By making fun of appliqued denim vests, Woman’s Day and Keds (RachelZ) you are showing that you even care what people wear… Do you think you are cooler than those sneaker-wearing, scrapbooking moms? Maybe I’m fortunate to be surrounded by people who don’t really even notice what people wear on their feet or what magazines they read… I don’t know where such judgmental/mean people dwell. I feel for anyone who lives in their midst.
Isn’t part of being cool (though maybe not hip) not really giving a blank what other people do or think – at least in terms of superficial things like clothing and hobbies? (Caring if people litter or have enough money to eat is a tad more important, I would argue.) Though I think Babble and the like are good places to air the fluff… it is fun to read!
Observation from a relative newcomer: Babble does seem to have a disproportionate number of upper-income participants… there a quite a few parents in our communities for whom fretting about music downloads or what onesie to put the kid in today might be a nice respite from ten hours of minimum wage work just to be able to pay the light bill and buy a gallon of milk.
What I find odd is that a) anyone who is hip really gives a rat’s ass what Time Magazine thinks about their blogging and parenting skills and b) why hipster parenting is so cool or uncool depending on where you’re standing.
I’m old (45). Too old for hipster things like Punk Rock and Dock Martins. I do own 2 pairs of sweats with skulls on them though. My oldest is 24 my littlest 6. I did Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I hate Barney. I knit, I sew, I shop at Whole Foods, and I scrapbook. I blog and I love to read other parenting blogs. I’m rather politically liberal and intensely opinionated.
Of all this I think I’m eclectic and open minded. Hip, maybe, maybe not. Douche bag — never. Bitch– absolutely. Frankly, no matter how cool we are as parents are kids are going to rear up at some point and find their own coolness that is the polar opposite of our own. Still, if for one moment my daughter’s eyes light up and she tells me she loves a song I love or a movie I love, it’s all worth it.
Holy christ, you people. If I decide I WANT to start, let’s say, scrapbooking (because you know? it seems kind of creative and fun to me), are you going to kick me out of the club? Do we really have to be as exclusionary as the people on the alleged “other side” of this alleged hipster-parenting “debate?” How about raising the level of discourse above i-wear-chucks-and-you-wear-dockers?
I live in Los Angeles. Here, there is nothing MORE conformist than putting your kid in a Clash onesie. Every baby boutique West of the LA River features a size 12-18 month Che Guevara t-shirt in the window. My wife recently had a baby shower for our second child, and every single gift from every single Westside, ivy league, yuppie was some ironic artifact of post modern hipsterdom. Throw a rock in LA and you’ll hit someone who will bob their head in agreement with every sentiment expressed in this blog. You guys ARE the established, conformist squares. Your kids will hate your music just like every kid in every generation hates her parents’ music. Please spare me this “victim of the judgmental squares” routine. It just doesn’t ring true.
The joke is, hipster parents think they are nonconformists who refuse to let popular culture dictate who they are, or what they wear — and yet, and yet, look around! you ALL look and dress the same, like the same 5 bands and live in the same 5 places. The TRUE nonconformists are those of us who ditched the shackles of our supposed hipsterdom when we decided to grow up and become parents, thus risking the wrath of judgmental, provincial hipsters like Babble readers.
The criticism of Babble I’ve read outside the mainstream media is not about the content, but rather the blatant branding going on here. What exactly, then, does claiming this is a website for the “new urban parent” mean? Babble dug their own hole by trying to go after some sort of marketing niche instead of just being a solid, alternative parenting website for all parents that abhor Parents magazine, not just those that live the “urban lifestyle”. The message is further muddled by the contradictory fact that most of the Strollerderby writers, according to their bios, seem to live in the suburbs or at best the “rough and tumble” streets of San Francisco. You guys can try and spin it all you want as to what Babble is supposed to be, but as long as that tag line comfortably rests next to the logo, us squares in the suburbs are going to have a hard time believing it.
We’re just individuals, raising our kids the way we think is right. And anyone who doesn’t like it can go vote for GW Bush. Oh, wait… they did that… and it didn’t turn out so good… Huh. Guess it goes to show you that thinking for yourself is a good thing.
Anyway, you may want to remove the photo–istockphoto is a pay website, and you might get sued for using it illegally. They aren’t that expensive, actually, and I’ve purchased some of their images before and used and edited them. But, wouldn’t want you to get in trouble!
I can see TIME magazine’s point, although pinning this on “hipsters” is a little unfair. I think many parents can be guilty of this, hipster bloggers or not.
My brother, who is not a hipster (probably more of a marching band dork), basically sees his daughter as an extension of himself. He makes her listen to the music he likes, forces her to play in the school band (the child has no talent), and even told her what instrument to play. When she wanted to play clarinet, he yelled at her and told her that she had to play trumpet. What girl wants to play trumpet?
