And Tango Makes Three
I can remember the first time my brother-in–law told me he was gay. I was not surprised at all, in fact I felt relieved because I wanted to ask him, but always held back. That memory is very distant as it was 15 years ago.
He has been in a long term relationship and would like to have children in the near future with his common-law partner. Just a couple of months ago when someone asked Squeak a question about her uncle’s relationship status she replied “they’re brothers”. Her uncles thought that was hilarious. So they explained that they love each other just like her mommy and daddy love each other and her response was “I know”. To Squeak she knows no different, I just think because she is so young she categorizes everything. For example she is always telling people she has a brother and a sister, but she is really referring to her cousins. She really has no clue and nor does she care, because if you love her, she loves you right back.
However we do feel that because of so much discrimination and bullying, she needs to be educated and knowledgeable about many different kinds of love. Straight, gay, bi-sexual, and anything else I might be leaving out, my husband and I support all. Love has no boundary. My husband’s friends would joke, “I can’t wait until the boys come around here for Squeak- we will all be around to protect her”. My response has always been she might like boys or girls, you never know. I want to be open-minded.
I highly recommend a book for children called: And Tango Makes Three written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, this book is based on a true story and takes place in a Zoo in New York. This book is such a great love story about two penguins that are just so perfect for one another in so many ways and end up with a little family. It is a wonderful story for children about being open mindedand Squeak adores it. We discuss the book afterwards and I say that her Uncles both love each other just like the penguins in the book do.
http://www.bu.edu/today/2013/
Shari Nelson is an advertising sales rep at City Parent and a contributor to the magazine’s social media, including Facebook and Twitter. She has a background in Early Child Care Education, a 3-year-old daughter, a 7-year-old dog, a fish and a hamster. She aspires to own chickens and a goat – maybe a farm one day, a dream she shares with her amazing and talented husband.
