Mama Bear Story Project #59 – Tamara Cofman Wittes

Tags

LGBT, LGBTQ, love, Mama Bear Story Project, Mama Bears, Moms of LGBT, Moms of LGBTQ Kids, Serendipitydodah for Moms

The Mama Bear Story Project is a collection of portraits and autobiographical essays from members of Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears

SHOW YOUR PRIDE by Mama Bear Tamara Cofman Wittes

Like many Mama Bears, I have a bunch of t-shirts with messages that indicate I’m an LGBTQ+ ally and I have a progress pride flag and a trans flag in my yard.

I often wonder if it’s all too much, but this week I was reminded that my visibility is important and makes a difference!

I was out in my garden talking to a neighbor, and wearing my “Trans Rights are Human Rights” t-shirt. A kid, middle school age, came by on a bike and asked if we’d seen a cat.

Turns out the cat is a stray and this sweet kid was trying to feed it and bring it inside.

I took down the kid’s mobile number and promised to text if I saw the cat.

Before leaving the kid says, “My name is _____ and I like your t-shirt.”

I say, “Thanks.”

The kid says, “I’m trans.”

I say, “Cool, so is my kid, he grew up in this house.”

“Cool,” says the kid..

“Are you gonna keep the cat if you catch it?” I ask.

“Yeah, I’m going to make my mom keep it,” says the kid.😊

As the kid rode away I wondered what it felt like to be so young and so open in their truth to someone they’d just met.

I thought about how my flags and t-shirt let them feel confident and safe to do that.

My hope is that seeing my pride flags and me in my t-shirt will help all the kids in my neighborhood grow up feeling like they belong just as they are, and know that my house is a safe place to come to if they ever need one.

Meeting this middle school kid reinforced to me that being a visible LGBTQ+ ally has impact well beyond our own families. So, I’ve decided that this year, during Pride month, I will wear one of my LGBTQ+ themed t-shirts every time I go out to run errands around town.

I am lucky to live in an area that is LGBTQ+ friendly, therefore, I’m not afraid to show my pride wherever I go. I know not all Mama Bears are so fortunate. But, if you do feel safe increasing your own visibility as a Mama Bear as you go about your daily life this June, I hope you’ll join me in showing your pride!

If you do show your pride I feel certain you will have a positive impact on some people around you whom you may never meet and some encounters that will warm your heart.

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Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears is a private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ kids. The official motto of the group is “Better Together” and the members call themselves “Mama Bears”

The group is private so only members can see who is in the group and what is posted in the group. It was started in June 2014 and presently has more than 33,000 members.

For more info about the Mama Bears and all of our groups, programs and resources visit our website at realmamabears.org 

This story can also be viewed on the Mama Bear Story Project Facebook page.

Mama Bear Story Project #57 – Kate Liebetrau

Tags

LGBTQ, Mama Bear Story Project, Mama Bears, Moms of LGBT, Moms of LGBTQ Kids, Serendipitydodah for Moms, Story

The Mama Bear Story Project is a collection of portraits and autobiographical essays from members of Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears

My daughter was born a rainbow baby, after a previous loss. I was attacked at age 19 and my reproductive system badly damaged, but miraculously was able to carry her full term. We wanted to call her Phoenix, as she and I are rising from the ashes, but someone said it was a boy name and an awful choice. So, we went with Gabrielle Taylor (family reasons), but I always referred to her as my little Phoenix, my Pea.

So that she would know that, regardless of anything in life, I will always love and support her, I had her name tattooed on my spine as an Ambigram which reads Perfect Miracle the other way.

In our very equal rights house, she is raised under love is love, respect is a right. When she was about 4 she told me she was “bischmecshuwal.”

At age 10 she was diagnosed with Aspergers/ASD1, after a long road to figure out her struggles.

At age 13 she said she preferred to be called by her nickname Phoenix and told me she is queer and likes girls, only girls and not boys.

So, my rainbow baby is a rainbow 3 ways … birth after loss, spectrum and lgbtq!

