Protect the kids, don’t even tell them, TRUST ME, they will find out on their own, the longer they don’t know about your problem, the better.

I told my kids they responded with open arms and questions. Once the questions were answered then they became supportive of gay rights.

When I told my wife, she said she always knew.

I asked her why she never said anything. She said their was no reason too! She loves me and I love her.

I have never cheated on her and see knows that.

Be honest with your family and don’t let it slip out keeping the secret from them and then they find out on their own is way worse then being honest.

The rest of the world that wants to judge or hurt you and they will. They don’t need to know anything. You have to protect your family.

I remember a moment in the pool at a hotel my family was staying at. There was a loud, obnoxious heterosexual couple, cursing, kissing and fondling too much for a place with children around (including their own). It got to the point where I was preparing to take my sons and head back to our room. Then, a man comes in wearing a speedo and starts swimming laps. Suddenly the table is turned and the loud straight couple is shocked and appalled by this “vulgar display”. They ended up leaving. My boys and I stayed longer and ended up in the hot tub with the man after he finished his workout. He was French. Completely acceptable to wear speedos and swim. My boys were amazed at his swimming ability and equally aggravated by the actions of the couple. I was proud of them.

It has only been since college, when I was 22, that I began to speak to my friends and others close to me about my dad. Everyone, including people I grew up with in my small, provincial hometown has been nothing but accepting, understanding and supportive of me.

However, I still feel untrusting and unable to feel safe with this information out there about my dad. Despite my openness and the seeming support I receive from others, my dad’s identity still feels like a cross that I continue to bear.

I am with the commenter who mentions a simple answer. Your son is protecting himself and his parents.

He is a survivor as I say; boys learn early on straight or gay that honesty in a “man’s world” doesn’t generally = safe.

You must be very proud of a son who is so young and who is so supportive.

Happiness ~
friend

He is beginning to sort out what will be a long process to figure out who he is and what kind of person he will be. Boys that age often naturally start to wonder about themselves, worry about themselves, and want to steer clear of anything that even has a hint of being “gay”. I don’t think that deep down it has anything to do with his actual feelings toward his dad. I guess I’m saying that it may say less about his relationship with his dad than it says about his developing relationship with himself and this is just something he needs to “go through”. I betcha if dad weathers this with him, both will have a strong relationship as adults. At least that’s my hope. My son and I live in a rural, uber-conservative place and I know he/we will go through similar things some day.