Goth Parent: parenting in the goth subculture through aesthetics, values, and beyond
The hashtag #gothmom has 100,000 plus postings on Instagram. The band Vision Video grew their Instagram @visionvideoband following with playful and heartwarming #gothdad videos. Alternative and dark clothing brand Blackcraft Cult makes a diaper bag. What does it mean to be alternative, to live a unique lifestyle, to have a unique aesthetic, and be a parent?
Shantel of the blog Charmed Collective with sons Onyx Hunter and Talon Orion
Personally, when I became a mom I found myself battling to balance the new focuses and priorities in my life with those of my personal fashion, music, lifestyle, aesthetic preferences. Each feel so defining to oneself. I love the idea that one doesn’t just birth a child, you birth a mother as well. It is a time for many to look inward and redefine who they are. And in doing this it’s not that hard to question a lot, to question everything, to feel suddenly that you should be following more traditional norms when parenting. I think this feeling comes up a lot when going through major life moments. For example, when planning a wedding many may find themselves including traditions they never thought that important before whether for a connection to the past, family, or for a sense of legitimacy.
This happens with parenting of course too, especially with so many feelings of not wanting to mess it up. Should you parent the way you were parented? Should you parent the way your child’s peers in their neighborhood or school are parented? When I set out to write an article about goth parenting, I wanted to write an article that explores the aesthetics of parenting within the goth subculture and adjacent subcultures, as well as the values.
Newborn photo by blogger Shantel on Instagram @charmedcollective of her and her family
The realization that alternative, subculture, and goth lifestyle and parenting mesh through more than just aesthetic really started to form for me with clothing designer Blackcraft’s release of a line of children’s clothing and their shirt “Love Me Like My Parents Do”. It was a play on their adult shirt “Love Me Like My Demons Do” but brought to mind the concept in gentle/positive/respectful parenting philosophies that children and babies are full human beings that should be treated with respect the way any other human would be, they are not lesser entities or extensions of their parents. In practice this looks like telling children and babies when you plan to touch them (considering urgency and safety of course), talking to them in a way they can understand but in a full way (not baby talk), communicating with them not just dragging them along for the ride, understanding they will have their own wishes and thoughts and not always being able to just give into those but being able to acknowledge them, getting down on a child’s level to explain things, not talking about them as if they are not there, not dismissing them. These are perhaps “alternative” concepts in that they are alternative to mainstream parenting. They may not necessarily be connected to subcultures but those within subcultures may be more likely to parent in this way.
It would seem like the range of entrenchment an individual can have in a subculture, there is a range to how alternative ones parenting is. Some of those I interviewed embraced the aesthetic but parented in not that far outside the box ways, others as Wesley Eisold of darkwave band Cold Cave said “are an island” and have built a world that is quite far out of mainstream culture.
Through several interviews I set out to start to look at a whole range of topics within the idea of goth parenting. The lofty list included: goth mom/dad fashion, goth baby/kid fashion, goth parenting focused brands, goth parent bloggers, alternative lifestyle and parenting, raising kids with alternative and subculture values in mind, teaching a creative lifestyle and self-expression, teaching to live a full life and not confirm to societal pressures, teaching to question the status quo and to think for oneself, teaching to be kind (this often feels oddly radical), embracing gender fluidity and LGBTQ+ children, teaching anti-racism, respectful/positive/gentle parenting, minimalism and simplicity in parenting, and parenting in ways that differ from how you were raised.
To dig deeper into what it means to parent within the goth and adjacent subcultures, I interviewed several “goth parents”.
Goth Moms and Dads sharing their lifestyle
Wesley Eisold of Cold Cave
Wesley Eisold of the darkwave band Cold Cave is dad to one son, Rainer, with fellow Cold Cave member Amy Lee. He lives in Los Angeles and balances Cold Cave, creating music, writing, touring, the bookstore The Daily Planet, and the publishing company Heartworm Press with parenting. Wesley explains, “I have a great partner, Amy, so I’m not alone in any of this. It looks heavy when listed like that but that’s life and I’m happy being my own boss. I spend mornings writing. Heartworm is project oriented. Touring is a group effort. The store is Amy’s thing. Music somehow flows through all of that.” Navigating travel with a young child might seem particularly difficult but Wesley goes on saying, “When Amy was seven months pregnant we played a show with Genesis P-Orridge who offered some parenting advice, which was that you should take them with you everywhere you go. So we did that and haven’t played one show where he wasn’t there. We started touring again when he was five months old so he’s been all over the world… China, Mexico, Europe several times and had his third birthday in Russia. I’d say he’s a better traveler than most. He likes action.”
