All Homemade Mothers and Homemade Fathers are Welcome Here!

Last weekend was Pride Weekend here in Chicago.  It is a fun way to celebrate our city’s gay and lesbian community, and so the kids and I drove up to the Lakeview neighborhood on Sunday to check out some of the festivities.  Evie was very curious about all the people filling the sidewalks for the Pride Parade.  “What are all those people doing?” she asked.  I replied, “They are being proud of who they are.  Are you proud of who you are?”  Of course, she shouted, “YES!”

Hours before the parade stepped off, tires were slashed on 50 floats.  I was so sad to hear about this passive-aggressive act of pure nastiness. I’ve heard all the excuses for not supporting gay rights, and not a single one has ever rung true for me.  Why waste time and effort putting down an entire group of perfectly nice and normal people?!  I am raising my kids to be kind and considerate towards all people; even if they don’t agree with someone, they should at least be nice!

Now that a few states allows civil unions, I hope it will be easier for gay couples to build and grow their families.  It shouldn’t really matter if a family is lead by a mom and a dad, or two moms, or two dads, or one mom, or one dad.  What should really matter is that the children in the family feel loved, cared for and respected.  While I do see the merit in having both feminine and masculine influences in a child’s life, I think love can really conquer all.  As my college friend Molly once said, “as long as you love your kids, you really can’t go wrong.”  She’s right.

Homemade Mothering is about encouraging all Homemade Mothers and Homemade Fathers as they strive to make the world a better place for their families.  All are welcome here!

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14 Comments for this entry

  1. Amber says:

    Well said! How sad that people act so mean. My brother is gay, and while I doubt he will ever adopt, I think anyone that gives a child a loving home is a hero, regardless of whether it fits the “normal” mold.

  2. Kate says:

    Please be careful about this:

    “Are you proud of who you are?” Of course, she shouted, “YES!”

    Your child is white… you really should not be training her to be proud of who she is. That is highly offensive to people of color. Newsweek last year pointed out that although Black and Brown pride is fine, the idea of a child being proud of being white is horrifying. White children have absolutely no business being proud of who they are.
    http://www.newsweek.com/2009/09/04/see-baby-discriminate.html

    Instead, you need to be instilling in her a healthy sense of shame of what her ancestors have wrought and the white privilege she will enjoy every day of her life.

    • Maureen says:

      Please do not quote me out of context, “Kate” (or Julia). This post has nothing to do with race or “white pride.” This post has to do with teaching my kids to be nice and respectful of all people. To imply otherwise is unfair and unfounded.

      I hope we’re not at the point where teaching a 3 year old to be proud of her humble accomplishments (going potty in the toilet, clearing her plate after dinner, cleaning up her toys, making her bed) is not politically correct.

      Thanks.

    • M. says:

      “Your child is white… you really should not be training her to be proud of who she is.”

      As a person of color and a parent, I find that over-reaching statement to be grossly offensive, especially since that child is also female. Just because her skin happens to be white doesn’t mean she isn’t allowed to be proud of who she is.

    • Wren says:

      Seriously, as a POC and pretty fairly socially conscience I have to say that this is the weakest attempt of baiting I’ve ever seen. Way to completely take a quote out of context and run with it for your own agenda.

  3. Andrea says:

    I’m pretty sure you are the coolest Mom around!!

  4. I second the “Well said!” comment.

  5. FollowerofGod says:

    I have followed your blog up until now, and Im dissapointed that you support this. I have gay people in my family and although I would never treat them unkind I will not ever support those choices. I believe in God and what He has created marriage to be. I will shield my children as best as I can from the filth that is in this world, not place them in the middle of it and lie to them by telling them it is ok. They will eventually know things that are in this world but by then I hope to have prepared them and taught them God’s will so that the decisions they make will be as Christ-like as possible. God’s hand of blessing comes off our country the more we take Him out of it…the sadness God must feel as he watches us destroy the sanctity of marriage as well as the lives of innocent unborn children. It is all sin and all wrong nomatter who you are and what your “reason”. God please bless those that make the right choices, and burden the hards of those that dont to some day come to You and change their ways.

    • Maureen says:

      Thank you for your comment, and thank you for following my blog. Even though I disagree with you, I hope you know you are still welcome here at Homemade Mothering. As I said in this post, all are welcome here.

      In this country, there is a very clear distinction between church and state. If your church and personal beliefs do not approve of committed gay relationships, that is fine with me. However, the state must make decisions that are separate from what some religions believe. In my opinion, the sanctity of marriage comes from two people committing their lives to one another – not from what other people are doing.

      I pray for God’s blessings upon those who make right and wrong choices. To ask God to place burdens on people who are making choices different than your own is not very nice!!

      • Berean says:

        Separation of church and state was originally instituted to protect the church from the state (not vice versa). When churches become forced to perform gay “marriage” ceremonies, as many churches have already been pressured to do, this clause will cease to exist as originally written. For this reason, separation of church and state is a shoddy defense for allowing gays to marry.

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  6. Mary Mac says:

    I have a great appreciation for your inclusive attitude. Thank you!

  7. Anika says:

    LOVE LOVE this post! So very well said. We should all be proud of who we are. And we should all, at a minimum, be nice to others even if we don’t agree with them. I really can’t believe how simple respect and manners have gone to the wayside. If you don’t agree with someone, there is NO need to slash their tires (or write nasty blog comments for that matter).

  8. Courtney says:

    Maureen, you are and always have been a person of grace, bravery, respect, and deep thinking. Evie has much to be proud of, as do you.

  9. Denise says:

    White children have no busisiness of being proud of who they are? my goodness, why would anyone say such a thing about a child? I’m glad she’s proud of who she is…. With that pride in herself and encouragement from loving parents she has the opportunity to grow up to be a kind and successful woman. Hate stems from discouragement and telling people that they should not be as proud or privileged as others.
    I am glad you had the opportunity to share the day with your children!

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