Category Archive

People

“Homeowner”, “renter” or “squatter” – whatever the label, these occupants take the Offbeat wherever they go.

How to find yourself when you’re focused on raising someone else?

Younger mamas, I want you to know that us older mamas are just as befuddled at times as you are. I was in my mid-30s when I had my first child, and I don’t feel as if you ever finish the finding-yourself journey — nor would I want to. It’s part of the joy of being alive.

That said, here’s what’s helped for me to reconnect in areas of my life that need it…

Infertility, and the 5 stages of grief

During the first six months of marriage, I wasn’t too concerned about my fertility. After all, I was unaware of any fertility difficulties within my family. At the six month mark, I began feeling impatient. When there was still nothing after eight months. This is about when I started going through the stages of grief

Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum

My son is diagnosed with Asperger’s and my daughter was diagnosed with moderate autism. Just recently my therapist told me that I fall on the spectrum too.

Being told that was like a door I had been pushing at finally opening and letting in the fresh air, I knew it I was different, I knew it in my bones since before I had my son, I just didn’t know how to speak about these things.

5 tips for online dating on Craigslist

Yes, I used Craigslist for online dating, and YES you can find ANYTHING on there. Even a spouse.

I had no idea of the reputation of Craigslist before I got on it, maybe if I had I wouldn’t have used it. But I did online dating via Craigslist for probably six years and went on maybe a couple hundred dates.

Here’s my advice…

Supporting a transitioning family member, when there’s an un-supportive family

My husband’s sister is transitioning from female to a male. While we’re supporive, my husband’s family still thinks this is a phase, and Moe* (not their real name) will just go back to being “herself” again when this gets old.

They aren’t considering the fact that Moe has already started testosterone injections, and seems very set about this decision…

How I got over my fear of losing myself in a relationship

As someone who spent years struggling between wanting to be in a relationship AND be super independent, I can relate to the fear of losing myself in a relationship.

But now that I’ve been in a relationship for seven years, I couldn’t be happier! Part of what helped me get through my fear was asking myself these questions…

Scrubbing a stranger: my twist on Tinder’s disposable dating culture

I went on a Tinder date with a heartbroken, griefstricken stranger. There was no chemistry, but there was clearly… something.

So for our second date, I did something weird.

6 not-at-all-sexy things to do to have more sex in a relationship

My sex drive has been at the centre of a few arguments and tears in the past little while. Right now, even if we wanted to do it more often, our weeks are so busy we don’t even have the time! But here’s what helped us have more sex in a relationship, even when we’re super-busy…