Jam

i s s u e number one D 2 012 D brooklyn nyc

the modern family

jam

My whole idea of family has changed drastically in the past four years with the death of my father and my divorce and the fact that I am now technically a “grown-up.” I am 34 years old and have a 5 year old child and an apartment of my own. I have seen most of my friends “grow up” and pop out babies and/or get married and/or divorced and/or remarried and/or have boyfriends and/or become successful, and/or famous and/or stay single and have kids etc... The idea of a family isn’t a “Mom and Dad and a Baby makes three.” In this day and age of “the future” there are families made up of two dads, moms with boyfriends who have their own kids all living together, or tons of single parents raising kids on their own by choice or not etc...

It is an interesting phenomenon to grow up imagining an idea of family based on Disney movies, and fairy tale books and then to realize that love is nothing like that and when you grow up you don’t turn into someone else who wears a suit and tie, or has a matching duvet and curtain set. I am still me, and my friends are still the same cool stylish exciting weirdos. But now they have kids.

One of my friends, super talented professional photographer and mother Erin Patrice O’brien had the brilliant idea to do a photo shoot highlighting this phenomenon.

We wanted to show that you can be broke, rich, stylish, gay, straight, single, famous, domestic partners, etc... and still be a family. A Modern Family. stella

jam Erin gathered us, shot us, bossed us around, and here we are...to document what a modern family looks like in NYC these days. On Jan 16, 2012, we trekked out into a snowy day to her studio in Cinton Hill, Brooklyn. Stella and Christine were on hand to make sure we looked properly proper. An assistant burned us some bagels. We goofed around in front of her for a little while, and then went back into the snow, to wait and see what was to come of our little session. so here it is. mw

ModernFamilyIndex Number of children ages 0-17 in the U.S. e 74.2 million Percentage of the total population e 24% Percentage of children living with at least one foreign-born parent e 23% Percentage of children who speak a language other than English at home e 21.1% Number of years the onset of dementia is delayed in bilingual elderly e 4 Number of months per year Jeremy Lin’s grandmother spent in the U.S. to help raise him e 11 Percentage of children ages 3-5 who were read to every day by a family member e 55% Percentage of children whose mothers had less than a high school diploma and were read to every day e 31% The percentages of children who were read to daily in the Northeast and the Midwest were not statistically different from those in the West and the South As a child, Toni Morrison’s favorite authors were Jane Austen and Leo Tolstoy Percentage of children ages 4-17 with serious difficulty concentrating e 5% Age of Steve Jobs when his adopted mother taught him to read e 4 In 2009, percentage of children who use the Internet at home e 77% In 1997, percentage of children who use the Internet at home e 22% As a child, Hillary Rodham earned numerous awards as a Brownie and Girl Scout Angela Merkel was often terrified of sports lessons, especially jumping and gymnastics Number of boarding schools Tina Brown was kicked out of e 3 Number of Steven Colbert’s siblings e 10 Number of years a teenage Anderson Cooper was contracted with Ford Models e 4

Jam

theCOLLABO

jam

EDITOR IN CHIEF+PHOTOGRAPHER. erin patrice o’brien ERINPATRICEOBRIEN.COM

ART DIRECTOR. michelle willems MWILLEMSCREATIVE.COM

FASHION DIRECTOR. stella metzner STELLAMETZNER.COM

EDITOR at LARGE. meridith rohana HELLOSHORTIE.COM

RETOUCHER. pablito retoucher PABLITORETOUCHER.COM

HAIR+MAKEUP. christina herbeck KILLERDOOS.COM

sung + masai mommy’s style is mostly plain, but sometimes with a little extra to it. when she’s fancy, she’s really fancy. my style is sort of like hip-hop, cool and sassy.

4

jason + david = scout + gus

how do you spend family time?

eating, playground, storytelling. what do you do differently from your own parents?

not much.

6

noel = max + devlin + bayley + josie my kids dress themselves. very well and very creatively.

isa + julia

she has dressed herself since she was 2.

11

jacqueline + che

my style is like a normal kid who is cool, stars on stuff and cool shoes. orange stuff.

