Dana and Helen of Mombian.com highlight a new guide for parents of transgender kids, as well one for children of transgender parents. They also admit that they buy some toys for their son because they want to play with them, too, and share a couple of their recent favorites.

And in response to a viewer question about homophobia and kids, they discuss the process of explaining their family to others. … continue reading

This week, Dana and Helen of Mombian.com talk about Family Outing, the funny, raunchy new memoir by a man whose mother was outed to him by her ex-girlfriend when he was 10 years old.

They also share some highlights of their recent vacation to California, including San Francisco Pride's Family Garden and how they got through hours of plane and car travel with a 5-year-old. This leads to a discussion of the mainstreaming of the LGBT community and radical suburban-ism.

Last Sunday, much fun was had by all who attended the AfterEllen.com Meet-Up in San Francisco. Karman Kregloe, Bridget McManus, Malinda Lo and Sarah Pecora were in attendance, and a guest appearance was made by She Got Me Pregnant vloggers Dana and Helen. Here are some of the pictures from the meet-up to give you a taste of what went on (I'm leaving out photos of what happened after the Jell-O shots arrived!).

Apologies in advance if you were there and you don't see yourself. I tried to include as many different folks as possible but I know I missed a lot of you. Thanks so much for coming out and meeting up!

Sarah, AE reader AJ, and Malinda

Malinda's Asian posse! (non-Asians welcome)

Bridget, an AE reader, and her personalized autographs

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Dana and Helen of Mombian.com share the story of a Pride brunch hosted by the mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who is herself a lesbian mom – and grandmother. Dana even shows off her T-shirt from the event: the only pink piece of clothing she's owned in her adult life.

Then, before taking off for a much needed two-week vacation, they review a brand-new electronic reading system for kids from Leapfrog. Is it right for the kids you have or know? Their son offers his own opinion. … continue reading

Dana and Helen of Mombian.com bring you the scoop on a mainstream TV documentary about lesbian partners who each had twins — at the same time. Plus: a film by the same filmmaker about single moms by choice, including one lesbian mom.

They then share some of the more than 170 entries from Blogging for LGBT Families Day, a variety of voices from around our community. Hear how LGBT parents and our children are both surviving in and transforming the world around us.

Dana and Helen of Mombian discuss the DVD release of Meema Spadola's award-winning Our House: Kids of Gay and Lesbian Parents, which profiles the pre-teen and teen children of five lesbian and gay families. They also share two funny anecdotes about trying to explain marriage and family creation to a preschooler.

Finally, in honor of Pride Month, they explore some of the ways to instill pride — of all types — in your children.

Dana and Helen of Mombian.com celebrate their 30th vlog with a special edition on kids and video games, specifically, younger children and Web-based games. They're tackling this topic in conjunction with Angela and Tracy of Lesbiangamers.com, who will be doing an upcoming episode of Gay Girls Who Game that looks at older kids and other gaming systems.

Dana and Helen share a slew of their favorite games, including some associated with TV shows and other mass-market products, as well as a bunch of independent games from places you might not expect. One show-based game even features an actor from the lesbian comedy 3Way, found right here at After Ellen. (Bonus points if you can guess who before watching the vlog.) They also discuss their philosophy of video games and the benefits and perils of letting young kids play. Plus: panda-goats and a reminder about Blogging for LGBT Families Day.

Dana and Helen of Mombian.com don tie-dye this week to celebrate the California marriage ruling. They then share various ways to include children in weddings or commitment ceremonies.

With many same-sex couples having ceremonies after they have kids, they say, it's important to help young ones understand what the occasion is about, and make them feel a part of the proceedings (though you might want to dissuade them if they suggest having the ceremony at Chuck E. Cheese).

Dana and Helen of Mombian.com bring you the first signs of what could be growing ultra-right opposition to Uncle Bobby's Wedding, a new children's book featuring gay guinea pigs. They then give you a parent's-eye view of one of their favorite stores, IKEA. It's not just good for parents in search of cheap furniture, they argue, but can be a whole day's worth of activities for children as well.

They also offer some suggestions to new parents looking for baby gear and anyone whose home hosts both small children and large pieces of furniture. They then recommend some additional tools to improve your furniture-assembling prowess and ensure that your bookshelves are straight, even if  you aren't.

Dana and Helen of Mombian.com do a special Mother's Day vlog in response to a viewer request about their decision to become parents. What made Dana finally break down and decide to have a child? Why did they choose the method they did? Was their cat really involved in the selection of their sperm donor And what was that about dating Ellen DeGeneres and Sharon Stone?

They also invite all bloggers and vloggers to post on June 2 in celebration of the third annual Blogging for LGBT Families Day.

Dana of Mombian.com discusses two new memoirs about the journey to single motherhood, including the cynical and funny My Miserable, Lonely, Lesbian Pregnancy. She vlogs without Helen this week, but instead has a very special guest: her mom.

Hear what a grandmother has to say about the differences between being a parent and being a grandparent, what she first thought when she found out her lesbian daughter was becoming a mother, and how she talks about their family with friends and colleagues.
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Dana and Helen of Mombian.com discuss why people always want to know what children of two moms call their parents, why even Cynthia Nixon can't escape the question, and why we shouldn't get so hung up on the issue.

They also have fun with two classic board games and tell you why their son isn't a genius just because he plays them (though they're not ruling it out).

Dana and Helen of Mombian.com remind us of the long-lost parenting storyline on Jackie Warner's Work Out. They also commemorate tax week with a rant on their own filings, and on a more positive note, discuss various approaches to children's allowances and why they don't have any answers.

Plus: What were those weird pipes in their living room that you may have glimpsed in last week's vlog?

Dana and Helen of Mombian did not go to the Dinah Shore weekend this year, but they recreate the event (minus the lesbian pool parties) with a homemade mini-golf tournament in their living room.

Yes, it's harder to take off for events like the Dinah when you have kids, they say, but there's no excuse not to travel with your young ones. In between holes, they offer some tips for doing so.

Dana of Mombian brings you a special interview with Sarah Brannen, author and illustrator of the new LGBT-inclusive children's book Uncle Bobby's Wedding. (Dana's partner, Helen, takes a break from vlogging this week, though she's busy with her real job, advancing the frontiers of technology.) Brannen discusses the process of creating the book, shows us some early sketches of the characters, and talks about the skull fracture that nearly waylaid publication. She also shares pictures and ideas from some books she's working on now, including one featuring a two-mom family.