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.

When is the right time to have a child?

Ariel and Stephanie weigh in on the question “Am I being foolish by waiting until I feel financially secure before reproducing?”

Lani’s insane-in-a-good-way baby photos

Why cook food when you can just pop a baby in a pot? Without turning on the stove, of course.

Empowered by a caesarian birth

Caesarians are not always celebrated in the Offbeat world, but they are a very real part of the labor & delivery process many women experience. Gillie’s birth story teaches us that, with the right team and encouragement, a caesarian can be every bit as empowering as any other kind of birth.

Facing the challenge of having epilepsy and being a parent

Epilepsy and pregnancy are two situations that don’t easily go hand-in-hand. Ashley has been diagnosed with epilepsy for seven years, and recently gave birth to her son, Xavier.

I toilet trained my baby from day 1

I read about how some parents go diaper free, and teach their babies to use the potty. I was more than skeptical, but then…

DIY Gross out: How to make a horror-tastic intestine wreath

If you want your house to display an original decoration, perfect for Halloween (or anytime of the year if you and/or the kids are horror fans), try making an intestine wreath.

Using acupuncture and herbs to treat morning sickness

As an informed and offbeat consumer, you may want to consider alternative approaches to treating morning sickness. Acupuncture has been used safely and effectively by pregnant women for thousands of years, long before anything resembling Western medical science existed. It is all natural, with no drugs or potentially harmful side effects to threaten your health or that of your baby.

It’s hard rebelling against liberal, tolerant parents

I remember being a 21-year-old party girl in San Francisco, and my dad asking me very straight-forwardly about my recreational substance consumption, and me answering him very honestly. (It was, uh, A LOT at the time.)

My father looked thoughtful for a second and then said, “That’s a pretty heroic dosage of toxins. I hope you’re prioritizing sleep and eating well, too.”

I thought to myself, “…!! Fuck, there’s no way to get a rise outta this guy.” And stopped trying.