Thanks to mombian for once again hosting this lovely celebration of our families.
This seemed like the perfect time to write about the amazingly expansive notion of family that often exists within queer communities. We see it in relation to Q, when he talks about our “love family” — those folks we include as family, even if they don’t have a formal/formalized relationship to us. He so easily falls in love with adults, particularly those who are similar to him, gender non-conforming in some way. And we’re happy to add these folks to our love family.
Perhaps luckiest of all is that for the past year or so, a little part of our love family has been under the same roof as us. Dear friends moved into the other apartment in the little two-family house that we rent in, and the result has been a raucous, joy-filled time. We call it, at various times, the unintentional lesbian commune, the queer commune…whatever we call it, there are four moms and three kids around, which is a great ratio.
Living so close to other queer folks, to folks who know and understand Q and all of his intricacies….well, it’s amazing. There’s a sense of holding my breath that I get, sometimes, in public. Will someone understand Q? Will they judge? Are they judging and I don’t even know it? Home is meant to be a safe place. A place where we are understood, in the deepest way possible. This little community that we have here, part of our love family, provides just that. And the ability to breathe, to breathe deeply, when we are at home — to be known? That is priceless.
Q, after MC’ing the Pride event at his school
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Awesome Sauce. Happy to hear you are free to breathe and be you in your own home. Truly a gift. Keep on keepin on~
Super to know that safety and peace can be found in your favorite place.
I saw an article or two about this camp and thought of your family. Slate covered it!
http://lindsaymorris.viewbook.com/you-are-you
http://www.towleroad.com/2013/07/a-camp-for-boys-who-want-to-dress-like-girls-photos.html
http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2013/07/15/_you_are_you_looks_at_a_gender_nonconforming_camp_for_boys_photos.html
How amazing there is a pride event at his school. Is it an elementary school? Just guessing from the picture– I’ve been here before but can’t remember how old he is.
Love reading your blog! So awesome to be able to connect online with other families!
Love is unconditional! Would appreciate you having a peek! http://www.pinkismyfavourite.blogspot.com
🙂
Xo