Flora Bonnel of My Spooky Baby
Flora Bonnel owner of My Spooky Baby which offers “awfully cute clothing and toys for little spooks” is mom to a preschooler as well as running her one-woman brand from Massachusetts. Flora tells us, “The concept of My Spooky Baby popped in my head when I got pregnant, which was just before we moved from France to the US. While I was spending several hours alone at home (at that time, my visa did not allow me to work in the US), I searched, in vain, for alternative toys and clothes for my future little monster. As sewing was one of my favorite hobbies, it came naturally to me to sew for my child. I posted some pictures of my creations on social networks, and it immediately aroused the interest of my friends who were also having trouble finding this kind of products (whether in Europe or in the USA). So I sewed a bit for them as a hobby. I had so much joy creating cute spooky toys for them that I dreamed of making it a real job. That’s how I opened my online shop at the end of 2019.”
She continues, “Everyone should be able to find toys or clothes for their children that fit their lifestyle and their personality. Blue and pink rabbits may be fun, but there’s so much more to show to your little ones. And there’s no need to wait until your child is a teenager to introduce them to different things. I hadn’t anticipated that My Spooky Baby would grow so quickly. It’s really fantastic.”
Gretchen Stout of Feral Mama
Gretchen Stout owns Feral Mama based in Cleveland, Ohio with the mission of striving, “To create a community of badass mamas who are doing their best, day after day. Loving their strong willed, wild babes fiercely. Supporting one another through all the ups and downs without judgment. All while wearing comfy, alternative apparel!” She tells us how it all started saying, “Feral Mama actually started as a little Instagram blog page. I didn’t identify with a lot of mom blogs I was seeing, and I wanted a space to fit in. I’m trained as a birth and postpartum doula, and I love motherhood. I’m proud to be a mom but wearing it on my sleeve as ‘mommy bear’ is just not my style. Since my teen years I’ve been more into an alternative style. I started making designs that I liked into tees, not expecting anything to come from it. As time went on and my little corner of the internet grew so did Feral Mama!” She goes on, “I run this shop from my home. I transitioned our spare room into an office, stocked with shelves of products, a desk for shipping, and some inspiring art tossed around. I like printing the tees myself, but I’ve started sending the printing out to a local print shop. It’s too much to handle now with a toddler! But overall, I’m a one woman show.”
Angie Serafin of The Moonlit Hare
Angie Serafin runs The Moonlit Hare a shop of carefully curated, ethically sourced handmade goods for little witchlings. She lives in Arizona and launched the online shop in June 2020, in the middle of a pandemic. She tells us, “I had the idea in December 2019 (finding sustainable toys was difficult) and really started working on it in January 2020. Two weeks later my little brother died and then Covid hit a couple months after that. It was kind of a nightmare as far as timing goes.” She goes on saying despite the difficulties, “It has been cool bringing my idea to life and actually having people care about it! Honestly, I would say it was great even if I only had one sale a month. My goal for TMH is, and always has been, to provide a place for alternative parents to access sustainable kids items and connect them to artists they might not have found otherwise.”
Shantel at @charmedcollective
Shantel is a blogger and influencer on Instagram @charmedcollective and mom to two sons, Onyx Hunter and Talon Orion. She explains, “I started blogging without realizing I was doing it. I shared my relationship with my husband and it adapted into sharing our family since before I was pregnant. I would say it’s evolved in what I decide to share. In the beginning I was much more private in what or how I shared. Even though I am still a pretty private person I like to share my journey through motherhood. There are so many times when we feel like we are alone but the more I share the more I hear from other moms that they are going through the same emotions and hardships. I like opening up and easing the burden of the that feeling on myself and other moms. We have each other.” She continues, “I love photography. It is a passion of mine. My social media gives me an outlet to share that. But I think the biggest drive is the community that it’s brought me. It’s been such an amazing place for me to connect. I have been able to create such a strong support group through social media. It’s brought so many important people into my life. And brought me into a niche of like-minded people I consider my tribe.”