To honor her, I updated my spine tattoo and put a Phoenix above her name with a rainbow tail to symbolize my endless support for her (and my) many struggles where we keep emerging from the ashes, and for our continued ability to. To know she can keep inventing herself and that struggles like spectrum don’t have to be hidden, but be her superpower too.

Hats off to all moms and all your journeys.

May we all keep rising.

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Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears is a private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ kids. The official motto of the group is “Better Together” and the members call themselves “Mama Bears”

The group is private so only members can see who is in the group and what is posted in the group. It was started in June 2014 and presently has more than 31,000 members.

For more info about the Mama Bears and all of our groups, programs and resources visit our website at realmamabears.org 

This story can also be viewed on the Mama Bear Story Project Facebook page.

Mama Bear Story Project #56 – Sandy Diaz

Tags

LGBTQ, Mama Bear, Mama Bear Story Project, Mama Bears, Serendipitydodah for Moms, Trans Youth, transgender

The Mama Bear Story Project is a collection of portraits and autobiographical essays from members of Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears

Relearning Gender …

When we are little, we learn that boys have penises and girls have vaginas. Many of us also learn that boys like cars and blocks, bugs, superheroes, dirt, snails and puppy dog tails. They have short hair, and wear pants. Girls, however, prefer dolls and tea parties, princess movies, crafts, sugar and spice and everything nice. They have long hair, use makeup and wear dresses. We learn, when we’re little, that gender is finite. In fact, a measured milestone for children is that they know the difference between genders and can identify their own gender by the time they are 3 or 4. Children use all of their experiences, observations and what they’ve been told to differentiate between boys and girls, between male and female. They determine the differences based on social and societal norms in their culture and their environment.

My son knew what the rest of us couldn’t…  He IS a boy.  

When my son first tried to come out to me as a transgender man his freshmen year, I wasn’t completely prepared, but it shouldn’t have been much of a surprise. He has always, since the time he could choose for himself, preferred a more masculine look. From his pants and shirts to his swimming trunks and rash guards, we bought 97% of his clothing from the “boys” section of the store. The other 3% were his underwear, for which I insisted on “girls” underwear. For whatever reason, that wasn’t a line that I was willing to cross. During play, he chose to be the prince or the boyfriend or the brother. He’d happily play Barbie with his sister, but he would be Ken. In the home movies that he and his sister recorded, he can often be heard saying, “pretend I’m Freddy, your brother.” When he tried to come out, I had already begun thinking about the idea of gender. I strongly believe that gender is a spectrum and that there is no one way to be a woman and no one way to be a man. Women are as strong and brave and smart as men, and men are as sensitive and empathetic and creative as women. Some women are considered to be masculine and some men could be considered feminine. What really matters about a person is that they pursue the things that they love, and that they don’t let anyone change who they are…

BUT…

Could he please just continue to be “Gaby?” Could he be the “Gaby” who sometimes wears pink and always wears pants, the “Gaby” who likes cars, and sports, and also enjoys drawing and creating stories about Tito the Soccer Dog? Could he just be the “Gaby” who fiercely loves family and would protect them at all costs? Could he just be “Gaby” without the labels?

Please?

I was afraid of a lot of things three years ago. I was afraid of how the world would treat my child. I was most afraid of how his father would react and how our family would treat him. I’m still afraid of those things. What I failed to consider then was how continuing to deny who he is could and would affect HIM.  

I’ve done a lot of reading in this area which, in turn, has contributed to a lot of my own unlearning and relearning about gender and gender dysphoria. So, when he sent me a Tik Tok video of a transgender man documenting his own transition process beginning with testosterone injections, I thought to ask, “Gaby? Are you trying to tell me something with this video?” When he replied, “yes,” I accepted his YES. 

I’ve heard a lot of the statistics, many of which are really scary. I probably only know about 5% of what I will learn in the coming months and years, but I do know that I can believe and trust my son when he tells me WHO he is, regardless, or in spite of what the world or anyone else thinks or says. I will continue to learn so that I can guide where possible and follow where I need to as my son continues on his path to live authentically as HIS TRUE IDENTITY. 