12

josh + ivy = chance

my mom wears lots of low-cut shirts for nursing. my dad has classic old-man style.

14

rey + alexis = rafaella + miles + lev + neena

Is there such a style as rock n’ roll princess?

If so, that would be our style.

16

betty + makenna

when I grow up I want to be a mommy just like my Mommy.

19

evan + gabrielle = ellery + cleo

mommy dresses like applesauce, daddy dresses like a handsome man.

20

dana + kevin = maude + malachy + hazel

WHAT DO YOU DIFFERENTLY THAN YOUR PARENTS?

play with our kids.

DO YOU HAVE A FAMILY STYLE?

sometimes we wear matching outfits for birthdays or holidays.

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meridith + louisa when everything else is a mess, at least we have on nice boots.

25

jake + cristina = salvador

he likes to pick out his own clothes, ones with “nothing on them� – no pictures, prints, stripes. but he still prefers to have me put them on him.

26

matt + po = lucy

we like eclectic stuff. we like patterns, bright colors and stripes. lots of messy hair. and hats.

28

tim + anna = benji + casper

What do you do differently than your parents?

I allow much more chaos.

30

mara + javier = joaquin

he’s only eleven months so we dress him. he has started helping out with the laundry lately, so that’s nice. still hasn’t gotten the folding thing down yet.

33

stella + hugo

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

my wolverine jacket. my feet, I like my feet.

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pablo + maya

mommy is fancy. papi is normal and cool.. my style is a bathing suit, skirts with pockets and sundresses.

37

michelle + nova

my style is fun, funky and summery. mommy’s style is cool and sweet.

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sung + masai how do you spend family time?

Eat! Go to parks. Love the Botanic Gardens. Walk around. Visit friends. Go on little adventures. Occasionally, we watch Netflix on TV and watch films about princesses, mermaids, or kung fu soccer players. what is the funniest thing your kid did recently?

I recorded us singing in the car. It was a rythmic jam session, the song was called “pizza is good.” Masai went crazy at the beginning and end of the song, acting like some italian restaurant owner. Where did she get that schick? what do you differently than your parents?

What a loaded question....Probably my whole approach to childcare is so different than the way I was raised, not because they were not exceptional parents, but because times are different. I think the main thing I have told Masai has to do with an inherent freedom what we have as humans. So, even as I’m imposing certain rules, its with the understanding that it is something I’m imposing on her. who is the boss you or your kid?

Probably both of us are the bosses at different times. Her needs drive my actions. I balance it out by letting some my needs drive my actions. I ask for her opinion, but I make the final decisions.

Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

Our morning routine might be that I have clothes out for her, but she picks and chooses and ultimately wears what she wants. Unless, its unreasonable for the occasion or the weather, I want her to comfy in her clothes.

Do you have a family style? What is it? Or is everyone different?

Yes. We definately have a style, but it changes accordingly. Its a little like casual formal...like Toms in glittery gold, or a cozy but fitted sweater. Right now, I’m in a tomboy phase; its practical and comfortable. On vacation, I dress more femininely and since I’m trying to place myself by the beach, easy dresses are so awesome for feeling like you’re rocking out on the vaca.

Where are your favorite places to shop? For you and for your kids?

I get practically all our clothes from marshall’s, thrift stores (better ones like housing works & city opera house), and H&M. I’ve even noticed that the pieces I buy at thrift stores are H&M. Masai gets some hand-me-downs, but I won’t take them if it doesn’t feel like her. In reality, I could work with just 3 outfits a season, bc I find a couple pieces I like a lot, that’s what I want to wear the most.

D MASAI Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

Mommy’s style is mostly plain, but sometimes with a little extra to it. When she’s fancy, she’s really fancy. My style is sort of like hip-hop, cool, and sassy. if you could have a super power what would it be?

My super power is to make anyone sick, well again...except if they are a bad guy pretending to be a good guy, my super power doesn’t work. why is the sky blue?

Because God made it like that.

jason + david = scout + gus How do you spend family time?

Eating, playground, story telling.

What is the funniest thing your kid did recently?

Accused someone of eating candy.

What do you differently than your parents?

