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 I fell in love with my daughter

I thought it would be like falling in love with a man, where you got a rush and butterflies in your stomach; I thought I would moon over her and love would sweep me off my feet. It never happened that way.

Offbeat DILF

You can call ’em what you want: DILFs or FILTHs (Fathers I’d Like To Hump), but the idea is the same: there are some hot offbeat papas out there, and we’re not above a little good humored objectification between friends. Not because we actually want to do anything adulterous — but just because hot guys are, well, hot, and there’s nothing wrong with appreciating the hotness of dedicated fatherhood.

The Holiday Hustle

The time between November 1 and January 1 produces a lot of hand-wringing. Not because you’re stressing about how to pay for gifts or trying to make vacations line up. That’s the easy part. I’m talking about the Holiday Two-Step.

I had a horrible pregnancy, and I can’t wait to try again!

A lot of women I know talk about having the perfect pregnancy, the perfect birth, the perfect baby. I was one of them. In the beginning of my pregnancy, everything WAS perfect. I was healthy, my growing baby boy was healthy, my hubby, Devin, was amazing, our families were thrilled, friends were ecstatic, life couldn’t […]

Onesie decorating that doesn’t suck: a primer for baby shower planners

I’ve been to other onesie-decorating baby showers, and the results have often been disappointing. But as a long-time crafter, I have faith that anyone can make something adorable with the right tools and support.

Priorities change when husbands become fathers

When you’re falling in love, you have a very important job. You’re choosing your mate for life, and you don’t want to mess it up. You’re looking for someone who makes you laugh and values you as a person. You want to see that he has kindness in his heart and that he will treat […]

Who am I to my partner’s daughter?

My cousin’s parents had been separated for years and her mum happily re-partnered with man that my cousin now happily refers to as her stepdad despite no formal marriage taking place. Along the way my cousin had a few ‘uncles’ and knew playmates who often had their parents’ significant others masquerading as ‘aunties’ and ‘uncles.’

How much do midwives cost in the United States?

How much do midwives generally charge for their services? My husband and I both have jobs with crummy insurance (What? In the United States? Shocker), and I’m a little worried about the cost of birthing a baby in a hospital. Do midwives offer payment plans, like I’m currently making on my couch? -Eliza Midwives, especially […]