Seven years ago, my day began and ended just like many others. But for my youngest child, it was a monumental day in their life.

I was relaxing on the couch watching tv my daughter sat down beside me and said,

"Mom, I am #gay."

I knew when she was ready, she would come to me.

This was a big step for my daughter to share her sexuality with me. I already knew, but I was waiting for her to accept it and be comfortable enough to share this part of her life with me and the world.

Our role as parents to our #LGBTQ children

When my daughter came to me and opened up about her sexuality, I was comfortable with it. Does that mean I don’t screw-ups in what I say or have thoughts about her future full of what if’s and what could have been? Yes, I am human.

As a mother, I envisioned my children's futures before they could even walk. We often take what we love or want in life and transfer it to our children. We see them as extensions of ourselves, and I think we subconsciously live some of our dreams through them.

Many parents can’t see past their own views for their children's lives, and when our kids need us the most, we struggle the most. We worry about,

• What others may think?

• What our faith says about being gay?

• What kind of life will they have?

But none of this matters.

How we respond to our children is what matters most.

Our children deserve to know that we, as parents, have their backs no matter their path. It is a commitment we made when we decided to have children.

We don’t get to love them and support them only when it is convenient.

There comes a point in parenting when we realize we don’t own or control our children.

They are gifts to us to guide and protect, but ultimately we are to give them wings. Wings of confidence and courage to stand up tall and embrace their life where ever it may lead.

It’s not our life to live. It is ours to give.

Whatever our fears or failures are as parents are ours alone and do not rest on our children’s backs. We owe them to educate ourselves if we do not understand their choices.

It is not our children's responsibility to make their decisions acceptable to us.

It is our job to be accepting of them.

“You must love in such a way that the person you love feels free.”

― Thich Nhat Hanh

Please RT this thread and share love for our LGBTQ kids (young and old)