Not much.!

Who is the boss? You or your kid?

No one.

Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

A combination.

Describe your family style.

Eclectic chic.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Crewcuts for kids. Mr. Porter for the Dads.

D GUS Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

I don’t know.

If you could have a super power what would it be?

Um. Why is the sky blue?

That’s how that world is.

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

The dog t-shirt.

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

A frog and a dog.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Artist.

What is your favorite thing to do with your family?

Go to the beach on Fire Island D SCOUT Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

A dress. Dad’s styles is pants and a t-shirt.

If you could have a super power what would it be?

Invisible.

Why is the sky blue?

I don’t know.

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

The skirt with the white dots.

what is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

My Nina Z’s red clogs which i got for my birthday from my dad. I like the noise they make when i walk.

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

An owl and a cat.

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

A dolphin and cat; bc they are my two favorite.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Artist.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Someone who makes jewelry.

What is your favorite thing to do with your family?

Go to the country.

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noel = max + devlin bayley + josie How do you spend family time?

Our family time happens at dinner every night (home-cooked meals) and catching up on our favorite TV shows through the magic of DVR. What is the funniest thing your kid did recently?

Josie: Put on her headphones and sang at the top of her lungs (intentionally annoying).

Devlin: Freestyle rapping at breakfast.

Bayley: Cut a video of all-time fave trampoline moments.

Max: Neglected to get a haircut.

What do differently than your parents?

I don’t smoke.

Who is the boss? You or your kid?

All four of my kids are the collective bosses.

Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

They dress themselves, very well and very creatively.

Do you have a family style? What is it? Or is everyone different?

Everyone’s different--each has their own style but sometimes clothing negotiations ensue.

Where are your favorite places to shop? For you and for your kids?

H&M, Urban Outfitters, The Nike Store and Brooklyn Circus.

D MAX + DEVLIN + BAYLEY + JOSIE Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

Noel’s style: Fashionably comfortable and cute.

Josie: Fashion forward on a budget.

Max: Sporty but chic featuring the hottest kicks.

Bayley: Elegantly cool.

Devlin: Ralph Lauren meets Supreme.

If you could have a super power what would it be?

Josie: Flash travel powers (to avoid commuting).

Max: Super jump power on the court.

Devlin: To be able to make money at will.

Bayley: Super shopping powers.

Why is the sky blue?

All my kids: Why is the ocean blue?

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

Josie: Wife beater tanks.

Bayley: Purses.

Devlin: Levi’s.

Max: Sneakers.

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

Josie: a giraffe and a cheetah Bayley: a gazelle and a vulture Devlin: a fox and a sloth Max: a komodo dragon and a German shepherd What do you want to be when you grow up?

Josie: a photographer or a stylist Bayley: an artist Devlin: a rich director Max: a writer What is your favorite thing to do with your family?

Josie: eat dinner all together Bayley: take pictures and make videos Devlin: watch movies Max: play basketball

isa + julia How do you spend family time?

Dinner and watch films together.

What is the funniest thing your kid did recently?

I don’t know. I probably have to ask her friends.

What do you differently than your parents?

I listen to my kid.

Who is the boss? You or your kid?

Me. Do you dress your kids?

Or do they dress themselves?

She has dressed herself since she was 2.

Describe your family style.

We have a two-home family. She stays with her dad for a week and with me for a week.

I like to think that we are in constant work for communication improvement.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

For you and for your kids?

I like to shop for her at H&M, but she is like “Topshop and American Apparel, Mom!”

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josh + ivy = chance jacqueline + che How do you have family time?

Movies, rollerblading, painting, travel, tickle sessions and lots of random silly moments on the subway. what is the funniest most recent thing your kid did?

Bored at dr. office so he started to tickle himself! what do you differently than your parents?

Definitely more open and don’t hide as much.

Who is the boss you or your kid?

ME! I like to think anyway Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

He does.

Do you have a family style? What is it? Or is everyone different?

Can’t really say but definitely NOT traditional.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

For you and for your kids?

Gap-boutiques in the city-for dudesonly.com D CHE Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

Like a normal kid that’s cool, stars on stuff and like something really cool and natural, and ummm and like cool shoes, like orange stuff. if you could have a super power what would it be?