My son is 18. His name is Gabriel. You can call him “Gabe.” He wants to be a firefighter when he “grows up.” When referring to him, you may use he/him pronouns. He is gracious and understanding. He knows that we will all make mistakes and trip and stumble. I do it ALL of the FECKING time! I’ve been heard to say, “she…argh…SHIT…he,” and then we move on. It’s going to be awkward. It’s going to take some courage from all of us. It’s going to require massive amounts of kindness.

I am confident in us, though. I am confident that my  people can, as Brené Brown says at the end of every one of her podcast episodes, “Stay awkward, brave and kind.”

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Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears is a private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ kids. The official motto of the group is “Better Together” and the members call themselves “Mama Bears”

The group is private so only members can see who is in the group and what is posted in the group. It was started in June 2014 and presently has more than 31,000 members.

For more info about the Mama Bears and all of our groups, programs and resources visit our website at realmamabears.org 

This story can also be viewed on the Mama Bear Story Project Facebook page.

Together We Can Change The World

Tags

#LGBTQFamilies, Giving Tuesday, LGBT, LGBTQ, lgbtq youth, Mama Bears, Moms of LGBTQ Kids, Support

If you are not already a monthly supporter of the Mama Bears organization please consider giving to the Mama Bears organization today on #GivingTuesday.

For as little as $2 a month you can become a monthly supporter of the Mama Bears organization.

The Mama Bears organization is dedicated to making the world a kinder, safer, more loving place for all LGBTQ+ people to live and thrive.

We support, educate and empower parents of LGBTQ+ kids and the LGBTQ+ community.

We offer a network of private groups, websites, resources and special programs including our Mama Bears to the Rescue program, Mama Bear Safer Schools Program, Mama Bear Blanket program and Mama Bear Little Box of Rainbows program.

It takes a lot of hours and a lot of money to keep everything going. If you would like to see us continue to do the work we do we need your support.

Your support will help keep the Mama Bears organization going and growing so our groups, websites, resources and special programs remain available.

Become a monthly supporter for as little as $2 a month HERE ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!!

Top Surgery Tips from Mama Bears

Tags

health, Mama Bears, medical, top surgery, transgender

Mama Bears share top surgery tips.

These tips come from personal experience.

Here’s a link to a printable pdf version of the flyer.

TIPS FOR TOP SURGERY

Things to have on hand:

A small bucket or waste can with garbage bag in it for ride home from surgery (just in case).

At least two (4 is better) large malleable/flexible ice packs to rotate out. There are lots of options online. Many stay cold for up to 8 hours.

Seatbelt pillow/pad for Post-Surgery Comfort to protect against pressure from seat belt for ride home after surgery. You can find these for sale online.

Pregnancy pillow to prop up and help make them comfortable after surgery.

Mastecomy pillow after surgery is also very helpful.

A boppy pillow can help elevate arms and keep them from rubbing where drains enter.

Post Surgical Drain Bulb Carrier Pouch for Shower

Compression  vest (some surgeons provide the vest and some don’t – check with your surgeon) Some patients prefer to use ace bandages instead.  Having a spare vest (or ace bandage)is a good idea as they can get smelly. Always consult with your surgeon if you plan on deviating from their instructions.
Recliner if possible.

Neck pillow for sleeping in recliner.

If recliner is not available use pillows to prop up patient so they don’t roll onto stomach when sleeping.
Button front shirts or zip up sweatshirts.

Big flannel shirts with big front pockets are also comfortable and the drains bulbs can sit in the pockets.

Masculine looking mastectomy shirts are also suggested.

A track jacket with inside pockets also works well to hold the drains

Lanyard for holding the drains in the shower.

Laxatives

Nylon fanny pack can be used to hide the drains – you could have 2 and use one in the shower instead of the post surgical drain bulb carrier pouch for shower.

Body wipes for personal cleanup until the surgeon oks showers.

Dry shampoo.

Pads to sleep on – put them under a towel to avoid messes.

Slip on shoes.

