There is no easy way to write this post without possibly offending some people. I can always fall back on the "my domain, my soapbox" line but this time I think I'll go a different route and use the "this one has me stumped" route.
I try not to pass judgment on other parents on the way that they choose to raise their children. After all, kids don't come with manuals. For the most part we all do our best, give it our all and are constantly changing our techniques and learning from our kids.
This afternoon I found myself in a conversation with another kindergarten parent. It came up that this parent had a hard time sending their child to the public school because they had noticed a set or two of lesbian parents at a school function last year. This family is fairly religious in their beliefs. This parent said they are just not okay with it and don't really want to subject their child to it. This parent went on to tell me that they couldn't be friends with a homosexual person, it just isn't right.
This is where I became wonderfully subtle and interjected that we have a few gay friends and that it really isn't a big deal with the girls. Yes, questions pop up but I am pretty certain that is natural, we answer them and it is no big deal. Tim and I have had our fair share of questions as well, and we asked them. I will admit to not understanding how you know you are gay, I mean I assume its the same way you realize you are first attracted to anyone but I was still curious.
I am not sure if this parent is frightened of it rubbing off on their child or what and I am trying very hard not to judge. To each his own beliefs and values. You do what works for your family, I get that. But...
Shouldn't we be teaching our kids tolerance? And acceptance? And that to be homosexual isn't wrong, it just is what it is.