Invisible powers. why is the sky blue?

What do you mean why is the sky blue?!? Because the earth is blue!!!! Duh!

How do you have family time?

We just got a king size bed. Oh, and we’re big on spontaneous dance parties.

What is the funniest most recent thing your kid did?

He has laughed in his sleep since he was 2 days old.

What do you differently than your parents?

More monochrome dressing.

Who is the boss you or your kid?

Chance is our spiritual adviser. We are the boss of him.

Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

Chance is a baby. But he looks good in everything except for yellow.

Do you have a family style? What is it? Or is everyone different?

Our style is to keep things changing.

Where are your favorite places to shop? For you and for your kids?

Chance loves stylish hand-me-downs and anything from Sweet William.

Josh and Ivy love thrift stores and are very good at shopping on the interweb.

D CHANCE Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

My mom wears low cut shirts for nursing, lots of jewelry for me to practice my grip on, and my dad has classic old-man-style. I mean, he dresses like an old man, not just my old man. None of us really wear clothes with words or sayings on them. I like to dress in a way that you wouldn’t necessarily know what era I live in.

If you could have a super power what would it be?

I’ve been told my neck strength is super-human (for a two-month-old).

I bring out the truth in people. I’m hoping to hold on to that power.

Why is the sky blue?

Look into my eyes.

what is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

Sweatpants (he’s had since forever).

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

I enjoy changing outfits on the reg, so I shit in everything fairly soon after putting it on. Booties pull everything together.

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

A cobra snake and a lizard.

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

Monkey leopard burrito.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A scientist

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Classy

What is your favorite thing to do with your parent/family?

Carnivals

What is your favorite thing to do with your parent/family?

Listen to records. Inspire my Mom and Dad.

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rey + alexis = rafaella miles + lev + neena How do you spend family time?

However we can fit it in!

What is the funniest thing your kid did recently?

My son told me his brain wasn’t functioning because he was too stressed out. He’s four.!

betty + makenna

What do you differently than your parents?

Almost everything, but primarily, communicate.

Who is the boss? You or your kid?

Me.!

Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

They dress themselves, but my philosophy is to keep their closet full of things that I like too.

Describe your family style.

Is there such a style as rock n’ roll princess? If so, that would be our style.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

For you and for your kids?

I don’t think I have a favorite.

D RAFAELLA + MILES Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

R: My style is cute.

R: My Mommy likes to wear jeans, long sleeve shirts with sweaters and her hair in a bun.

M: I like to dress up cool. My mommy likes to dress up fancy.

If you could have a super power what would it be?

R: To give anything to anyone.

M: To fly.

Why is the sky blue?

R: Because sometimes it rains and when water is all together, it is blue.

M: Because the clouds have rain in them so they can spray rain out of them and when the water gets mixed up, it’s blue.

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

R: My silver belt!!

M: My karate kid (a bandana he wears, a la karate kid, in his hair).

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

R: A butterfly and a caterpillar.

M: A black panther and a jaguar.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

R: I want to own a shop that sells jewels.

M: A police officer.

What is your favorite thing to do with your family?

R: Have my birthday.

M: Play with them!

How do you spend family time?

Family time is spent mostly in the evenings and on the weekend.

Brunch at a kid friendly place.

What is the funniest thing your kid did recently?

My kid is funny all the time, she cracks me up.

What do you do differently than your parents?

I do a lot differently than my parents. One of the luxuries that I have that they did not (because they worked evening shifts) is going to school functions. I remember thinking when I was a kid that bothered me that my mom couldn’t go to my events (and dad hardly went due to a language barrier). So when I became an adult I started going to my nephew’s events and now to my own child’s events.

Who is the boss, you or your kid?

In my daughter’s words: “you’re not the boss of me, daddy is!”

Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

I dress my daughter Do you have a family style?

We are all different, my husband has no particular style he is happy wearing whatever...I have to ask him to change out of clothes he painted or hung sheetrock in before going to dinner otherwise he wears whatever is comfortable. I love shoes...my daughter loves color Where are your favorites places to shop?