Plenty of snacks – healthy ones if possible since patients don’t always eat much the first few days after surgery.

Bendy straws.

Cup with a lid.

Pull up pants, athletic pants.

Plenty of fluids.

Throat drops or hard candy for right after surgery to ease the sore throat from the breathing tube.

A lap desk/table.

2 weeks of meals pre-made in freezer ready to go if patient is living alone.

Things to do:

Ask about anti-nausea patches for after surgery.

Discuss incision lines with surgeon prior to surgery. If curved lines will cause disphoric thoughts then demand straight incision lines. Many surgeons do not ask/discuss this but are happy to meet your needs.Ask the patient if they want before and after pictures.Ask your surgeon about using silicone scar tape as it can help with healing and scarring. 

Rearrange fridge and pantry for easier access to food because the patient will be like a t-rex for several weeks.

Make sure microwave is in easy reach if possible.

Administer pain meds per doctor’s instructions.

Make sure patient eats before taking pain meds

Get patient up and moving within a couple of days (more than just going to the bathroom). Taking walks 2 or 3 times a day can help the recovery process a lot.

Make sure the patient knows to ask for help

Patient should avoid reaching for things.

Be diligent with scar care for a full year after surgery!

Plan for the post-surgery restrictions.  Expect patient to be out of commission 10-14 days. Other restrictions  can last for several months.  

Building up pec muscles in advance can help.

Beware of the mood swings. Arm yourself with lots of positive statements of support and encouragement.

Put a tiny drop of soap on your fingertips when squeezing the drain tubes (a bit of soap makes your fingers glide along the tubes).

Write medication administration schedules and similar stuff on the bathroom mirror with a wet erase marker

Write down every pill taken and when it was taken so all caregivers/patient are on the same page (some like to create a spreadsheet with medications listed across the top row to list administration date and time administered under the medication given)

Keep notes of drain outputs to take to the after surgery follow up appointment.

Plan ahead for how to combat boredom – visitors, movies, books, phone calls etc.

If at all possible have multiple caregivers because it takes a lot of energy and time to help the patient during recovery and having extra help allows everyone to get rest as well. It’s important for caregivers to take care of themselves too so they can give the support needed.

Take pics during bandage changes so you can compare progress/swelling/improvements and identify any unexpected changes. You can also send these to the doctors if needed.

Follow the doctors instructions to a T.

Be prepared to experience lots of emotions, both the patient and yours and their partner if applicable – fear, worry, excitement, anxiety, love, pride, joy and many more emotions will most likely be experienced by all involved.

Mama Bear Story Project #55 – Harriet Sutton

Tags

affirming, LGBTQ, lgbtq youth, Mama Bear Story Project, Mama Bears, Moms of LGBTQ Kids, Parenting, Story, Trans Youth, transgender

The Mama Bear Story Project is a collection of portraits and autobiographical essays from members of Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears

When my first child was born, he had sparkling blue eyes, blond hair and an infectious laugh. I felt an immediate bond with him and he stole my heart. He grew into a beautifully creative boy who also loved basketball and roller blading.

We were attending a Presbyterian Church while he and his four siblings were growing up. We firmly believed the very conservative teachings of this church, including their teachings that homosexuality is a sin. He loved going to our church and accepted Jesus at an early age. He participated in Sunday School, church services, Vacation Bible School, Wednesday Night dinners, and youth group. Later, in his church life, he started working in the nursery on a regular basis.  I look back at this time and I don’t understand why I didn’t question some of their teachings, but it would take much greater events to start my metamorphosis.

When my son was around 17, he was outed by a man in our neighborhood. Our internet was connected somehow to theirs and, unbeknownst to us, the man had been tracking my son’s messages to and from other people. My son was taken by total surprise when he was outed and my ex-husband and I were completely blindsided. I look back on that day with shame and regret, remembering how we repeated our church’s beliefs to our son. How could we be so heartless and so uncaring? This was the beginning of a difficult journey for our family.

