Avoiding turbulence: Keep in contact with family at home while traveling abroad
When we started planning our first international family trip, we had a few co-parenting hoops to jump through; negotiation and compromise is often the name of the co-parenting game. For this trip to happen, I had to assure my son’s father that he would continue to have the routine contact he enjoys in our daily life, and that we would keep him apprised of our travel plans. As I sat down to work all the kinks out in this travel agreement, I learned several valuable lessons we will continue to employ as we enjoy traveling as a family and keeping all branches of our family tree satisfied and smiling.
Everything I know about marriage I learned from Terry Miller (Dan Savage’s husband)
Back in 2006 when I was working a full-time corporate job, while also trying to write what would become Offbeat Bride the book, I almost had a nervous breakdown. Desperate for some guidance and inspiration, I sent an email to my local hero, Dan Savage. His advice was basically that he owed it all to his partner. His then-partner? Terry Miller, who is now (thanks to Washington’s marriage laws) Dan’s husband. In the 10 years since I had this exchange, I’ve basically built my het marriage to emulate their gay marriage, and I’m convinced it’s been the secret to everything being happy.
Johanna & Gesche: From Swedish faery wedding to working hard (but not on their love)
Well not that much has happened or changed… We’ve been traveling, getting more tattoos, and decorating our apartment. We decided we’re not ready for kids yet so we’re adopting another kitten. Our love life hasn’t changed much, neither has our every day life. Except that we have more time planning our time and future together now that we don’t have to plan a wedding anymore (we were engaged for almost three of the five years we’ve been together before the wedding after all). We’re both working full time jobs and between that and friends/family and the kittens, time just flies by.
An art historian’s eclectic, nerdy, queer, and academic-themed 650 sq ft apartment
My decorating style and clothing style are one and the same: lots of texture, pattern, and color, and a mix of old and new, femme and butch. Plus lots of purple and lots of pink, from my hair to my lipstick! I want my home to feel not just lived-in, but full of items you can’t wait to pick up and find out more about.
A Southern engagement/family session for two moms and their kiddos
The family chose to shoot near a lake they call “Turtle Lake” (they recently set a turtle free there). Everyone showed up in matching bow ties and Toms and, according to Schellie, ROCKED their photos.
Where can I find children’s books about LGBT adoptive families?
My wife and I are currently in the middle of adopting! I keep on looking for adoption books to collect and share with our future wee ones, but all of the adoption kid’s books I find always have a mommy and daddy on them. Where oh where can I find the unicorns that are two-mom adoption books?
A US military pre-op trans woman and fiancée ponder parenthood
As a pre-op trans woman struggling with life in the US Armed Forces (while “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is not gone, transgender people are still forced to live in the dark) who had just arrived at a new command with no friends, no idea what I was in for, and no clue who I could trust. A dream of a woman — who was also fairly new to the command — entered into my life. At the time I assumed I had no chance with her. Even if I did, all the heartbreak I had experienced over the years had left me believing that the women I’m attracted to never understand my journey as a transgender woman, and are never willing to help me through the issues I deal with on a daily basis.
The Good Mother Myth: redefining motherhood to fit reality
Her kids have always slept through the night, and even if they don’t, she still manages to look like she has had eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. There is always a well-balanced, home-cooked meal on her dinner table. She either happily stays at home or holds down a fulfilling job while still finding time to join the PTA, run the school’s book sale, and makes it to every single soccer game. She is usually white, middle to upper class, heterosexual, and neither too young nor too old. But above all… she’s a myth. And it’s this myth that divides women and pits mothers against each other while fueling the flames of the manufactured “mommy wars.”