I am a bargain hunter. I chase sales and enjoy the thrill of getting something at deep discount. I like to shop at department stores for my daughter because she grows so fast. Spending exorbitant amount on things that she will grow out of in 3 months is not happening.

D MAKENNA If you could have a super power what would it be?

Zap things and make them freeze. (So they can stop annoying me) If you could have a super power what would it be?

A unicorn...because they are cute and magical.

What is your favorite things to do with your family?

I like to eat ice cream and bake cookies with my mom, I like to jump on my daddy’s back and ride around.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

When I grow up, I don’t know…I want to be a mommy just like my Mommy.

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evan + gabriel = ellery + cleo How do you spend family time?

Cleo: When we all are together.

Ellery: On the weekend we have a lot of time to play together.

Evan: Making brunch on the weekends.

Gabrielle: The weekends are the best times together because it’s the only time we aren’t all rushing around.

What is the funniest thing your kid did recently?

Recently Cleo has been telling us these ridiculous nonsensical knock-knock jokes. Ellery has been making amazing cartoons.

What do you differently than your parents?

I’d say we are more involved in our kid’s education than our parents were.

Who is the boss you or your kid?

We are the bosses. No doubt they give us a run for it and we lose a lot of battles with them but we do run a tight ship.

Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

Our kids dress themselves. They are both very, very opinionated.

Do you have a family style? What is it? Or is everyone different?

We all have our own style. Cleo is the toughest one and yet she wears the most pink.

Where are your favorite places to shop? For you and for your kids?

Flying Squirrel, Sweet William, the former Bo and the Duck.

D CLEO + ELLERY Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

Cleo: Mommy dresses like applesauce. Daddy dresses like a handsome man.

I dress like a rock and roll star.

Ellery: Mommy dresses like a boy when she goes to work but she dresses like a girl at night. Daddy dresses like a boy.

I dress like a cool person. if you could have a super power what would it be?

Cleo: I wish I could fly.

Ellery: I wish I could swim really well and signal to the animals in the sea.

Why is the sky blue?

Cleo: The sky is blue because it is pretty.

Ellery: The sky is blue because it is reflecting the ocean.

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

Cleo: My favorite accessory is my ice pack.

Ellery: My favorite shirt is my Astroboy shirt.

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

Cleo: I would be a cross between a piggy and a wolf.

Ellery: I would be a cross between a crab and a bat.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Cleo: A rock and roll singer.

Ellery: Robot builder.

dana + kevin = maude + malachy + hazel How do you have family time?

Watching movies.

What is the funniest most recent thing your kid did?

Maude made the observation “everyone is obsessed with uggs” What do you differently than your parents?

Play with our kids.

Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves? they dress themselves Do you have a family style? What is it? Or is everyone different?

We all have our own style, but sometimes we wear matching outfits for birthdays and holidays.

Where are your favorite places to shop? For you and for your kids?

Dana Mini Mini market and shoe market, Maude payless, Malachy gamestop.

D MAUDE + MALACHY Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

Maude: my style is fashion.

Malachy: combination of all boys styles except girls styles such as sexy.

If you could have a super power what would it be?

Maude: I wish I could fly Malachy: Everything, eating, hacking, going inside computer games, fighting and everything else you could think of.

Why is the sky blue?

Malachy: because space is black, but we’re farther from space and closer to the sun and the sun makes it blue.

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

Malachy: Nintendo dsi and accessories for the dsi Maude: i don’t know.

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

Malachy: penguin and an owl Maude: half horse and half cheeta What do you want to be when you grow up?

Maude: a singer Malachy: a movie creator What is your favorite thing to do with your parent/family?

Maude: watch movies

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meridith + louisa How do you spend family time?

Lots of playing, reading books, puzzles and games.

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jake + cristina = salvador How do you spend family time?

On the weekends watching cartoons and hanging out at home together.

What is the funniest thing your kid did recently?

Making up funny faces, poses and dances.

What is the funniest thing your kid did recently?

He lets me shoot him with bow and arrows (suction cup arrows) and somehow it makes us both laugh endlessly.

