Children and alternative lifestyles>>>>>>What do you think???

I think as long as the parents are loving and caring that is all that matters. Kids get picked on whether they are raised by straight and narrow parents as well so assuming just because they have homosexual parents will ultimately deem them picked on is just asinine.

good point

Are you opining that we need to curb our lifestyles so that all children are given only a very narrow view of the possibilities of living? As Jennifer points out, kids get picked on for any and all reasons. Better to teach them how to deal with life's adversities, and other people's bad traits than assume they must be coddled and kept from anything that might not be "normal."

I guess I am a soffty when it comes to children, And being taught that that type of behavior is not acceptable. Does that make me a bad person

yes it does because it isn't your place or your right for that matter to say it isn't acceptable. People are who they are. Maybe homosexuals don't find it acceptable you are straight....

STANDS UP TO APPLAUD JENNIFER!!!! Well said!

Ditto; more applause for Jennifer

the kid next to my house is such a victim,i feel bad for him and his care takers are real good ladies

then instead of condemning two good parents condemn the children who are making life harder for that child and their parents for allowing it.

If you really feel that the 'ladies' are good people, maybe you, as a straight man, could stand up for them, and be an example for the bullies that it's not ok to pick on a child because of who his parents are. That would make more of an impact than writing this post. Maybe the bullies were brought up like you were, to believe it's wrong to live like your neighbors, but to show them acceptance and tolerance won't make them gay, only compassionate. Who knows? After having such an example set by you for them, they might grow up seeing you as a hero and major positive influence on their lives.

I think anything's better than bringing up children in ignorance.

You so rock me with your compassionate and straight forward personality, Ferosh. You are so much truth, reality could take major lessons from you. I adore that in a person. I'm lucky to call you friend!

Aw, you're just biased cuz I like your poetry. lol I'm teasing.... thank you so much, Nancy.

They are harrassed and picked on because of backward mentalities that believe the only proper lifestyle is a STRAIGHT lifetsyle which of course they instill in their young ones who take that shi**y attitude to school and torment those who are being brought up non traditional households~
A household filled with caring and love and intelligence and openess benefits a child irregardless of the orientation of the couple~

I couldnt' agree more.

Roger, I understand that instinct that says protect the children. Truly I do. I'm a gay woman in a 12+ year monogamous relationship. For many years, I thought really hard about whether it was right to bring a child into my world. Then I watched the families around. I can't tell you how many heterosexual couples I saw cheating on their spouses, breaking up families, choosing alcohol and drug addictions over their children, abusing and neglecting their children. Don't get me wrong, I know this can happen in a homosexual family as well, but I was looking to see how much better a child would be with them instead of with my wife and I. Recently, I had face my own childhood pain in accepting that my cousin had molested me and changed my life, derailing who I should have been in life. All of these things opened my eyes to what is truly important.
All children face adversity in life. The choice isn't whether it should be gay or straight adversity. The choice is whether they will face surround by warmth, and love and support, or abandonment, neglect, and abuse. I choose love, and I can tell you honestly that I don't have a single quam left about adopting a child. I will my child to the end of the earth and back, and that's what matters. Not the small minds of adults or children who might call my child names because of who I am. I hope you reconsider your position. Love should always come before convenience and bigotry.

I do LOVE you~

I LOVE YOU, TOO~

=D

Group hug, ladies!!!!!

I LOVE YOU TOO!

Smiles and pulls Ferosh into the huddle to squish her too :)

You're now the filling in a Nancy and Selene sandwich!!

If I were a small child, I'd feel extremely fortunate to be adopted by Nancy, and I'm sure I'd feel that way growing up into a wonderful adult as well.

--- not trying to wedge into the love fest here. Just what I think.

Thanks Robert ;)

Nancy said it all.

I raised three happy, successful and well adjusted kids. My two youngest went to college and were on the dean's list all the way through. They have excellent careers and are well loved by all who meet them.

My oldest is in retail and his employees do well and really like him a lot. He is also one of the most generous and kindest people I ever met.

Children are cruel, the world is cruel. I raised my kids to have very high self esteem.

In addition they all know how to throw a mean right hook like their mama.

Well said, well done.

I want sugarmama to be my mama...

I stay out of what doesn't concern me.

As long as children are raised in a loving and caring environment, I don't have any issues with it at all.

I was picked on as a child for being an abused child. Going to school with black eyes, bruised legs and arms and all from a straight mother.

Of course, it didn't help I had carrot red hair, wore glasses and ws very small.

I ended up being the bully by the time I wa 13, I was the one kicking azz and torturing others (mainly preppies...cheerleaders and jocks)...

Evil...however many years too late? May I tell you? We would have adopted you into our HOOD, and we would have STOOD for you.
Wilka

I think children will do well as long parents know basic spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

"I think children will do well as long parents know basic spelling, punctuation, and grammar."

One of the key indicators of future success is the amount of reading material in the home.

Also, the location and use of the reading material.

Roger, there is a great deal of research of this topic - the American Psychological Association, the American Association of Periatric Medicine are just two organizations that have position papers on this topic.

Here is what WebMD - affiliated with Reagan's Surgeon General says:

Researchers Say Children Who Grow Up in Households With Gay Parents Have Normal Self-Esteem

That would be, of course, "Pediatric"

Here is the link to the American Psychological Association page:

Lesbian & Gay Parenting

I dont agree. Some kids are picked on because of there race, some kids are picked on for being poor, some kids are picked on for being a little strange, being over weight, mental dissabilitys, phyical dissabilitys, I dont know a kid who has never been picked on.
I got hell in school simply because I was from california and was diffrent.

Instead of saying someone shouldnt have kids because the child may be picked on I think all parents should teach there child to respect others no matter how diffrent.
They should learn early about how some children have 2 mommys or 2 daddys or 1 parent or even 4 parents and that diffrent kinds of familys are ok.

My kids know that every family is diffrent in there own way, and that every person is diffrent in there own way. Its those diffrenances that make like enjoyable and to embrace all the differances instead of being scared of them.