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.

Kate at the organic blueberry farm

Thanks to photographer Lauren McGlynn for sharing this wonderful shot with me. She explains, “This is my friend Kate and her baby on her organic blueberry farm in North Carolina.” For two beautiful maternity shots from Lauren, keep reading… For more of Lauren’s wonderful photos, head to laurenmcglynn.com

I’m a stay-at-home sister. Let me tell you about The Look.

In traditional terms I wouldn’t be considered a parent. I have never given birth, I hold no legal guardianship over another life, but I was born a mother. My maternal instinct kicked in early. I love taking care of people and kids absolutely melt me. So when my mom started talking about wanting to become involved with foster care I absolutely supported her.

Offbeat guardian angel

The dragon is an IKEA Minnen Drake. It’s been discontinued from IKEA, but you can find them on eBay sometimes.

Why I threw out my birth plan

Long before we made that ‘end-of-the-first-trimester-safe-zone’ announcement, I set out to arm myself with information. I bought twenty or so different books, ranging topically from c-sections to homebirths, joined every pregnancy website I could find, pored over every birth story I could get my greedy little hands on, and began deciding just how things would go this time around…

Eleven weeks early and a fighter from the start

From the very start of my pregnancy, I knew that my little one would come before her due date, maybe a week or two early. Never in my wildest imaginings did I think she would be ELEVEN weeks early! It was Tuesday, March 3, 2009. I woke up with the most intensive heartburn I had […]

What could be more punk than a mohawk and a lollipop?

I love this wonderful photo that Amy Turn Sharp submitted of her son Blaise. You can see the full series of shots over at her blog.

Mile-high Motherhood: How to breastfeed while piloting a plane

My daughter’s infant car seat had attached so nicely to the right front seat of my Mooney TLS single-engine airplane that our loving mother-daughter piloting adventures seemed meant to be.

The Talk

This week we received a sheet of paper from the district—a head’s up, if you will—about a few films that will be shown to the 5th and 6th grade classes between now and the end of the year.

Yep, those videos.