What do you differently than your parents?

I work so the time I spend with my kids is maximized. I pay more attention to them, for better or worse.

What do you do differently than your parents?

Everything. My mom was a single mom of 2 kids so she had to work a lot. I love getting to spend more time focusing on my kid and being part of his life.

Who is the boss? You or your kid?

I like to think I am the boss but sometimes I’m not so sure.

Who is boss you or your kid?

Definitely the kid although we try.

Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

I select their clothes but they like to literally dress themselves now.

Clothes are an obsession of mine so I’m enjoying playing stylist while it lasts!

Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

He picks out the clothes that have “nothing on them” (no pictures, prints, stripes, etc.), although he still prefers to have me put them on.

Describe your family style.

Casual, funky and when everything else is a mess, at least we have on nice boots.

Do you have a family style? What is it? Or is everyone different?

We all wear a lot of black. You can tell our mood because we’re usually all wearing the same colors on any given day.

Where are your favorite places to shop, for you and for your kids?

Parents shop at Uniqlo for almost everything and Bloomingdale’s for denim and an occasional splurge. For kids: H&M, Zara and Petunia in Sunnyside. And Crewcuts and Stella McCartney on sale!

Where are your favorites places to shop?

Clothing swaps.

D LOUISA Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

Stripes. I like to dress like…(breaks into dance).

If you could have a super power what would it be?

I wanna be a princess.

Why is the sky blue?

Because it’s nighty-night time.

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

Princess shirt and pants.

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

I’ll be a tiger running.

D SALVADOR Ask your child to describe your style and their style? his: Sweatpants and a blue shirt! ours: Papa jeans and a shirt and you a dress if you could have a super power what would it be?

Angry bird killing pigs Why is the sky blue?

That question I do not know What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

Sweatpants and a shirt If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

Rhinoceros/Hippo

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A real big princess.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Scientist, Pizza Maker

What is your favorite thing to do with your family?

Go in Mommy-Daddy bed.

What is your favorite thing to do with your family?

I love hugging you and Papa

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tim + anna = benji + casper matt + po = lucy How do you spend family time?

We cook together, we eat (home and restaurants), we dance, we sing, we “snoogie” (snuggle), we go on adventure walks.

What is the funniest thing your kid did recently?

She yelled, “Put me down you rascal!” to her Papa when he hoisted her over his shoulder to get her out the door. She also tried to rationalize her side of a battle with Papa by arguing that Martin Luther King said even when people are mean to you, you shouldn’t be mean back.

What do you differently than your parents?

Everything. We are more of a team, we all try to talk things through, and we are very child-centered. We concentrate on creating community.

We play together, a lot. We cook together all the time.

Who is the boss? You or your kid?

It’s a constant battle. We’re still ahead, but she may persevere in the end.

Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

I wish we could, but Lucy wrested control ages ago. Lucy loves to change outfits often, and has her own style, which morphs often.

Describe your family style.

We like boots, we like eclectic stuff, we like bright colors, patterns and stripes.

Po and Lu have lots of messy hair. Matt and Lucy like hats Where are your favorite places to shop, for you and for your kids? eBay, Anthropologie, vintage stores and flea markets, J.Crew super sales, Daffy’s, Housing Works auctions. And we love sample sales.

D PO Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

My style is blue. I wear bandanas sometimes. Or headbands or hats.

I always sorta like pants. I like jewel necklaces. I like braided hair.

Leopard skin. Pretty dolls. I like to sew and make clothes. And I like doing shows a lot.

If you could have a super power what would it be?

I would like to make snowflakes fall from the sky.

Why is the sky blue?

Because when it’s day it has to be light so it has to be blue!

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

My leopard skin pants. And the Indian beaded belt I made.

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

Half pony, half dragon. Or half man, half goat like Mr. Tunis in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be an artist.

What is your favorite thing to do with your family?

I like when Papa throws me in the air. I like swimming with Mama.

I like all together as a family when we go to Fort Greene Park and play.

How do you spend family time?

We take neighborhood walks together a lot... usually food (eating somewhere) is our destination. The thing we do without fail every weekend together is a big grocery shopping trip to Fairway in Red Hook. Benji and Casper are buds with lots of employees there now, especially the woman at the 2nd bread-olive oil station.

