Offbeat Mama | babies

This is Offbeat Mama’s archive of babies posts.

Most Recent Posts About babies

What is it about Mommies and guilt? What is it about that sweet, open, tabula rasa of a face that opens the gates to the guilt hounds and releases them, yelping and baying, around my brain?

Photo by BlondeShot Creative, submitted to the OBM Flickr pool.

I am not a perfect Mom — I don’t even have any aspirations for perfection. I have a laissez-faire approach to germ control. I let my kid put things in his mouth that probably make you squirm (shoes, grass, and, until I discover it and fish it out, actual clods of dirt). I’m ok with that. I even have a half-baked, somewhat supported by scientific evidence PHILOSOPHY about over-sanitization and why that’s a bad thing. I take my baby out of the house in onsies that are sometimes less than clean and (shock, horror!) show his diaper. And you know what? I’m pretty ok with that, too.

If I stop and think about it objectively, I am a great Mom. I provide a constant stream of love and affection. I feed my child, first from my breasts and now that he is getting older, from all of the freshest, most delicious things I can think to offer him. I engage him. I read to him (at least as long as I can before he grabs the book to gum it, or takes off on a mission entirely his own). I teach him animal sounds. I lavish him with praise when he repeats them back to me (in our house saying whuf-whuf after hearing doggy noises = uncontestable baby genius). I try in all ways, in every second of the day to do what is best for him…and, still. The Guilt.

Everybody deals with death differently, and I think that’s a very important fact to always keep in mind when talking to someone who’s lost a child.

What did you get while you were pregnant? More importantly — what didn't you get. How can parents STOP with the rampant consumerism already?

Emily, her fiancée, and their toddler son all live in the same 1,000 square foot space and make it work in a way that's comfortable for everyone.

Suggestions for both parents who are planning to adopt, and friends who are surprised by their "We're adopting!" exclamation.

Mr. Hunny is one super-awesome DJing and piggy-back ride giving DILF.

Elka and her husband recently made it through their first backpacking trip with baby Uli, and she's compiled a list of tips and tricks for fellow backpacking and parenting enthusiasts.

Every so often on a Monday, I peruse the Offbeat Mama Flickr pool for the very best of your submissions and pick my favorites! If you have images you'd like to see featured, go ahead and share 'em!