My heart began to soften and change the day he came home and told me that the ministers wife stated that he no longer worked in the nursery.  Immediately, images started popping up in my head of my son standing there, confused and heartbroken and not knowing why. It became obvious to me that he was being punished for being himself. This was one of the events that made me start to question and doubt what we had been taught for so many years. Why would a good theology lead to such bad fruit? Where was the love the Bible talks about? How was it okay for people in a church to love and adore a child as he grows up just to turn on him when they find out he is gay?

I began questioning what we had been taught and this threw me into many years of studying, learning, and deconstructing my faith. It was not an easy journey, but it was well worth it. My heart was filled with joy when I came to the realization that the Bible does not condemn homosexuals and that God created them just the way they are. My theology changed from one of fear and judgement to one of love and acceptance. It was as if a veil had been lifted from my eyes. I could now see how horribly many churches treat the gay community.

I have gone to my grown son several times, in tears, and asked for his forgiveness for the words I said in the past and the terrible way I handled things when he was younger. I have so much remorse and sorrow about that time. But he has forgiven me and I have finally been able to forgive myself. There has been so much forgiveness, healing and growth in our relationship. I truly believe that having a gay son turned out to be one of the greatest blessings in my life and that it led to wonderful growth and changes in my heart and mind and I treasure my relationship with him immensely.

Much has changed since 1988. At the end of 2020, my precious youngest daughter came to me and told me that she is gay. I was immediately excited and happy for her. I could see the joy on her face at having discovered who she really is and I have watched her blossom ever since. I am thankful that I am not who I used to be, that I have grown and changed, and that what I now believe can help me be an encouragement and a support to others.

I may not be able to change the past, but I can rewrite the present and future and it will be better, brighter, more loving and more accepting than ever before. That is the hope we have, when we open ourselves up to studying and learning new things…there is freedom when we get to let go of the chains of a rigid conservative theology. We can stop judging and condemning others and start loving them the way God wanted us to in the first place. We can also learn to forgive ourselves.

This year, I decided to fulfill the lifelong dream of writing a book. I wrote a book called Riley Rae’s Pronouns, for ages 2-7. It is about a child that uses the pronouns them and they. I was able to publish it on Amazon and it is now available. In the “About the Author” section, I mentioned the Mama Bears organization, in hopes that it could help anyone out there that is searching for answer. It’s my wish that my book will touch hearts, change minds, and make a difference in the world.

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You can purchase Harriet’s book “Riley Rae’s Pronouns” for ages 2-7 here.

Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears is a private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ kids. The official motto of the group is “Better Together” and the members call themselves “Mama Bears”

The group is private so only members can see who is in the group and what is posted in the group. It was started in June 2014 and presently has more than 29,000 members.

For more info about the Mama Bears and all of our groups, programs and resources visit our website at realmamabears.org 

This story can also be viewed on the Mama Bear Story Project Facebook page.

That’s A Really Good Question #7 – Are there any non-binary terms I can use in place of “Sir” and “Ma’am”?

Tags

ally, Inclusion, language, LGBT, LGBTQ, nonbinary, Support

Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears is a private Facebook group for moms of lgbtq kids. This series addresses common questions that often get asked by members of the group. For more information about the group visit our website realmamabears.org

Asking if there is a non binary term to use instead of using ma’am or sir is a question that is frequently asked by Mama Bears.  

It’s commendable to want to address people respectfully using terms that don’t unnecessarily gender them. 

There are people who recommend terms like Xe or Mx, but those terms are not well known and more than likely get a quizzical blank stare from most people if you use them and, therefore, may not be appropriate in many settings.

That means, at this point in time, until those terms enter mainstream usage, the best option is to avoid gendered terms entirely.

Rather than saying “excuse me, ma’am” one can simply say “excuse me” in a polite tone. 

When an employee is talking to a customer and wants to be formal, they can do that by adding more deferential wording to their statement: “Pardon me, would you be so kind as to store your belongings in the overhead compartment so the aisle is clear?”

As long as one is polite and cordial this will approach work well in most all cases. However, if the person being addressed feels slighted by not being addressed as “sir” or “ma’am” they’ll likely speak up about it and one will know what to call them. If that happens simply apologize, thank them for sharing how they prefer to be addressed and then use the preferred term going forward.