He also put her in karate and she has no interest in doing it. When I ask her if she likes it she says “It’s OK.” I know that she wanted to take swimming classes but he has never taken her.
She is now in 8th grade. Instead of listening to that weird girl violin trio that my brother forced down her throat, what doe she have on her ipod? Let me see….Hannah Montana, Ashley Tisdale, High School Musical, AJ and whatever. I am sure my brother is horrified.
So what’s the lesson? Kids will end up doing what they like. You might end up with a kid who loves Jessica Simpson, or someone like her, no matter how much Ramones, Clash, Modest Mouse, weird girl violin trio, or whatever you shove down their throats.
i think only time will tell….if your kids are LESS ‘douche bags’ less consumer obsessed gits like the younger generation (or Gen Y) appear to be today, if your kids have a less of a sense of self important entitlement….
Then we will know which ‘way’ is the right way.
I have my doubts.
I HOPE I raise my kids ok.
I hope they don’t turn out to be selfish rude jerks.
But I don’t call myself traditional OR hipster…so who knows.
I’m pretty sure I got a c-section and not a lobotomy, but you would think that perhaps I should have sprung for the brain-cleanse in order to avoid the “hipster” label.
So, I’m a mother now. Does that mean I have to go buy some “mom” jeans? Or should I just cut to the chase and get myself some stirrup pants? Instead od Doc Martens and Chuck T’s shoudl I perhaps get some Keds? A denim button-down embroidered with Disney characters? Holiday-themed vests?
Do I have to start scrapbooking? Am I still allowed to knit or is that too hip? Can I still download that Editors CD I’ve been meaning to buy or do I have to go but the new Josh Groban instead?
Does that mean I have to subscribe to Woman’s Day magazine? Do I have to buy a Swiffer? Do I have to [gasp] shave my legs? Should I have named the baby Emily instead of Jillian? Should she NOT have her onesies printed with U2 and The Clash?
Somebody please let me know so I can make all of these people who are so offended by “hipster parents” feel better.
I like your piece, but please have someone proofread it for right and wrong usage of “it’s” and “its.” It’s probably un-hip of me, but the mistakes bother me.
mmm.. nice design, I must say..
Nice design, good graphical content. I think I’ll come back later again;)
Ditto Athanasius and Squawks.
By making fun of appliqued denim vests, Woman’s Day and Keds (RachelZ) you are showing that you even care what people wear… Do you think you are cooler than those sneaker-wearing, scrapbooking moms? Maybe I’m fortunate to be surrounded by people who don’t really even notice what people wear on their feet or what magazines they read… I don’t know where such judgmental/mean people dwell. I feel for anyone who lives in their midst.
Isn’t part of being cool (though maybe not hip) not really giving a blank what other people do or think – at least in terms of superficial things like clothing and hobbies? (Caring if people litter or have enough money to eat is a tad more important, I would argue.) Though I think Babble and the like are good places to air the fluff… it is fun to read!
Observation from a relative newcomer: Babble does seem to have a disproportionate number of upper-income participants… there a quite a few parents in our communities for whom fretting about music downloads or what onesie to put the kid in today might be a nice respite from ten hours of minimum wage work just to be able to pay the light bill and buy a gallon of milk.
OK, I’ll lighten up now.
First, I know, I used the word “blogosphere.” I apologize. Second, in case you haven’t heard, James Poniewozick
What I find odd is that a) anyone who is hip really gives a rat’s ass what Time Magazine thinks about their blogging and parenting skills and b) why hipster parenting is so cool or uncool depending on where you’re standing.
I’m old (45). Too old for hipster things like Punk Rock and Dock Martins. I do own 2 pairs of sweats with skulls on them though. My oldest is 24 my littlest 6. I did Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I hate Barney. I knit, I sew, I shop at Whole Foods, and I scrapbook. I blog and I love to read other parenting blogs. I’m rather politically liberal and intensely opinionated.
Of all this I think I’m eclectic and open minded. Hip, maybe, maybe not. Douche bag — never. Bitch– absolutely. Frankly, no matter how cool we are as parents are kids are going to rear up at some point and find their own coolness that is the polar opposite of our own. Still, if for one moment my daughter’s eyes light up and she tells me she loves a song I love or a movie I love, it’s all worth it.
Oh and Aly. I always love your point of view.
First, I know, I used the word “blogosphere.” I apologize. Second, in case you haven’t heard, James Poniewozick
Holy christ, you people. If I decide I WANT to start, let’s say, scrapbooking (because you know? it seems kind of creative and fun to me), are you going to kick me out of the club? Do we really have to be as exclusionary as the people on the alleged “other side” of this alleged hipster-parenting “debate?” How about raising the level of discourse above i-wear-chucks-and-you-wear-dockers?
