A GAY THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I hope you're having a wonderful day.


I wanted to bring back a post that was made a year ago from my mother who was celebrating Thanksgiving for the first time with her son and his partner. It's a pretty touching story, so I wanted to share it again this holiday season. Here's what she had to say:


"My son is 31 years old. He came out on his 21st birthday. He has been living with his partner for about a 8 years and a half. Until June of the first year we only knew of his partner as a roommate. After lots of conversation, lots of tears, I have accepted my son's sexuality and told him he and his partner will always be welcome in our home.


So, now it's the holidays. I'm cooking my first ever Thanksgiving dinner. I'm 31 years old so I guess it's time I become the grown-up and do the entertaining. We will have myself and husband, my two sons their dates, my two younger daughters. It's not the planning and cooking that's at issue. It's my youngest child.


My baby just turned 12 last week. She is just at the age where she is beginning to understand sex and sexuality. It hadn't been too long since we talked about sex and love and marriage when she learned her brother was gay.


For those of you who have good relationships with family, what helps most in breaking through uncomfortable barriers with family members? Is a holiday as good a time as any to have a first (after coming out) family gathering? Any words of advice for a 12 year old girl? And my big burning question, would I be out of line to ask my son and his partner not to show public affection in front of his younger sister?


Please, someone tell me I'm doing this right. I love my son more than life itself. I want him and his partner to feel welcome here. But I also am still responsible for my daughters' well being and I don't want to make her angry and confused. Boy, we thought parenting small children was tough. Those years were a breeze compared to parenting adults."