Queer as Moms
Meri Perra blogs about the challenges she and her partner face in trying to raise their girls with feminist values
When I interviewed queer parenting expert Rachel Epstein, the coordinator of the LGBTQ Parenting Network at the Sherbourne Health Centre last summer, she told me what I had always suspected. “We don’t usually hear about problems at daycare,” Epstein said.
It’s good news, and despite us being the only queer family at our day care centre, it’s been our experience as well. Back in the summer, I didn’t know we were about to lose the kindergarten wait-list gamble we choose for our four-year old. I couldn’t imagine, that after we lost, I would feel part guilt (for depriving Rosa of a JK experience) and part relief (thank you God, public school is delayed another year!) Read more...
News
What we’re reading today:
1. Gay-straight alliances were seen as too political for Catholic schools, but they’ve given the OK to “Respecting Differences” clubs. If it gets the job done, we’re on board. That said, we can’t even imagine how tough it must be for a teenager to come out, so to not even acknowledge their gay identity when they’ve have the guts to do so seems pretty crummy. Make it better, Catholic board!
2. Colder temps and scary weather sometimes force kids to stay inside for recess; how can we make indoor recess more active?
3. Shame as punishment: does it work? Does it cross the line?
4. Hipster Disney Princesses. What do you think? Accurate? Ariel looks like the kind of hipster we avoid at all costs, but Belle looks like she’d work in our building. Actually, we think Hipster Mulan does work in our building. Read more...
Queer as Moms
Meri Perra blogs about the challenges she and her partner face in trying to raise their girls with feminist values
It could be that pigs have started to fly, or stranger still, I’m going to vote to for whichever government is in power next election, which has totally never happened. Because the strangest thing just did happen. I had a flash thought of: “Maybe our daughter should go to Catholic school.”
Maybe. And maybe I should also teach my kids it’s ok to talk to strangers and chase a ball onto the street. I’ll start sending them out to buy cigarettes. No, these are all bad ideas, just like queers sending their kids to Catholic school.
Let me explain.
In the past, I’ve met queer parents who’ve sent their spawn to Catholic school, and I’ve done what any other level-headed queer parent would do. I assumed they were nuts, never asked why they made their decision, and moved on. Read more...
Queer as Moms
Meri Perra blogs about the challenges she and her partner face in trying to raise their girls with feminist values
I’m not going to preface this with the oldie but nasty, “I don’t have a problem with such and such people.” But some of my best friends are straight. Honest to goodness. But they’re not straight, straight. OK, they are. I’ll tell you though, sometimes my girls forget. Call my girl group a gay straight-alliance in the form of wine-soaked gab sessions.
No don’t. It’s more than that. And Saturday mornings-after are getting too rough, so there’s also an end to that.
Our cheeky gay nephew says that straight friends are like faithful pets. They follow you around, and you can trust them not to steal your partner. I wouldn’t call us that either. My girls trust each other. We check in. We think each and every one of us is great. We laugh more than we cry, but we definitely cry. Almost on cue. Read more...