Sooooo … the short answer is to just not use gendered terms. If someone complains, apologize and use the term they want you to use. 

Mama Bear Story Project #54 – Staci Frenes

Tags

affirming, family, LGBTQ, Mama Bear, Mama Bear Story Project, Mama Bears, parents, Story

The Mama Bear Story Project is a collection of portraits and autobiographical essays from members of Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears

Our daughter Abby came out to us, unexpectedly, at the age of 16, and in that moment, I felt my tidy Christian world begin to unravel. In our Jesus-loving, evangelical-church-going family, this just didn’t seem possible. In the months and years that followed, I learned to make room for many things along the way, including questions that required stretching and expanding my old ways of thinking.

Most pressing on my heart was the dilemma of how to fit Abby’s sexual orientation within the context of my faith. I understood that Abby being gay wasn’t simply a phase or a choice, and I believed God didn’t love her any less because she was gay. But I had concerns about her future that were troublesome and unsettling to me. I wanted her to be happy and healthy, as any mother would, and also to flourish emotionally and spiritually.

Which is why I was saddened, but not surprised, when Abby stopped coming to church with us. My first instinct was to do everything in my power to drag her with us on Sundays—whether she liked it or not—but I could see that after coming out she felt less at home there (as we did too, over time.) She didn’t want to be part of a community where she wasn’t accepted for who she was, and as a result began seeking out a new group of friends, many of whom were also LGBTQ.

At first, I was a little panicky at the thought of Abby hanging out with mostly LGBTQ friends. The idea of a “gay community” was way outside my realm of experience or knowledge and I wanted to know everything I could about the people she spent time with, even the things that seemed silly or random on the surface. Like, why did some of her friends wear androgynous-looking clothes or cut their hair so short? She often rolled her eyes at my naivete, like an adult who finds a child amusing, but I was grateful hearing her perspective.

Underlying our conversations was my irrational fear that Abby would be pulled into relationships and experiences she wasn’t emotionally prepared to navigate. She was young in ways that seemed tender and impressionable. Sure, she had a driver’s license and a part-time job, but she was still balancing on that precarious edge between young woman and older girl—a ripe catch for someone who might influence her negatively. The notion of a gay community, lifestyle,
or culture, had always seemed a little dangerous in my imagination, and I feared it would suck her into its clutches.

Mind you, I had almost zero personal experience with actual gay people. I was a product of my times and culture, coming of age in the 80’s in conservative Christian circles. Knowing someone who was gay and out was about as common as knowing someone who had time traveled. Even as a teenager living in the San Francisco Bay Area, my understanding of gay culture was formed mostly from what I saw on TV of the annual Pride parade. No one in my church or friend circles talked openly about gay people. It was all taboo and hush-hush, and made for a lot of speculation, jokes and titillating gossip.

In my twenties I could count on one hand the number of gay people I knew personally. It wasn’t until I was in my thirties and early forties that I had friends who I knew to be gay and out. But old stereotypes from my past persisted, and when my newly-out daughter started spending more time with her LGBTQ friends and less time at church, my instinct was to circle the wagons in order to protect her from the dangers I feared would be awaiting her. I just wasn’t sure what those dangers were, exactly.

My paranoia seems so irrational to me now, but I felt like an outsider in her world. I didn’t know what was true and what was my own imagination. Fear of the unknown fueled my worry. I hated the thought of a chasm growing between my daughter. If I allowed myself to believe that in coming out, my daughter had become something other than the Abby I’d always known and loved, that she had become one of them, I knew I’d lose her. I couldn’t bear the thought of it.

Someone wise once said if you want to build a bridge you have to spend time on both sides you’re trying to connect. Obviously, separating myself from Abby’s growing new community of friends wasn’t going to help me cross my gulf of fear, so I decided to take baby steps toward it instead. As usual those steps were at first awkward and uncomfortable.

