Convos with my 2-year-old: parent-child conversations re-enacted with another adult
If you guys are looking for a laugh, get pumped because I found it for you: yesterday Warmland Films released the first installment of Convos With My 2 Year Old. The video series is brilliant: they’re taking actual conversations between a two-year-old and her dad and replacing the two-year-old with an adult male.
How to start a book club… for babies
Once a month, a handful of my friends meet up at our friend’s house for our babies book club. We still refer to it as “baby book club” even though there’s no denying that our children aren’t babies anymore. They’re energetic, willful, spirited two-year-olds who run, laugh, fight over toys, and keep us constantly on our toes. They’re also two-year-olds who love to be read to. Like most toddlers their age, they love to be held on our laps while listening to stories and looking at colorful and beautiful picture books.
Family meetings help my relationship, save me money, and rock my socks
I am a terrible housekeeper. I’m also terrible at saving money. And talking about my feelings. And cooking (because I don’t plan ahead). And making time for my husband. At least, I WAS terrible at all of these things until… family meetings! I found a print-out somewhere in the depths of the internet called “Peek at the Week.” I showed it to my husband and he was mostly indifferent about it until I told him all of my amazing plans.
My best friend and her kids might come live with us — any advice on creating a non-biological family?
My best friend is a single mom with two kiddos who are my godchildren/niece and nephew. Since her divorce, she’s been living with her parents in a pretty cramped living situation in our hometown. She left college when she got married, and even living with parents, childcare costs have prevented her from going back to school for more than a class at a time and sometimes not at all. She’s been struggling even more financially recently, and my husband and I have been talking more and more about offering that she come and live with us for a bit to focus on school.
My aunt adopted my daughter: how I birthed my niece
In early 2008, I realized I was pregnant. Now to an outside observer it would seem a rather obvious outcome. I had just engaged in my first act of sexual intercourse, we didn’t use protection and I had no idea where I was on my cycle. I was 23 and had just started my second semester of college.
We’re thinking about creating a family name — how can we avoid losing our heritage in the process?
My partner and I are thinking about coming up with an entirely new last name for our family — one that isn’t attached to either family in any way. I only have one reservation: names often have a long history attached, and it’s likely we’d want to share this history with our future kids.
Pondering the challenges faced by queer families traveling internationally
My partner Jack and I had been excited about planning a family trip to Belize — we found a great VRBO cottage and fabulous flights. We were all ready when Jack asked, “Do we know if they like ‘our kid’ in Belize?” As in: are they ok with queers?
OMG I’m becoming my parents: when it’s not a bad thing
Raise your hands if you’ve ever said something and then realized *gasp* I sound just like my [parental unit]! Are there ways in which you resemble your parents… and that’s actually a good thing? Get into the conversation over on Offbeat Families.