An open letter to gay kids from an incredible 9-year-old lesbian
We got this submission from nine-year-old Amaya who says she’s concerned that many children are being rejected by their families because of their sexuality or gender identity. She hopes that kids will read this article and understand that they don’t have to be afraid, and that they are not alone.
How to keep your whole family warm when walking in sub-zero temperatures
My family only has one car, which my husband uses to commute an hour to work each day. But that doesn’t stop my family from going out and enjoying our neighbourhood. I still drop my son off at preschool a few mornings a week, enjoy library programs, and our awesome local fair-trade coffee shop. If you’ve got two feet, a heartbeat, and some basic gear, sub-zero temperatures and snow can’t get in the way…
How scheduling saves our super-busy, polyamorous, multi-household family
Sharing lives can get messy, emotional, complicated, and exhilarating (and sometimes all in 20 minutes). It’s extraordinarily nice to, once a week, have a time set aside for the exclusive purpose of figuring out the logistics.
Time capsule dance off: Can you beat this 1989 Vanilla Ice cassette tape jam?
We, at the Empire, think you really need to see this amazing video that my little brother found in his own archives… The year: 1989. Joey is all amped up on Christmas and sick beats, thoroughly enjoying his new Vanilla Ice cassette tape, and showing off his sweet, sweet moves (check out my drive-by cameo on rollerblades).
4 crucial steps for arranging the perfect au pair situation
Last spring I jetted off to Catalonia to work as an au pair and learn Spanish. In the end, my experience with my host family wasn’t the best. Now, months later, I look back and see it as a tremendous learning experience. I now have lots of worldly advice on what not to do before living with complete strangers. If I could do it over again, I would, without a doubt, take the following steps to prepare…
Non-religious, non-Santa Christmas books for kids
I’m wondering if anyone has recommendations for non-religious, non-Santa Christmas books for kids. We’re atheists, and we aren’t doing Santa either. I just found Little Blue Truck’s Christmas. In it, the truck delivers Christmas trees to friends. It’s perfect for my two-year old. Anyone have other non-religious, non-Santa Christmas books that might be good for toddlers, preschoolers, and older kids too?
On being raised as a “small person” instead of being “treated like a child”
The idea that a child was a child and nothing more was never really perpetuated in my home. I never felt that there was a role that I was assigned to or an expectation that I had to meet. Growing up I began to see that my parents had a far more interesting approach to raising me than I realized. I wasn’t treated as a child growing up. I was treated like a person… a small person.
We’re not worried about our pit bulls being around our baby
The most persisting hot topic in my life as a mom is the fact that we have two Pit bulls. Well, an American Staffordshire Terrier and a Pit mix extraordinaire to be exact, but really we all know regardless of what I call them they’ll always just be Pit bulls. Are you nervous? Oh please don’t be!