What is the funniest thing your kid did recently?

Both of our boys are hams, and pretty silly all the time. Casper has recently made up his own language. He likes to ask questions in it and immediately provide translation. He is very committed to it.

What do you do differently than your parents?

I allow much more chaos. My mother, who has 2 daughters, has stared at Benji and Casper diving off of our sofa and asked me “What’s wrong with them?”

Who is boss you or your kid?

Tim and I are the bosses. Or at least we try to be.

Do you dress your kids?

Or do they dress themselves?

I am pretty picky about clothes and will only buy things that I’ll be ok with them choosing.

If it’s in their drawer, they can choose whatever they want.

Do you have a family style? What is it?

Or is everyone different?

Our main unifying statement has always been stripes. We have always been into stripes... even before Tim and I met.

Where are your favorites places to shop?

Bird, sample sales, J.Crew. American Apparel.

Polarn O. Pyret. Pomme. Sweet William.

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mara + javier = joaquin How do you have family time?

Cuddles, cuddles and more cuddles. With a few tickles thrown in for good measure.

What is the funniest most recent thing your kid did?

He got a lot of attention recently for a coughing fit he was having. Now he pretends to cough just for the laughs. He closes one eye he forces out a single “cough”. Hilarious.

What do you do differently than your parents?

It’s hard to say this early on what is so different for us. We both had really good role models on the parenting front and it feels like we’re doing a lot by instinct, flying by the seat of our pants.

Time will tell.

Who is the boss you or your kid?

Joaquin is definitely the boss. We try to keep him to as much of a routine as we can but he has his own ideas on things like naps and eating, and when bath time is over. If he had his way it would always be bath time.

Do you dress your kids?

Or do they dress themselves?

Joaquin is only 11 months so we dress him but he has started helping out with the laundry lately so that’s nice. Still hasn’t gotten the folding thing down yet.

Do you have a family style? What is it?

Or is everyone different?

Momma and Joaquin are big fans of head to toe prints. Poppa is a jeans and tshirt kinda guy.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

For you and for your kids?

Sweet William in Williamsburg has become a favorite for baby clothes.

stella + hugo How do you have family time?

We like to go upstate and go on adventures. We also like to make stuff like costumes. We paint our clothes or do tie dye. We also always have movie night on Friday. We will play after school and then go home and chill out together and try to find a movie that we both like and watch it together.

What is the funniest most recent thing your kid did?

This was not very recent but it’s the funniest thing that Hugo ever said. He told me one time that he had a “forgetful penis.” I asked him what that meant and he said, “Well, every time I touch it I forget what I am thinking about.” It’s my favorite quote. I think its what every man probably feels but never says.

I told him every man has a forgetful penis.

What do you differently than your parents?

I had really great parents and I loved my upbringing, so I try to emulate a lot of their parenting style. I think I probably yell a lot less. I also don’t have as much help as they did. We had a lot of babysitters growing up and they cooked and cleaned because my parents both worked so much. I do everything at home and try to make Hugo have more chores. I think I talk to Hugo a lot more about reality also. I think my parents raised me in a little bit of a fantasy world. I believe that it’s great for children to have fantasy and they don’t need to know all of the evils of the world, but I would have appreciated a little more reality than I had, so I try to give that to Hugo.

Who is the boss you or your kid?

I am the boss. Hugo thinks he is. He really does and we battle, but in the end I rule. I think it is the same at his dad’s house.

Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

Hugo dresses himself. I try to gather a selection of cool clothes that I like, but he is super specific about what he likes and dislikes, so it is difficult to buy clothing for him. That is why I like hand me downs. If he doesn’t like it, it was free anyway and I can give it to some other kid. I do like his style when he dresses up though. He pairs very quirky things and I think it’s cool.

Do you have a family style? What is it? Or is everyone different?

I don’t think we have a family style. We do a lot of hand me downs and clothing swaps because I don’t like to waste, so we have a pretty good mix of designer clothes and accessories, funky vintage pieces, and contemporary disposable separates. We both do not care about mixing and matching crazy prints and patterns or fabrics or seasons. We both love boots.

