"Without the slightest hint of sexual or romantic attraction between the moms (not even a peck of a kiss) the book seems to say, 'Fear not, we’re just like you.'... Dr. Nathan N. Taylor, Ph.D., an assistant professor of education... said the story traffics in homonormativity.... The book 'allows some people to be a part of the American Dream — in this case, upper middle class, cis-gendered, partnered white women'... While we undoubtedly need to multiply the number and kinds of queer narratives in children’s literature, the value of 'Heather' to my daughter and family unit has been immeasurable. A little before she turned 2, Marty, the only child of queer parents at her day care, began asking after her 'father' in various iterations. 'Who’s my daddy? Where’s my daddy? I want my daddy.' It was heartbreaking because my partner and I could only counter with, 'You have two mommies.' (How else to explain the complicated series of events that resulted in the creation of our family?) That’s when I remembered we had a copy of 'Heather,' the 2015 version, sitting on our bookshelf where I’d left it a few years ago...."
Writes Stephanie Fairyington, in "'Heather Has Two Mommies' Is Still Relevant 30 Years Later/My daughter started asking for her daddy, so I turned to Lesléa Newman’s classic picture book and it changed everything" (NYT).
This article was originally published April 17, 2020, but it is featured on the home page of the NYT right now, presumably because this Sunday is Father's Day.
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44 comments:
Heather has a village.
But no Dad.
"'Who’s my daddy? Where’s my daddy? I want my daddy.' It was heartbreaking because my partner and I could only counter with, 'You have two mommies.'"
The little girl never got an answer to her question, despite the biological fact there was a father.
More sick queers trying to make degeneracy a normal behavior. Their daughter's own objections go overruled in support of the push for victory in World War T. That they source this "article" from a "woman" (what is one, anyway?) named Fairyington is just saying the quiet part aloud.
Yes. Can’t let the men have a day of their own! Must wedge some lesbians in there somewhere. Also “men” who are mothers.
Gag.
began asking after her 'father' in various iterations. 'Who’s my daddy? Where’s my daddy? I want my daddy.'
Where IS her daddy? Who IS her daddy? just some guy, that jerked off into a petri dish ?
Kinda Sad!
"'Who’s my daddy? Where’s my daddy?"
Fair questions. But I would think many GL couples have figured out sensible answers, even if they are a little hard to explain to 2-year olds.
"this Sunday is Father's Day"
What's a father, anyway?
I only had one mommy and one daddy, and he died. The end.
Of my first 9.5 years. My mother had four sons under 14 years old, and didn't have a lot of time to read to us or for herself if she had been so inclined. Which she generally wasn't.
But we were white collar and there was some higher education on both sides so there were books around, especially the Golden Book and Disney genres for Boomers. More important, there were some serious books at Oma and Opa's (my father's little sister was a reader) and a few at Granny's (remnants of the library of "Professor" G., my mother's father, a teacher, coach, principal and schools superintendent around SW TN).
Books were my principle indoor escape from unpleasant realities, of which we had plenty, and my best friends were and always have been guys who read a lot. I likes me a well-read woman too of course, but I don't have any close female friends except the one I married.
My brothers and I stood out, as the great wave of divorce and reinvention that swept our parents' generation hadn't begun yet in 1962. Within ten years many of friends' parents were splitting up and not having a father in the house was almost the norm.
And now, thirty years later, Heather is strapping-on a 10-inch florescent green dildo and performing drag shows for the kiddies.
Forward!
Even I can't keep track. Does anyone think Heather can?
I know kids w/2mommies.
B/c biological mom is an addict and they e/have a dad. The littlest is biracial and was not speaking at 3-
their Aunt adopted them. She’s a lesbian.
I find that very compassionate and human.
Also, admirable.
Then, there’s the woman who had 2eggplants. Yes. IVF. Passes them off as her own(and why shouldn’t she, right?) If only u knew her. Narcissistic as hell. Certifiable. Uses people and thinks she the brightest star in the constellation!
Oh, well. I wish her all the luck.
While we undoubtedly need to multiply the number and kinds of queer narratives in children’s literature ...
Please explain why, with the key word being children.
What's a father, anyway?
serious questions (that a FUN to ask!)
IF you are a male, and have children... Are you a father?
If you have a penis, and have children..Are you a father?
i 'know' that men can get pregnant.. BUT.. IF they have the child.. Father? Mother?
Can Father's get pregnant? Can a mother father a child?
A woman is someone that identifies as a woman.. Can i identify as a father? or, do i need kids?
"Without the slightest hint of sexual or romantic attraction between the moms"
When do children's books depict parents displaying sexual attraction toward each other?!
""Without the slightest hint of sexual or romantic attraction between the moms"
When do children's books depict parents displaying sexual attraction toward each other?!"
Good question, Althouse. I was going to say something similar--that I do not recall any romantic activity in any book I read as a child, until well into my teens.
But the fact that the issue is raised this way, in the MSM, indicates that we are not just dealing with a demand for acceptance of lesbian couples. Progs want to sexualize childhood and undermine traditional sexual norms as soon as possible. You might call it grooming.
"Representation" in children's books is a good thing, but give kids some credit for imagination. I'm pretty sure that in most of the books I read when i was little, the main characters were all animals.
I don't know anybody who has anything against 'normal' gays.
But Twitter and TikTok feed us nothing but freaks.
And trust me, homosexual America, those PRIDE parades aren't doing you any favors...
I’m glad it solves the emotional distress of a 2 yr old. It will be interesting to study their mental health at 20. I suspect it will be something like, “the only reason I’m depressed about not having a male father is because the patriarchy society has systematically convinced us that one is needed at all.” Because too often it is everyone else’s fault, not the parents. It will be nice to be wrong.
When do children's books depict parents displaying sexual attraction toward each other?!
Seriously before this month, I would have wondered when school teachers ever depicted a lingerie fashion show to prepubescent children with stripper club money tips for the wearers. Yet here we are with multiple accounts of this happening across the country.
In the updated 2022 version, Heather walks in on her two mommies in the bedroom, and the neon sign reads, "It's not going to lick itself."
Fine as long as it isn’t used to groom normal kiddos.
Ann Althouse said...
When do children's books depict parents displaying sexual attraction toward each other?!
Why is it imperative that elementary school children go to drag shows?
There is no research, zero, about children raised by gays. There was apparently a study by a religious group but there is nothing, zero, nada by any sociologist about this phenomenon.
And that, dear Joe, is it in a nutshell.
We all have our lives- we’re all supposed to be respectful and kind. No one needs to act out to receive attention. No one needs to feel slighted.
We’re all equal.
Unfortunately, some see circumstances as a higher value than our innate human nature.
It’s becoming a shitshow. Devil horns an option.
A little before she turned 2, Marty, the only child of queer parents at her day care, began asking after her 'father' in various iterations. 'Who’s my daddy? Where’s my daddy? I want my daddy.' It was heartbreaking because my partner and I could only counter with, 'You have two mommies.'
No, she has one mommy and one daddy.
it's just that you decided to block daddy from her life, and try to replace him with a second mommy
Which is a failure, because mommy and daddy are different, and provide different things for their children
Ann Althouse said...
"Without the slightest hint of sexual or romantic attraction between the moms"
When do children's books depict parents displaying sexual attraction toward each other?!
When they're written by sex perverts who want to groom children into sex perverts
Michael K said...
There is no research, zero, about children raised by gays.
I very much doubt that's true.
What I believe is true is that there's not PUBLISHED research about children raised by gays
And given the politics of the relevant fields, what they says is those kids are horribly fucked up by it
He's called Heath now, terf
There is a small percentage of adult women in the US (or in the world) who identify as "submissive". They are most comfortable in their lifestyles, and in their sexual lives, when they submit to the "requests" or "demands" of their (male) partners. I'll accept the whole "we need to allow young children to understand that their feelings are okay" when I see that elementary schools are including in the curriculum books and other lessons that promote female submissiveness. I imagine books like, "Don't stress about it -- just do what he tells you!" or "How to find a boy who will tell you what to do!" And, I suppose third grade "work sheets" with questions like: "Don't you want someone who will take care of you?" "In a boy-girl relationship, should the boy or the girl make most of the decisions? Why?" When I see this kind of unorthodox lifestyle celebrated, I'll know that this whole movement is about helping children explore, and is not about "grooming".
No, children's books don't dwell on the sexuality or sexual life of parents. It seems like it's important for the psychological development of children that they don't.
The point of gay marriage (for some advocates anyway) was to tame gays and make them bourgeois and respectable. Now that that has to some extent happened, the goal posts are moved and more extreme challenges to conventionality or normality are making their demands.
But (as the early gay advocates wanted) nobody wants to think much about what goes on in other people's bedrooms or relationships. The price of acceptance is being assumed to be more or less like everyone else.
Transgender couplets.
Social progress with womb banks and sperm donors.
No, she has one mommy and one daddy.
A daddy in absentia, but a mommy and daddy, the way humans do, nonetheless.
I was the oldest of six. Not counting a number of miscarriages. Only aware of what was involved for the youngest, when I was 14. Tried not to think about it.
Michael K said...
There is no research, zero, about children raised by gays.. by any sociologist about this phenomenon.
