One thing about me is that I love getting into the heavy stuff, except for me, the heavy stuff does not include me having two moms. In all honesty, having two moms is one of the most normal things about my life. I cannot blame the curiosity that arises in people when they find out, though; I would be curious too. So let me enlighten you on my life and what it has been like getting double the love of a mom, on top of the love from a truly amazing dad.
My parents divorced when I was around nine years old and the rest is kind of history. I won’t get into the specifics, both because I have little memory of it and because it is not my story to tell. But regardless, soon after the divorce, my second mom came into my life. I have now had the pleasure of having two moms for over a decade.
I won’t lie, it was totally confusing at first. I was young, the world wasn’t like what it is today, and I was still a kid going through her parents getting divorced. I was confronted about my mom’s new relationship, even bullied, by what I like to assume were just sheltered classmates. If there are two things I have to be grateful for in my situation though, they are that I never had to doubt who my real friends were and I never had to fear that I would ever let people walk all over me. It was obvious from the beginning who was bothered by my situation and I was definitely not someone who let mean people win, even at the mere age of eleven.
From there, it has been mostly uphill. There is the occasional awkwardness when I make a new friend or have a birthday party, but besides that it is just my life, a life I have actually learned to really love. I love talking about my moms, educating people on all things LGBTQ, and just sharing my story that is truly so unique in a small town in Pennsylvania. I love my moms wholeheartedly. They are some of the greatest people in my life and have inspired me in countless ways. The love they share for each other is contagious and there is never a moment I doubt their love for me.
That is not to say any of this has been easy though. As much as I hate to admit it, there have been numerous times where I have envisioned my life and what it could have been if my parents had stayed together. Easier, I am sure. I would not have three million places to be on holidays and I would not stress nearly as much as I do about who to spend time with when I go home for a weekend. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, though, and I know for a fact I would not be half the person I am today if not for my situation.
I just want to wrap this up with a thank you. A thank you to my childhood friends who have stuck with me through it all. A thank you to my college friends who never made me fear talking about my moms like I once did. A thank you to my dad for still being one of the most prominent figures in my life throughout everything. A thank you to my brother for being the only person on this earth who gets it. A thank you to my moms for teaching me what love is really all about. And lastly, a thank you to me, for always sticking up for myself and what I believe in. I may not always be the best person in the room, but there is no doubt in my mind that I am one of the most understanding.
HCXO,
Gabby