Where are your favorite places to shop? For you and for your kids?

VIntage stores, thrift stores, hand me downs, clothing swaps, h&m, old navy, If I had a ton of money I would probably shop at opening ceremony, marni, marc jacobs, mara hoffman, maryam nassir zadeh, rag n bone, beautiful dreamers, sweet william... etc... (CONT NEXT PG> )

stella + hugo

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(CONT.)

D HUGO Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

Mine is like superheroes and like awesome stuff.

Yours is like fashion stuff and like clothing shops.

If you could have a super power what would it be?

Teleporting past time and back in time.

Why is the sky blue?

Thats a hard one. Because the clouds have to be a different color than the sky.

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

I would say my wolverine jacket. My feet, I like my feet.

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

A clouded leopard and a black panther.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

An animal scientist.

What is your favorite thing to do with your parent/family?

Read comics and watch nature move and look at birds and watch trees grow with my cousins. And be like nature scientists.

Snuggle my mom. Make stuff in metal with my dad, make sculptures. Enjoy my family time.

pablo + maya How do you have family time? going to Argentina what is the funniest most recent thing your kid did? she was dancing at the hospital an hour after a tonsilectomy in the recovery room what do you differently than your parents?

I think I do everything differently, but at the same time I might be doing everything the same Who is the boss you or your kid? my wife Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

If I’m awake, I give her two options. Otherwise whatever.

Do you have a family style? What is it?

Or is everyone different?

My style is 80’s tennis player or whatever is clean. Lately I have been rocking jeans and Napoleon Dynamite boots.

We are all different.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

For you and for your kids?

Fairway, Home Depot, Salvation Army.

D MAYA Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

Mommy is fancy . Papi is normal and cool...My style is a bathing suit, skirts with pockets and sundresses.

If you could have a super power what would it be?

It would be to swim under water from one side to the other and back.

Also, to breathe under water.

Why is the sky blue?

Because it’s sunny.

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

A bathing suit.

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

A fish and a turtle What do you want to be when you grow up?

An artist because I like to paint and stick stuff and going to the Moma.

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see u next time!

michelle + nova How do you spend family time?

We cook and bake together a lot, we dance, and we do lots of fun things like ice skate, art shows/museums, make things, go to governors island to bike ride and spend time with our family on Long Island.

What is the funniest thing your kid did recently?

Scared the bejeezus out of me when I was working and I thought she was asleep. Nova snuck up behind me and I jumped out of my chair. I had a mint in my mouth and I screamed so loud, it got stuck in my throat and I started choking. Then, she ran to get me some water and tried to help me, which was sweet. After I was breathing again, we laid on the floor and laughed hysterically about it for a loooooooooong time.

What do you differently than your parents?

Talk as honestly as I can about anything she asks me (age appropriately).

We’ve already talked about sex. My own mother hasn’t even had that conversation with me yet.

Who is the boss you or your kid?

I’m the boss applesauce.

Do you dress your kids? Or do they dress themselves?

When she’s fully awake she picks out her own outfits for anything. I f she’s sleepy I hold up several things for her to pick.

Do you have a family style? What is it? Or is everyone different?

Colorful, funky and cute. And despite our picture, not very matchy-matchy.

Where are your favorite places to shop? For you and for your kids?

H&M, Target, Uniqlo, American Apparel for fun leggings. Hand-me-downs from Cousin Jessica. Random cool things on sale that she’ll grow into next year.

D NOVA Ask your child to describe your style and their style?

My style is fun, funky and summery. Mommy’s style is cool and sweet.

If you could have a super power what would it be?

Going through stuff.

Why is the sky blue?

That’s the way Mother Earth made it.

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory?

My pink sparkly dress.

If you could be a mix of two animals, what would they be?

A chameleon and a puppy, which is a puppy that blends into things.

W

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A science teacher!

What is your favorite thing to do with your family?

My favorite thing to do with Mommy is go to Long Island and hang out with my family. My favorite thing to do with my Dad is go to Six Flags.

jam