It seems like All the Really interesting questions in Sociology aren't being asked
(because there is NO funding).
There is probably (possibly?) really REALLY interesting findings out there to be found.. But no one even looks. Which is Too Bad, because it could PROVE that outliers like queers should be welcomed into society
Here's some questions that aren't asked:
Does nurture (parenting/schooling) increase/decrease queer levels in children?
Does it increase/decrease child happiness? criminality? suicide?
What was the age difference between child and 1st sexual partner for gay children vs straight?
What was the relationship between child and 1st sexual partner for gay children vs straight?Are cis female athletes better than trans females? worse?
Joe Smith said...
I don't know anybody who has anything against 'normal' gays.
But Twitter and TikTok feed us nothing but freaks.
And trust me, homosexual America, those PRIDE parades aren't doing you any favors...
6/13/22, 7:58 PM
THIS^^^^ I don't want to see heterosexuals being freaks either. Keep it in the bedroom.
"Without the slightest hint of sexual or romantic attraction between the moms (not even a peck of a kiss) the book seems to say, 'Fear not, we’re just like you.'
Maybe, but not for the reasons he thinks. Heterosexual couples aren’t sexually active in children’s books, not because they aren’t sexually active in real life, but because that’s not behavior we want modelled in children’s books.
Next episode... Heather's clean background check.
Farmgirl: don't call kids eggplants. The slur means Moulinyan. AKA the "n" word. Who cares how screwed up the mother is? It isn't the infants' fault. Calling a baby a moulinyan? Scuzzy.
I'm sure that two conscientious gays can successfully raise a child. I'm also sure that two less than conscientious gays can screw up their child in many ways....We're sure to see conscientious gays represented in movies and children's books. Other variations not so much... We do know that children raised in households with a father present fare better than children raised with single mothers, (and that there are lots of exceptions to this rule)... I think it would be more nurturing to grow up in a home with a Mommy and Daddy present, but maybe two gay parents can have a better outcome than just a single mother. We just don't know. Michael Kelly points out, there are no studies on the subject, and one can guess why.
"Without the slightest hint of sexual or romantic attraction between the moms"
When do children's books depict parents displaying sexual attraction toward each other?!
Queer theory depends on constant revolution. As soon as same-sex coupling is acceptable, then you need same-sex marriage. As soon as same-sex marriage is acceptable, then you need trans. As soon as trans is acceptable, then you need children transitioning. As soon as children transitioning is acceptable, then you need child drag shows. As soon as child drag shows are acceptable . . .
From my own experience, I would surmise the problem is "who is my daddy" and "where is my daddy". Many kids seem to have this as an issue. For me, it wasn't an issue. My daddy was the person beneath the stone with the name on it. Right next to who I was told was my mother. One stone over was my grandfather. Next to him, with a name but no date for the woman who raise me, was and empty spot then my great-grandmother, who I actually have a memory or two of. And on occasion, we'd go across the river to see some another stone in a field of stones to see people who were my grandparents, with whom I had lived for the first 2.5 years of my life, or so I was told.
It was okay, I had no father in the house, and it was the 1960s "when everyone had a father and mother". Though I was in tears in school on occasion ask kids can be cruel, I muddled through. The best were those adults who gave me the "unclean" look when learning I had no father and the change on their face when I informed them of the death. They didn't mean for me to see it, but I did. Many were cruel and asked what happened and I would stammer out a lie. But as I got older, I told the truth, with embellishment. A tale of murder in vivid red. Then they got to be the one comfortable and would leave me alone.
The moral of the story is that this woman has no freaking idea how this kid will deal with the conditions she purposely created for it. Perhaps all will be well. Perhaps the child will be drawn to toxic masculinity?
Michael K said...
There is no research, zero, about children raised by gays.
I very much doubt that's true.
What I believe is true is that there's not PUBLISHED research about children raised by gays
And given the politics of the relevant fields, what they says is those kids are horribly fucked up by it
I challenge anyone to find a library or a chain bookstore (not small, Christian) that has a percentage of gay books for children that represents the percentage of such children in society. Likely ten or 100 times more. This article states that the women depicted in it are "cis," which is a slur.
I checked the catalog covering all public non-academic libraries in Georgia. 1723 titles on lesbians, 3235 titles on gays, 438 titles on transgenders, 1645 on Lincoln. A few, under 10%, of the gay titles were families called gay, Ebola Gay, etc. But I used different types of search terms for that to make it as accurate as possible. And that's not the raw number of books: those are titles appearing in thousands of public libraries. In contrast, there are 46 titles on heterosexuality and zero on raising heterosexual children. Many of the gay books look like hardcore porn, but hey, romance novels do too.
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