Danielle at @danimcdann
Danielle is a blogger and influencer on Instagram @danimcdann sharing her life with her family as mom to two sons, Kove Onyx and Noah Makye, their lovely playroom, and her love of Halloween. She tells us, “I started blogging years ago through an actual blog website that I created, but then I started just blogging through Instagram more recently, I’d say about when I first got pregnant with my second baby. This journey has really allowed me to connect with so many other amazing parents and people like me, just navigating our way through life. I’ve met some of my favorite people through social media and blogging, so I’m very thankful for that. I really just go with the flow when it comes to blogging and sharing content. I mostly like to collaborate with other brands, companies, and creators out there. I’ve done a podcast with a good friend of mine also and I definitely wouldn’t mind doing more of that. I’ve also explored interior design because that is something I’m very passionate about.”
Interviews with Goth Parents
How have your endeavors allowed you to connect with your followers and other parents?
Wesley says, “It adds humanity. People like to fall in love at our shows. I think we show that it’s possible to partake in some aspects of life in a non-traditional way that you may have not always seen as part of your future.” It might seem parenthood and goth subculture would exist in one’s life in a compartmentalized way but Angie has found, “There is a whole world of witchy mothers out there creating badass things,” as she sources for her shop. Flora tell us how, “There is always someone to send me a picture of their little one wearing or playing with my products. Each baby picture I receive warms my spooky mama heart!” Gretchen shares the feeling many first-time parents feel saying, “I had a new baby and felt very isolated.” Going on to say, “I get a lot of women reaching out to tell me how they were inspired by my products, how they toss on their ‘badass mama’ tee when they have a rough day and need a reminder. I have women I chat with daily all over the world. The support I see through my little community is amazing! Women to women, mother to mother, and all the alternative little shops alike!”
Feral Mama mug and products for shipping
goth mom blogger @katiekreep wearing Feral Mama
What subcultures do you identify with? How much of that carries over to your children and your parenting?
Shantel shares, “It’s hard for me to say what subculture I identify with. I feel like my style and the things I like very so much. I’m a little goth. A little witchy. Part of the spooky community. I love Halloween year-round. I try to incorporate my love for it into as much as I can. From my home decor to my style. It’s carried over to my children fully. Everything I buy them has a spooky spin on it. From their book collection to their clothes and toys. Even what we bake. I want my home to be our safe space where we feel happy. And spooky Halloween vibes are it.” Flora of tells us, “At a very young age, I developed a taste for goth and dark culture in general (music, fashion, architecture, literature), which has strongly influenced my mentality and my lifestyle. I like to escape into fantasy worlds filled with magical and mystical creatures. Now, as a mother of a son, I don’t necessarily want him to like the same things as me. I want him to be able to choose what suits him best. So, the most important thing for me is to show him that there is not only one look, one lifestyle, one music.”
Living in the goth subculture often means it is a part of every aspect of one’s life but it can be a hard thing to define and despite being a subculture, it generally ultimately means being true to yourself. Gretchen shared that, “I just don’t take labels super seriously. Basically, I like to be me and live a happy life. I try to raise my son the same.” Wesley says, “I’ve never fit in but I think that’s how people end up in subcultures. I guess I think it’s important to just follow truth in whatever direction that may pull you. For me that’s been punk, hardcore, goth, etc. I like when subculture relates to what I’m doing or making more than how I fit into them personally. Our kid may be lucky that we don’t have a mainstream agenda or traditional expectations and he’ll have liberty.” Angie says, “I identify with the goth and black metal subculture. I have tried to instill inclusivity and accepting people for who they are, even if they might seem ‘different’ to most people. Of course, the world is not so simple and I do not believe society should be tolerant of intolerance. This is always talked about when my daughter is learning what to accept and what to challenge.” Danielle told us, “I love having so many different aesthetics and being able to express myself multiple ways. I don’t have any specific subculture that I identify with just because I have a variety of interests, but goth/alternative/punk/witchy are all definitely high on my list. As for how it carries over into my children and my parenting, it doesn’t. No matter what I am or what I’m interested in, my kids will always have the free will to be whatever and whoever they want to be. I don’t want them only interested in things that we’re (their dad and I) interested in, they are their own people and will always be that.”
What music and media do your children enjoy that fits within a subculture? Do you actively encourage your child to experience the music and media you enjoy?
