”: considering identity and lesbian families

I don’t know what it’s like to grow up with a mom and dad, and neither will the daughter I hope to have.

The midwife-assisted “home birth” of Georgia June (in photos)

Natasha and Paul live in Alabama — a state that doesn’t allow licensed midwives to be present at home births. To get around this, they went to Tennessee to give birth to their baby, and here are the photos from the day.

What are the pros and cons of being a self-employed parent?

Being self-employed rocks on many levels, but trying to fit all the things you need and want to do into the hours of the day can sometimes really suck.

All about my unexpected love affair… with the stroller

There Karla was, just sitting around, wearing her baby and minding her own business, and then…A STROLLER CAME INTO HER LIFE. Whatever could this mean?

Wedding photog Jason Lee and his amazing technicolor photos of his kids

Photog Jason Lee lets his kids drink coffee, get on Facebook, and sneeze germy tissues all over each other. Wait, what?