While my former conservative-Christian self couldn’t have ever imagined darkening the door of a lesbian bar, that’s exactly what I did one evening when Abby invited me to come and hear her sing at a club. Though not yet 21, she had been performing for a while at some of the local open mic nights. The customers at this particular club happened to be mostly lesbians—I said yes before I could chicken out. I was nervous and about as far out of my element as I could get. I’m sure everything about my sensible outfit and self-conscious demeanor screamed Heterosexual Christian Mom!—but despite my discomfort I actually managed to enjoyed myself.

Sitting at a table with a few of Abby’s friends, I mostly just listened as they laughed and talked about school, work, relationships—the usual stuff. They were sensitive to my newbie status in their world and graciously invited me into the conversation at various points. Gradually, I felt the tension in my body relax as an unexpected realization sunk in: I was among friends. No one acting inappropriately or out of control; just a handful of young women listening to music and having a few drinks with friends.

That evening proved to be a small but profound revelation that opened up my thinking about what an LGBTQ community looked like. As far as I could tell, it was like any group of young people, with the same desire for belonging and companionship you’d expect to see in any community. The more time I spent in those casual settings with Abby and her friends the more I learned to see them as people beyond just a label or category.

It’s difficult to admit that until Abby came out, I didn’t think much about the biases I’d been harboring about gay people since as far back as childhood. I never imagined the LGBTQ community could include kids like mine, from families like ours. Kids who were just trying to figure out their lives, find their path, make their parents proud. I watched Abby’s gay and non-gay friends alike go through similar life experiences: auditioning for their dream gigs, scraping
to make ends meet in college, struggling through break-ups, moving away from home, getting their first full-time jobs. The details varied but all of them were just young people trying to make the awkward leap into adulthood the best way they knew how.

The distinctions between “us” and “them” I once thought clearly defined became blurry. I saw that people are far more alike than we are different. One of my favorite lines from Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird is when Scout says, “I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.”I’ve tried to keep these words close to my heart as Abby has moved in and out of friendships and relationships with people I’ve grown to love. It’s hard to imagine I was once worried about her spending time with these LGBTQ “folks” I’ve sat across tables from, laughed with, cried with, and made room for their stories in my heart. My life is bigger and more beautiful because they are in it.

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This story was excerpted from the book “Love Makes Room” by Staci Frenes and shared with the author’s permission. Staci’s book can be purchased here and wherever books are sold.

Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears is a private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ kids. The official motto is “Better Together” and the members call themselves “Mama Bears”

The group is private so only members can see who is in the group and what is posted in the group. It was started in June 2014 and presently has more than 26,000 members. For more info about the Mama Bears organization visit our website at realmamabears.org 

This story can also be viewed on the Mama Bear Story Project Facebook page.

A message for parents of trans kids

Tags

acceptance, affirmation, affirming, children, education, family, language, LGBT, LGBT Youth, LGBTQ, lgbtq youth, Mama Bears, Moms of LGBT, Moms of LGBTQ Kids, parent, Parenting, parents, relationships, Serendipitydodah, Serendipitydodah for Moms, Support, Trans Youth, transgender, unconditional love, Youth

It’s not uncommon for parents of trans kids to resist accepting their new reality. Parents of trans kids often share about struggling to use their child’s correct pronouns and new names. They often say they feel uncomfortable, sad and afraid.

Although their feelings are common and they deserve support, understanding and encouragement I always emphasize that it is vitally important that their trans kids receive enthusiastic support from them IMMEDIATELY!

I always emphasize how vital it is for parents to demonstrate ENTHUSIASTIC support of their trans kids immediately by doing things like using new names and correct pronouns.

In a recent study, researchers found that when transgender youth have parents that enthusiastically support them and use their new name and correct pronouns the youth’s risk of suicide and depression decreases significantly.

I suggest that parents apologize sincerely if they mess up and acknowledge any anger or hurt feelings by saying something like: “I don’t blame you for being angry at me or hurt when I mess up. I’m determined to get this right because it’s important to me too”

An enthusiastic supportive attitude from a parent improves the way trans youth think about themselves, how they cope with their own anxiety and how they cope with all the challenges they face.

