Some people get things and some people don’t: how do you explain privilege to your kids?
I’m curious: how do various offbeat parents explain privilege to your kids? Not the “you’ve lost your computer privileges for the day, young lady!” kind of privilege, but the kind of privilege we talk about in social justice work: advantages our society hands to people based on their (perceived or actual) identities and experiences.
Why two men went from New York to India and back to become parents
Brian and I yearned to have a child of our own for years. We explored our options via surrogacy both nationally and internationally. Here in the United States we were deep into the process of surrogacy. It was extremely costly, time consuming, and emotionally taxing. Our attempt at conceiving through different surrogates failed six times. Our funds were dry.
Yep, I’m THAT mom: my story of extended breastfeeding one kid while pregnant with another
My daughter will be two-and-a-half in November. She goes to gymnastics, attends preschool classes, and has been diaper-free for months. She also still nurses. She doesn’t nurse much, and she doesn’t nurse long, but every few hours, up to a few times a day, she will ask for “a quick sip.”
My experience being pregnant while serving in the US Navy
Being a woman in a male hyper-sexual environment is difficult enough, but being pregnant is a whole new story. I was serving on board a US Navy command ship in Yoosuka, Japan, as an electronics technician when I found out I was pregnant. The field I worked in put me with an all-male workforce — it took me almost a year to be seen as a hard worker and as an equal. I pretty much dominated my job. I was the best of the best.
Post-apocalyptic zombie-slaying family portrait session
Jessica at Bakan Photography recently worked a whole lotta bloody magic when she shot this zombie-slaying-themed family session. We first heard about this shoot from a reader (thanks, Katie!) and then we got an email directly from the mama of the family, photographer Jennifer Owen.
Why punk rock dudes can make great dads
In case you haven’t heard yet, there’s a movie rolling through theaters called The Other F Word. In this case, “F” stands for family, and this documentary is all about punks who have become parents. The tag line: “What happens when a generation’s ultimate anti-authoritarians — punk rockers — become society’s ultimate authorities — dads?” pretty much sums it up nicely. The father-focused film follows Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath, and Pennywise’s Jim Lindberg on their punk dad journey, which you can preview here.
How can I wear my baby at Renaissance Fest without clashing with my ensemble?
The Renaissance Fest in my state is happening soon and a group of us are road tripping to spend a weekend there with the kidlets. I have my costumes all picked out, but I have no clue what to do with my toddler. We are a babywearing family, so I’d love to wear her, but I’m pretty (selfishly) concerned about the aesthetic of the Ergo with my corset. I’m also wondering… what would a one-year-old wear to Renaissance Fest anyways?
How taking daily mini-hikes helps me deal with The Baby Stuff
One day, after they had been sitting next to the back door for nearly six months without being used, I felt like my hiking boots were… looking at me. With an expression. I looked back at them and thought about all the reasons why not. My boots stayed where they were, and I made heartfelt explanations as to why I felt we couldn’t be together.