Things that are on my mind or that I’m digging this week…
Inspired by my blog, a documentary filmmaker friend of mine is working on a new feature documentary project that follows the real-life adventures of ordinary families raising fabulously gender creative children. The film will be part of a campaign to increase visibility, awareness and acceptance. She’s looking to connect with parents, families, friends and allies who are at various points of the journey and open to the idea of sharing their stories on-camera. She’s also looking for teens, young adults and adults who were gender nonconforming as children to be interviewed as experts. Interested? Email the amazing Sarah at: rainbowdocumentary@gmail.com.
* * *
Read about “Generation LGBTQIA” as reported by The New York Times this week. “If the gay-rights movement today seems to revolve around same-sex marriage, this generation is seeking something more radical: an upending of gender roles beyond the binary of male/female.”
* * *
Have you all been tuning into the web series Neil’s Puppet Dreams? This week’s episode is my favorite so far. Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, Joe Manganiello and Willam Belli star. Enough said.
* * *
All you moms out there have got to watch I Do Not Like Shaved Legs and Spanx, a Nick Mom parody of I Do Not Like Green Eggs and Ham. It’s the launch of “motherfunny” parodies of popular children’s books geared toward moms who’ve seen it all. I can totally relate to this episode because I happen to not like shaved legs and spanx.
Have a great weekend, C.J.’s Mom
Raising My Rainbow 
I just found your blog while searching the web for any help I could find. I thought we were alone and that there wasn’t anyone quite like us. I am a proud mother of a 6 year old son who loves disney princesses, monster high and strawberry shortcake. Who loves pink and clothes from the girls section of target. Finding this blog was an answer to my prayers when tonight I wanted to crawl up in a ball and cry. You have given me hope where I thought I had none. Thank you.
I’m so happy to hear that you’re continuing the blog through 2013, and it breaks my heart to see that CJ now feels he must dim his light to fit in – Keeping positive thoughts for your family as you begin yet another journey
I have heard that 6 is around the age where every person ‘dims their light’ to fit in with their peers. Just a normal developmental phase (the one where you suddenly realise your parents are not cool, that they’re kind of embarrassing, don’t kiss me in front of my friends, etc),
As long as he can shine at home 🙂
I’ve just finished devouring your blog posts. It’s clear that so much has changed in the relatively short time you’ve been writing. To read the blog back-to-back has been to watch CJ, yourself and the rest of your family become impressively confident, accepting and empowered to deal with the difficult issues that come up around CJ’s gender creativity. The love that you express in helping CJ and the rest of the family is palpable. It’s been a surprisingly thought-provoking and personal read for me, and I hope to learn some lessons from your excellent example. Thank you for blogging and take care!
Neil is not cleared for nudity?! You’ve made an enemy today, little puppet…
I read the New York Times piece. So inspiring. I remember an Oprah show that I watched when my son was 4 or 5. She had a specialist on who was talking about transgendered kids. According to her research (this must have been around 2000), of the kids who liked to play dress-up in styles relegated to their opposite genders, 33% would be straight, 33% gay, and 33% transgendered, in near perfect divisions. I remember thinking please-oh-please-oh-please straight or gay, straight or gay NOT transgendered. Those margins seemed WAY to scary for me. But the stories of the young people in the article were amazing. They share a humanity that will go a long way toward dissolving fears like mine. Such an important article. We need more stories.
Thank you.
Would you please turn your request for documentary participants into a Facebook post? I’d love to share it with my circle of friends, but I’d rather it come directly from the source. If it’s a Facebook post, then I can just share it with them. Thank you.
After advising you for a year that your story will become a screenplay or TV series, this is good news. I’m glad your friend is working to produce the documentary, but don’t sign away character rights to your families’ life stories. At least be open to getting a literary agent to protect C.J. and C.J’s Brothers’ college funds. You know, you can do this in your spare time, because, you know, you’re a stay at home mom and after all, what do they do all day? Eat bon-bons and watch soap operas, right?
Are you guys going to be apart of Sarah’s documentary?
I LOVE the Neil’s Puppet Dreams! THanks for sharing that. 🙂