When do you teach your child about homosexuality?

[Sillyman]

Discuss.

 

[MissTaken]

my six year old has a friend with "two moms." They are friends of mine as well.

That is all he needs to understand right now, as he is also at a point wherein he is trying to understand marraige, divorce and relationships in general.

 

[freakygirl]

My children learned about it rather young. Because a very good friend of ours was gay. He loved my children like they were his own. They asked one time why he didn't have a wife or girlfriend. He and I explained to them in terms they would understand.

Mel later died of AIDS... it broke the heart of my youngest son, as he was the closest to him.

 

[Black_Bird]

When he or she asks.

 

[AusTess]

My 6 year old knows that lesbians like women and gay men like men.


You just have to adjust the description to fit the child.
And i dont want him growing up thinking being gay is a bad thing.I'd hate that.

 

[Sillyman]

My children learned about it rather young. Because a very good friend of ours was gay. He loved my children like they were his own. They asked one time why he didn't have a wife or girlfriend. He and I explained to them in terms they would understand.

Mel later died of AIDS... it broke the heart of my youngest son, as he was the closest to him.

My Uncle Steven died of AIDS. I never got to know him as much as liked, but my mother talked about him all the time. He was such a card in so many ways, and he really shaped my attitudes on what homosexuals were like. I was so sad when he died, and I couldn't explain to people about how much he meant to me without them asking if he had molested me or some crap like that.

 

[Kitte]

I never "explained" it to my step daughter, we just always included gay love in our discussions about LOVE in general. She used to ask how you knew you were in love and I would tell her that when someone meets a special man or woman and knows them for a long time that you grow to love them, not the same way as you love your mom or dad etc. and I did tell her when she was about 5 that sometimes men love men and women love women and that it was just how the goddess made them and that falling in love is a beautiful thing.

 

[sacremento]

My brother is gay, so my oldest knows what it's about, and it's been no big deal.

I see no reason to bring it up with my little ones until there is a reason for it, they really don't understand what your talking about when they are 5 or 6.

I wouldnt talk about the sex life of a straight friend or sibling with my young kids either unless there was a reason or a question. Then I just answer in a casual, no big deal fact of life way.

If my brother got a boyfriend(sadly he doesn't have one) then I would have a happy reason to tell them he was gay.

 

[sunstruck]

Depends on the situation. I have several gay relatives, I never asked about it. I just saw them behaving the same way my parents did and assumed they loved eachother just like my parents.

But if you are asked, just don't make a big deal out of it. Compareing them to healthy hetero relationships the child is familliar with is helpful, but mostly you can just answer their questions honestly and openly with respect to their age. Having a special talk about it isn't a good idea, because it gives them the idea that it is a huge deal and the best thing for this world is for kids to grow up knowing it isn't a big deal.

That's also my theory on race and religion.

 

[BamaBelle]

I agree with the post that said when the child asks.

However, sometimes I wondered if he already knew before I could explain to him.

Had someone already burst that bubble of only man/woman love and not gotten all the facts correct?

When we found out we were pregnant with our daughter, we explained the WHOLE KITKABOODLE to our son, who was 10 at the time. Different types of love came into the conversation and we had a wonderful time of answering his questions. Children are naturally curious. His questions were simple and yet they opened up the avenue for more talks and discussions.

I think the key is communication. I think the more we try to hide from our kids, the more they question. We should not entertain the fears that so many of us parents have about sex and our bodies.

My parents explained sex to me from a book by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation (the makers of Kotex feminine products). This was 24 yrs ago, lesbian/gay sex were only mentioned briefly. So briefly, that it took two years later that I had the courage to ask my mother about it, when reading the book with my younger sister.


Back to the original question.
We have discussed the moral implications of homosexual/lesbian love. We have discussed the fact that sometimes men and women love other men and women and it is not our place to make that decision for them. We love other people based on their hearts, not what is on the outside or what is politically correct.

 

[sacremento]

Oh yeah my parents did a wonderful job explaining sex to me...Not! They never ever mentioned it! Jeezus it's a wonder I figured anything out lol

Sometimes it feels uncomfortable then answering the questions that kids will bring up, but I do my best to answer them honestly and naturally as possible

 

[Ezarc]

My six year old already understand that some people are different. So bringing up the fact that so people like others of their own sex has been mentioned and also that there is nothing bad, wrong, or evil about it.
Take Care,
Ezarc

 

[sigh]

I am gay and my lover has spent the night on many, many occasions. My son knows Carol well and has come into my room in the morning while we're still lounging in bed (he's autistic so even the basic concepts of social behavior - like privacy - are lost on him, or are easily forgotten). He knows that I love her and that she loves me. It's never been an issue. We do many things together - go to movies, shopping, out to eat, etc. - and it's perfectly natural to him to hold both our hands when we're out.

We've never discussed it that I can remember. It's just the way life is for us.