Sun 14 Jun 2009
Pride
Posted by Art-Sweet under Biweekly Question, Picture of the Week, new listings, site stuff
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P’ito tells the New York State Senate what he thinks
This was the first time I have been at Pride with my kid, and it was so different. Different from going as a non-parent, different from my expectations…
When we were TTC and then waiting for P’ito to come home, I watched the families with kids with pride and a hefty side dish of envy. I wanted what they had and I wanted it NOW. I had this vision of us all walking along, holding hands as a family, with the local lgbt families group… and instead it felt a little bit like herding cats. At the same time, I was free to browse in the information tents, snag all the swag I wanted, chat with friends, yell raunchy comments at the ladies, watch all the groups go by and cheer…
My parents were there with us – which was awesome – I have the most supportive family ever – but I was hot and cranky because P’ito was sleepy and cranky and because I kept feeling like I was losing people along the way. Tons of half-finished conversations because where did they go? Are we losing the group and falling in with the loud bar group behind us?
But when I finally pulled him out of the stroller and sat him on my shoulders, it was perfect. He waved and smiled and held his sign, and I managed to relax a bit and enjoy myself. I like our small(er) city pride – a managable parade without hours of smiling politicians and liquor floats – but lots of people both gay and straight out on the streets cheering us on. Add in a beautiful sunny day, and you’re there.
So:
What does Pride mean to you? What are your personal Pride traditions and memories? Do you dream of marching with your kid someday?
And how do you explain all the fabulousness of drag queens and leathermen and PTA presidents to your kids, if you’ve got kids old enough to say “’cause why, mama?” I didn’t have to do much explaining this year, but I’m puzzling over how to explain to P’ito what exactly it is that we’re celebrating. How do you explain Pride to a preschooler without getting too deep into the ugliness of homophobia?
And don’t forget to add your family pride photos to the LesbianFamily.org flickr group…
On a totally different note – please welcome to the ranks of LF.org:
TTC:
Non-Bio:
Young Kids:
