Mommy Shorts is proud to partner with JOHNSON’S® for a series of posts leading up to Guncle’s Day on August 14th, which celebrates the important role that many gay uncles— or guncles— play in the lives of their siblings’ and friends’ children. Every parent has extended family members and friends who contribute to their children’s growth and development and this series aims to recognize the special people who help our children thrive.
When I think about the major players in Mazzy and Harlow’s lives, they are more than just me and Mike. They include extended family, close friends, teachers, counsellors and babysitters. I am not the only person who has raised my children or who will influence their decisions in the future.
They say “it takes it village,” but that’s only part of the story. Whether your kids have other caregivers or you attempt to do every bit of upbringing on your own, your children are exposed to countless influences, most of whom have something positive to teach.
A few of the things that Mazzy and Harlow have learned from “their village” so far:
From my mother, they have learned that being generous with your time is one of the most important things you can give another person.
From Grandma Toby, they have learned that being thoughtful, remembering the little things, and recognizing even small accomplishments can make a person feel loved and special.
From Ruth, our longtime nanny, they have learned that being gentle and patient goes a lot farther than being demanding and rude.
From my dad (aka Poppy), they have learned that you can dream big and build things from scratch.
From my sister, they have learned that articulating your feelings accomplishes more than screaming and crying.
From my brother-in-law, they have learned that acting goofy and singing boy band songs is something adults like to do too.
From my friend Seri, they have learned that every event, no matter how small, is an excuse to celebrate.
From my cousin Gabriel, they have learned that becoming great at something doesn’t just take passion, it takes lots of practice.
From our friends Dave and Steve, they have learned that families come in many different forms and love is what matters.
From my friend Emily, they have learned what strength and resilience looks like.
From my stepfather Sam, they have learned to treat everyone you encounter, from your mother to your server at the restaurant, with respect.
From my friend Lucy, they have learned to always keep their door open to good friends.
From Harlow’s preschool teachers, they have learned that familiar rituals and traditions bring comfort.
From Mazzy’s 2nd grade teachers, they have learned that individuals have the power to change the world.
I could go on (and I’m sure a few people will remind me that I forgot someone), but instead I’d like to turn it over to all of you…
Who in your world has been a big influence on your kids and why— a guncle, a grandparent, a teacher or otherwise? Leave your story below and I’ll be sharing my favorites in an upcoming post later this month. And don’t forget to celebrate Guncle’s Day on August 14th!
My brother-in-law, Austin, is a transgender male who, at only 17, is still learning how to navigate through the turmoil of life and being a teenager. Yet, he has taught my 3 year old son that a name is just a name. A pronoun is just a pronoun. Neither of these things changes who someone is as a person. In turn, my son has taught us all how easy it should be to accept Austin for who he is, something I hope other people in Austin’s life will take note of.
I am really loving your blog posts this summer 🙂 Thank you for all the LOVE!!!
Love you.
XOXO
My daughter’s best friend’s family is wonderful, showing how you don’t have to be actually related to be fully accepted as family.
My son’s soccer coach, who never needs to raise his voice to make all the boys better at their game and better men.
My ex-husband and husband are teaching my children…me included…that love, respect and loyalty are truly wonderful, inportant gifts. My ex-husband and I separated and divorced almost 9 years ago, when our son was 3 years old. It wasn’t easy at first but we both worked extremely hard to make sure that our son knew he was loved and, even though his parents weren’t together anymore, that we were still a family. When my current husband and I met 7 years ago he was equally as wonderful to make sure to not step on my ex-husband’s toes when it came to my son. He has always welcomed my ex-husband in our lives and treats him with the upmost respect. Now our daughter calls my ex-husband Uncle Skip. We spend holidays together, kids birthdays together, kids school and extra curriculum activities together…we are truly a family. Both of my children have this big, wonderful, unconventional family because these two men make sure that the kids NEVER feel like they have to choose. They get to have it all. I couldn’t be luckier to have these two men in my and my children’s lives.
My mother (an engineer) has taught my daughters that girls can build things and fix things just as well (and sometimes better than) boys.
From my mother: You need to treat people the way you want to be treated.
From my sister: If you never try something, you could be missing out on a great opportunity.
From Annah’s teachers: Some people in the world don’t have as many things as we do. You need to be thankful for every thing you have. (After reading I AM MALALA which you should totally read to Mazzy!)
From their cousin Chanelle: A kind smile can change someone day. It could be a homeless person on the street or a cashier at a store. If everybody smiled all day the world could be changed.
My 11yo niece taught my 4yo that big kids don’t ride in strollers. It’s been a few months and she doesn’t even request a stroller ride anymore. She’s my youngest so we actually got to sell the stroller!
My MIL (Mother In Law) taught my 9yo that holding a grudge makes your life a lot harder. Yay for Grandma Nell!
I live 4 hours away from my immediate family so my kids don’t have blood relatives they see on a regular basis but my best friend and her family have thought them that you don’t have to be a blood relative to love someone unconditionally.
When my daughter was about 5 she really got into Fairies and even at 10 still thinks they are real. In our neighborhood there is an area by a pond and it has this big oak tree. For whatever reason one day on our walk she decided to put up a “fairy crossing” sign. The next time we went for a walk a few days later, there was a fairy door and a note from “The Forest Fairy”. Over the years she has corresponded with “The Forest Fairy” and with another fairy called “OBB”. They have given her little gifts and have drawn her beautiful photos. We live in a safe community so I know they aren’t anyone creepy. I finally who one of them in, but to this day I don’t know who the other is. But I just am so amazed that someone would go to all that work writing letters to a little girl so she has some extra magic in her life!
We are moving this week out of the neighborhood and it is probably one of the things I will miss most! Knowing that there are two people in my neighborhood that value the joy of being a kid!
I would attach a photo of her by the fairy tree if I could. It is simply magincal and makes me believe too. And who couldn’t use a bit of magic in their lives these days!
[…] Read More […]