I live in Los Angeles. Here, there is nothing MORE conformist than putting your kid in a Clash onesie. Every baby boutique West of the LA River features a size 12-18 month Che Guevara t-shirt in the window. My wife recently had a baby shower for our second child, and every single gift from every single Westside, ivy league, yuppie was some ironic artifact of post modern hipsterdom. Throw a rock in LA and you’ll hit someone who will bob their head in agreement with every sentiment expressed in this blog. You guys ARE the established, conformist squares. Your kids will hate your music just like every kid in every generation hates her parents’ music. Please spare me this “victim of the judgmental squares” routine. It just doesn’t ring true.
The joke is, hipster parents think they are nonconformists who refuse to let popular culture dictate who they are, or what they wear — and yet, and yet, look around! you ALL look and dress the same, like the same 5 bands and live in the same 5 places. The TRUE nonconformists are those of us who ditched the shackles of our supposed hipsterdom when we decided to grow up and become parents, thus risking the wrath of judgmental, provincial hipsters like Babble readers.
The criticism of Babble I’ve read outside the mainstream media is not about the content, but rather the blatant branding going on here. What exactly, then, does claiming this is a website for the “new urban parent” mean? Babble dug their own hole by trying to go after some sort of marketing niche instead of just being a solid, alternative parenting website for all parents that abhor Parents magazine, not just those that live the “urban lifestyle”. The message is further muddled by the contradictory fact that most of the Strollerderby writers, according to their bios, seem to live in the suburbs or at best the “rough and tumble” streets of San Francisco. You guys can try and spin it all you want as to what Babble is supposed to be, but as long as that tag line comfortably rests next to the logo, us squares in the suburbs are going to have a hard time believing it.
La R
We’re just individuals, raising our kids the way we think is right. And anyone who doesn’t like it can go vote for GW Bush. Oh, wait… they did that… and it didn’t turn out so good… Huh. Guess it goes to show you that thinking for yourself is a good thing.
Anyway, you may want to remove the photo–istockphoto is a pay website, and you might get sued for using it illegally. They aren’t that expensive, actually, and I’ve purchased some of their images before and used and edited them. But, wouldn’t want you to get in trouble!
I can see TIME magazine’s point, although pinning this on “hipsters” is a little unfair. I think many parents can be guilty of this, hipster bloggers or not.
My brother, who is not a hipster (probably more of a marching band dork), basically sees his daughter as an extension of himself. He makes her listen to the music he likes, forces her to play in the school band (the child has no talent), and even told her what instrument to play. When she wanted to play clarinet, he yelled at her and told her that she had to play trumpet. What girl wants to play trumpet?
He also put her in karate and she has no interest in doing it. When I ask her if she likes it she says “It’s OK.” I know that she wanted to take swimming classes but he has never taken her.
She is now in 8th grade. Instead of listening to that weird girl violin trio that my brother forced down her throat, what doe she have on her ipod? Let me see….Hannah Montana, Ashley Tisdale, High School Musical, AJ and whatever. I am sure my brother is horrified.
So what’s the lesson? Kids will end up doing what they like. You might end up with a kid who loves Jessica Simpson, or someone like her, no matter how much Ramones, Clash, Modest Mouse, weird girl violin trio, or whatever you shove down their throats.
i think only time will tell….if your kids are LESS ‘douche bags’ less consumer obsessed gits like the younger generation (or Gen Y) appear to be today, if your kids have a less of a sense of self important entitlement….
Then we will know which ‘way’ is the right way.
I have my doubts.
I HOPE I raise my kids ok.
I hope they don’t turn out to be selfish rude jerks.
But I don’t call myself traditional OR hipster…so who knows.
Another great post, Alisyn. You girlies are on a roll!
I’m pretty sure I got a c-section and not a lobotomy, but you would think that perhaps I should have sprung for the brain-cleanse in order to avoid the “hipster” label.
So, I’m a mother now. Does that mean I have to go buy some “mom” jeans? Or should I just cut to the chase and get myself some stirrup pants? Instead od Doc Martens and Chuck T’s shoudl I perhaps get some Keds? A denim button-down embroidered with Disney characters? Holiday-themed vests?
Do I have to start scrapbooking? Am I still allowed to knit or is that too hip? Can I still download that Editors CD I’ve been meaning to buy or do I have to go but the new Josh Groban instead?
Does that mean I have to subscribe to Woman’s Day magazine? Do I have to buy a Swiffer? Do I have to [gasp] shave my legs? Should I have named the baby Emily instead of Jillian? Should she NOT have her onesies printed with U2 and The Clash?
Somebody please let me know so I can make all of these people who are so offended by “hipster parents” feel better.
Noted and fixed.
shivers… you rule!
I like your piece, but please have someone proofread it for right and wrong usage of “it’s” and “its.” It’s probably un-hip of me, but the mistakes bother me.