It also improves their ability to avoid drug use, addiction, alcohol abuse, irresponsible sexual activity, self harm and suicidal ideation and attempts.

I emphasize these things because I want the best for all parents and their children.

Using correct pronouns and new names can be hard for some parents but knowing a child’s well-being is at risk can give parents the determination, strength and fortitude to do the right thing no matter how hard it is because that is what parents do.

As parents we love our kids enough to do the right thing even when it’s hard … because nothing is more important than making sure our kids are as healthy and happy and well adjusted as possible! ❤️

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Mama Bears is an organization dedicated to supporting, educating and empowering parents of lgbtq kids and the lgbtq community. The organization includes private groups, local chapters, programs and resources that serve families with lgbtq members and the lgbtq community. For more info visit the Mama Bears website realmamabears.org

Mama Bear Story Project #52 – Naomi Weisberg Siegel

Tags

LGBT, LGBTQ, lgbtq youth, Mama Bear, Mama Bear Story Project, Mama Bears, Moms of LGBT, Moms of LGBTQ Kids, Pride, Serendipitydodah

The Mama Bear Story Project is a collection of portraits and autobiographical essays from members of Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears

What would you say if your child told you that he or she were gay?

Let me rephrase that.

What will you say when your child tells you that he or she is gay?

It’s not that unlikely. Current research indicates that approximately 10 percent of the population is gay, lesbian or bisexual. Being gay oneself doesn’t predispose one to have gay kids, any more than being heterosexual means that you will have only heterosexual kids. Most gay kids come from exclusively hetero homes.

My daughter told me she was gay when she was 15. I was surprised, mostly because she’d had all the usual teenage crushes on male movie-star idols. Maybe I should have been tipped off because they were the ones with long, flowing hair and beautiful faces — Orlando Bloom as Legolas in “Lord of the Rings,” for example.

But I was neither horrified nor upset; she’s my daughter and I love her, period. She’s a smart, thoughtful girl, caring and careless, impulsive and cautious, sloppy and precise — in short, a normal and outrageous teenager.

I’m proud of her and can’t wait to see how she does in college, what she’s going to do with her many talents, and who she’ll learn to love. Exactly how she chooses to love that person, or what that person’s gender is, is none of my business and not under my control.

The parent of a gay child can lose that child in many ways. Matthew Shepard, a gay man, was beaten to death by homophobes. That’s the worst way to lose a child.

But parents who reject their child’s sexual orientation will also lose him or her. You don’t have to kick your child out of the house and refuse to see her, to lose her. She doesn’t have to run away from an unloving home or commit suicide (the suicide rate among gay teens is far higher than among straight ones) for you to lose her.

If you react to your child with shock, rage, disappointment, moral judgment or coldness when she tells you she’s gay, she may never bring it up again — but she won’t stop being gay. And she won’t tell you who she loves, or what is in her heart, and eventually she’ll stop telling you what’s real and true in her life.

If she takes your message to heart and hates herself for being gay, she’ll lose herself — and you, too, will have lost her.

I worry that my daughter will be discriminated against in housing, jobs and socially by people who think she’s a freak or strange. I worry that the government that she pays taxes to, that rules the country that she’s a citizen of, will make more laws that restrict her rights — or will fail to make laws that protect her. I fear that bigotry and ignorance will warp her life and take her away from me. If these things sent her only to Canada, where civilization seems to be more advanced than it is in this country, I would be grateful. I’d often be able to visit her there.

No matter where my daughter ends up, she’ll know that I love her, and have always loved her, for who she is — and that who she loves is part of her and I love that, too. With all the other fears I have for her, I don’t worry that I will lose her heart. I have hers and she has mine.

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Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears is a private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ kids. The official motto is “Better Together” and the members call themselves “Mama Bears”

The group is private so only members can see who is in the group and what is posted in the group. It was started in June 2014 and presently has more than 18,000 members. For more info about the Mama Bears visit our website at realmamabears.org 

This story can also be viewed on the Mama Bear Story Project Facebook page.