Wesley tells us, “He likes fairy tales as much as he likes Depeche Mode so he absorbs it all. We share our world with our child.” Sharing one’s subculture with one’s children seems to be a common thread. Flora shares, “Our son has been immersed in the world of metal music from the cradle. It started with the great CDs Rockabye Baby!, then it got a little more aggressive. He’s too young to come to concerts with us, but he likes headbanging with his daddy on Mass Hysteria (a French metal band). This being said, he doesn’t really like it when I listen to black metal... but neither does his father. We also have several children’s books featuring cute ghosts, zombies, and other spooky creatures and he really loves them! At the age of two, he perfectly recognized the difference between werewolf, vampire, zombie, trolls, elves... etc.! So funny!” Angie says, “My daughter loves the music we listen to! Right now she loves Chelsea Wolfe, AFI, and Emma Ruth Rundle. She will also scream along with some metal. I continued going to shows while she was in the womb so she was used to hearing extreme music before she even entered the world.” Shantel says, “Our movies and book collection also have spooky undertones. We read books with a darker aesthetic year-round. I’ve noticed that my son’s favorite episodes of his shows are always the Halloween ones. He will ask to watch them specifically. I would say it’s actively encouraged because it’s all we play, watch, and buy. When we took my oldest to concerts it was what we like.”
goth kids clothing brand My Spooky Baby
Do you follow and purchase from any alternative or subculture-based kids or parenting brands or designers?
Flora tells us, “Yes, of course. I particularly like Skeletots, Metallimonsters, Baby Teith. As a small business owner, it is very important for me to support other small creators. Some of my favorite brands are Anghell, Mini Mosher by Clare, UK Baby Rose, Creepy Kids, ChaosclanHQ, The Monochrome Mum, The Flash Collective.” It might take a bit of digging but once one starts looking a lot of alternative clothing brands emerge. Gretchen replied, “Oh absolutely! I’ve connected with a great community of woman owned alternative type shops since opening my own. There are a lot more than I realized! And the community around us is so supportive.” Shantel tells us, “Some of my go to places to shop are Baby Teith and Witching Hour Baby. Through Instagram I’ve been able to find a lot of small shops that I buy from. Not necessarily alternative as a whole but seasonally I find their darker pieces in the fall and buy in all sizes to wear year-round.” Danielle tells us, “Some of my favorites are Baby Teith, My Spooky Baby, and Strange Cvlt!”
Does your child seem to identify with any subculture?
Rainer son of Wesley Eisold of the darkwave band Cold Cave
Wesley replies, “He’s five so he thinks he’s a wizard. Who am I to judge?” Shantel tells us, “My four-year-old always leans toward liking the darker versions of things. When given the option he will pick the spooky characters of something. His stuffed animal collection consists of bats, ghost, and lots of Nightmare Before Christmas by his choosing. When I ask him to pick a color for something, black is always his first answer. He’s constantly talking about ghosts. He tells me our house is haunted and when he plays make believe there’s always magical undertones in his play and imagination.” Gretchen says, “I think he’s still too little. But he rocks his Halloween pajamas all year round and carries around a three-foot skeleton to play with.” Danielle says, “No, they do not at the moment. They’re still really young though, but they are both really interested in all types of music and instruments already. My oldest just turned five and we’ve got him in guitar lessons because he really enjoys playing it, he also plays the drums.”
What values do you work to instill in your child? How might they differ from mainstream or traditional values?
Danielle replies, “I mostly just want my children to be kind and good people. They can be whatever/whoever they want, as long as they are genuinely kind and genuinely good people that are good to other people. That’s my main goal. Also, I’m raising black children at the end of the day, so I want them to know that this world isn’t always kind to us in return, even if you’re a good person.” Wesley responds, “Ethics. Kindness. Compassion for all. We don’t relate to most of the world’s premier accolades. We value joy.” Kindness and compassion were a thread through all responses with Gretchen of Feral Mama telling us, “I want him to grow up king and gentle, but confident to make his own choices and stand up for what he believes. Honesty and respect are huge. Especially in the time he’s growing up in. He will know human rights and Black Lives Matter. He will be aware of the importance of sustainability and caring for the planet. I hope he leads with his heart and makes a positive addition to the world he lives in.” Angie says, “Inclusivity, compassion, and gratitude are big ones for me. Unfortunately, I think it is still quite radical to talk about racism with children. I have been very vocal about issues such as the injustice black people face regularly and the way police officers treat us (white people) differently.”
images from @danimcdann, @charmedcollective, and The Moonlite Hare showing Montessori, Waldorf, gentle parenting, attachment parenting, and simple parenting ideas blending with goth and subculture aesthetics and interests
Do you follow or subscribe to any parenting philosophies? Any that you feel is outside or against mainstream or traditional parenting models?
