Comments on: How to handle non-gay-affirming relatives who have contact with children. http://familieslikemine.com/2002/10/non-gay-affirming-relatives/ Official Website for Abigail Garner's Book Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:19:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: anonymous http://familieslikemine.com/2002/10/non-gay-affirming-relatives/#comment-156 anonymous Wed, 29 Mar 2006 22:18:32 +0000 http://familieslikemine.com/2002/10/non-gay-affirming-relatives/#comment-156 It takes times for parents to adjust to their child coming out. I came out to my children and parents at the age of 32. I went through my adjustment and acceptance period prior to that. And they too went through the adjustment period. I am now 40 and my parents are there for me and the kids. They are accepting of my partner who has lived with me for almost three years now. The boys are now 10 and 17. The boys and their happiness have always been the priority in my life and now the life of my partner as well. My sister and her husband as well as all of the rest of the family accept my partner. She is included in all family events. And if she happens not to be there, they all ask where she is! They are much more accepting of my partner now than my first. My first was much younger and they very much expressed their intolerance. And looking back now, I too can see my mistakes. Give it some time. Lay down the ground rules when it comes to the kids. Good luck! It takes times for parents to adjust to their child coming out. I came out to my children and parents at the age of 32. I went through my adjustment and acceptance period prior to that. And they too went through the adjustment period. I am now 40 and my parents are there for me and the kids. They are accepting of my partner who has lived with me for almost three years now. The boys are now 10 and 17. The boys and their happiness have always been the priority in my life and now the life of my partner as well.

My sister and her husband as well as all of the rest of the family accept my partner. She is included in all family events. And if she happens not to be there, they all ask where she is! They are much more accepting of my partner now than my first. My first was much younger and they very much expressed their intolerance. And looking back now, I too can see my mistakes. Give it some time. Lay down the ground rules when it comes to the kids. Good luck!

]]> By: The Question Asker http://familieslikemine.com/2002/10/non-gay-affirming-relatives/#comment-154 The Question Asker Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:50:15 +0000 http://familieslikemine.com/2002/10/non-gay-affirming-relatives/#comment-154 A lot has progressed since we last talked. Too much to really type, but my mother has become more accepting -- particularly after meeting [my girlfriend]. My next door neighbor, who I lived in terror of since she has little kids who play with mine, has also been very accepting. Unfortunately she found out through my sister-in-law who saw her in the grocery store and gossiped. However, it worked to my advantage and the neighbor has been great. A lot has progressed since we last talked. Too much to really type, but my mother has become more accepting — particularly after meeting [my girlfriend]. My next door neighbor, who I lived in terror of since she has little kids who play with mine, has also been very accepting. Unfortunately she found out through my sister-in-law who saw her in the grocery store and gossiped. However, it worked to my advantage and the neighbor has been great.

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