Flora explains, “We are still trying to find the right balance between liberty and authority. Accompany our child in his discoveries, without being too present so that he can be autonomous, but also put barriers when necessary. Parenting evolves as your child evolves. You have to constantly question yourself. This is also what makes it such an incredible journey. When I was a child, my parents were afraid that I would become a delinquent when I turned to the gothic culture. I proved to them that it had nothing to do with that.”
A few different parenting styles were mentioned including attachment parenting, which promotes parental empathy and physical closeness between parent and child in practices such as babywearing and co-sleeping, and gentle parenting (similar to respectful parenting), which is rooted in the idea that children are full humans, that they are people too, and should be parented in a calm and gentle way that is respectful to them as an individual and teaches primarily through modeling behavior. Gretchen tells us, “I guess to try to classify, I have an attached style of parenting. We co-sleep, nurse on demand, we are always together. Other people do seem confused by it often or give judgmental looks. It’s resulted in a very confident and caring child that isn’t afraid to explore his world, knowing I’ll always be there. It works for us. I try to let him make as many of his own choices as I can to foster his independence and confidence. I have a very free parenting style, ‘feral’ I guess you could say. We have routines and rules. But as long as he’s not in any danger, I let him do and explore most things. He climbs on the table to play with his cars and eat snacks. He plays in dirt. We make messes and act silly, he never wears shoes. As long as he is healthy and happy, I feel I’m doing my job.” Shantel tells us, “I love gentle parenting. When my boys act out I try my best to stay collected and talk to them. I believe that just because they are children doesn’t mean they don’t have all the same emotions and feelings that we do as adults. We as adults have hard days with our feelings. Yet we hold children to such a higher standard. Expecting them to do everything we say. So I’m trying to give them the tools they need to control themselves instead of trying to control them.”
Danielle tells us, “I’m not subscribed to anything and my parenting style is what works for me and my family, so it’s a mix of a few different things all together. I mostly do a mix of gentle parenting, attachment parenting, and free-range parenting; with different styles and techniques from each worked into my overall parenting style.” Wesley says, “We’re vegan and not interested in traditional schooling. ‘Unschooling’ or ‘Worldschooling’ are probably the closest terms to our approach, but we don’t want to impede too close on that territory. We’re doing what feels right to us regardless of outside influence which basically implies that the child will learn all they need to know through experience and their interests.”
Have you ever experienced any resistance or concern with your lifestyle from your child’s friends, their parents, or your child’s support network and/or teachers?
Shantel @charmedcollective and family
Angie of The Moonlite Hare replies, “No, not really. I would always get looks from other parents at drop off but I am used to that, even before I was a mom. I am not sure the staring will ever stop! Her teachers love us so I am not too concerned about other parents. I have my circle of cool moms and that is enough for me!” Flora has had good experiences saying, “People here are pretty cool and encouraging. I have never had any problem or judgments with our lifestyle. I even provide facemasks for the teachers and kids.” Danielle replies that, “No, I thankfully have not,” when asked. “But if I ever did, then I don’t think it will bother me at all or have any effect on what I do or how I parent.” Shantel says, “I feel like older generations don’t get the gentle parenting. If we aren’t spanking them, if they don’t fear us, then we aren’t doing it right. We are soft and letting them get away with everything.” Wesley tells us, “We are an island so no. Amy and I have learned to avoid criticism, norms, and opposition in our own lives.”
How is parenting where you live? Do you feel connected with community you live in? A bit apart from it? Or a bit of both?
Angie replies, “It’s… interesting. All my friends who are parents were friends before we were parents or I have met through those friends. I find it extremely difficult to connect with random parents in Arizona. I tried to bond with a parent at my daughter’s ballet school once and she just went off about how masks are inhibiting our freedom and useless. I never tried again! I was born and raised in California and then lived in Brooklyn for a few years. It was kind of a culture shock to move to such a conservative place and six years later, I am still finding it hard to navigate.” Flora says, “We live in a small town on the Cape. There is not much activity here outside the summer season, and most of the houses are empty. That being said, we really like to live here. It is a great place to raise our child because of the omnipresence of nature, seaside, walking paths, and the wildlife. On a personal basis, I’ve always felt a little disconnected from society. Becoming a mom hasn’t changed that much. But it suits me well. I’m clearly introverted, and I generally don’t like to talk about myself too much.” Wesley tells us, “We live on a dead-end street, own a community bookstore, and our park is full of tourists. For us it’s all about our niche.”
Shantel tells us, “I would say parenting around me is mixed. I see some who talk calmly and I see some who talk down to their children. I feel connected to the community I’ve made for myself on social media. The mothers in my life are very like-minded in how we want raise our children and the goals we set for ourselves as mothers.” Gretchen says, “Cleveland is a pretty creative city. There are a lot of little artsy neighborhoods and a lot of different types of humans. I’ve always felt quite at home here. I’m excited for warmer weather and safer conditions soon to start letting my son explore what our community has to offer!” Danielle adds, “I really like the community of parents near me that I’ve gotten to know. My oldest son goes to a private preschool (virtually right now because of the pandemic) and his classmates’ parents are all great, his teacher is amazing and the friends that I’ve met around here are all great too. We all do our own thing when it comes to parenting and what works for each of our individual families so I think that’s what makes it so cool. In my close-knit circle, there’s never any judgement or anything from anyone if someone is doing things differently than you or if someone’s subculture/aesthetic is different from yours, and I really love that.”
How do you feel your unique aesthetics or interests add to your family and life?
goth mom blogger Shantel @charmedcollective with her children
Flora replies, “My interests in gothic culture, metal music, and fantasy take a big place in my life. My husband shares most of my tastes, especially musical ones, but also brings his contribution with his huge bookshelves of fantasy books. It’s obviously a richness for a child to be immersed in a different universe than his friends at school. It brings him an additional open-mindedness, a reflection, a different culture. Talk to your children about what you like! It’s the best way to get them interested. There is no age for it, you can do it from the very first months! I was already playing music to my son while pregnant. Now, he likes to watch me sewing. And do you know what he’s playing at? He’s pretending to sew bats and wants to give them to other kids. Isn’t that spooky sweet?” Angie says, “I think it adds so much to our family! My daughter is so happy, creative, and free spirited. She is confident her parents will love her no matter what crazy dance moves, hair color, or outfits she puts together and she is far more accepting of things that may be unusual to other kids her age. She is growing into such a cool kid.”
Gretchen replies, “My partner is in a hardcore band and is an artist. So with our collective interests, our home is full of creativity. Wacky black and white designed walls, musical instruments, art, plants... it’s a very inspiring environment. Our son has music time to play with guitars and instruments to explore with his dad, and I’m constantly trying to seek out creative sensory activities. We’re trying to create a very loving and creative home and life. As it should be right?!” Danielle tells us, “I have many interests and aesthetics, and I feel that me being unapologetically me and not holding back who I am to confine to what society’s standards of normal are and what’s considered to be acceptable says a lot. I live my life freely without trying to impress others or be put in a box and I hope that inspires my kids to always do the same no matter what, I feel like it will. That adds a lot to my family in a very positive way. I also just wanted to say that someone being goth, punk, emo, etc. or whatever the case may be, won’t determine if they’re a good parent or not. A good parent will be a good parent no matter what their aesthetic and interests are.”
Shantel adds, “They influence my life and family daily. From the things I buy, consume, and do. Our travel plans and the places I want to visit. I’m always looking for adventures and things to experience from concerts, museums, art, and food. My decision on what and where I want to go are all based on what piques my interest. Putting effort and looking into what we surround ourselves with. My aesthetic is a part of me and what makes me happy. I want to surround myself and my family with those things. Kind of like I’m happiest when October is near. There’s a crispness in the air. Fall activists are looming. The stores are filled to the brim with Halloween. And I feel my spirit lifted. I’m surrounded by things that fit my aesthetic everywhere I turn. The life I’m trying to create for myself resembles that feeling.” Wesley replies, “We’re secretly building a black house on a hillside. You tell me.”
The topic of goth parenting has been a daunting topic to cover but I hope this touches on something and opens discussion. Follow all the interviewees on Instagram @coldcave23 @myspookybaby @feralmamasociety @themoonlithare @charmedcollective and @danimcdann and follow Editor in Chief Jennifer Link Kieffer and author of this article @jenniferlinkphoto.
by Jennifer Link Kieffer
Jennifer Link Kieffer is the Editor in Chief and Publisher of Auxiliary Magazine, a fashion and wedding photographer at Jennifer Link Photography, and mama to two littles. FOLLOW
This article was originally published in the Spring 2022 Issue of Auxiliary Magazine
For further reading… get the latest issue of Auxiliary and read more online articles about goth subculture.