Parents.
I know that most people think their parents are either fabulous or utter bastards when they are 15.We´ve all been there and huffed when they tell us off,given them the silent treatment and general self-centred door-slamming bollocks because "they just wouldn´t understand".After all,no-one else in the world has EVER been what through you´re going through,especially your own parents.

I was precocious,only in the fact that I twigged I was gay very early on.To me it wasn´t really an issue(OK,i did write some terrible angsty poetry,but nonetheless).Long story short,I had made a new friend who was clearly gay,and this raised some eyebrows.Before I knew it,I guess I fell in love.With hindsight,it was reciprocated infatuation.Anyhoo we wrote to each other every day and the phone bill went up enormously.Until he wrote to say that we should spend less time together and he was scared of what he felt.(We were 15,after all.)

Cue Youngarse going into hiding.I was devastated,and could barely string together a sentence without bursting into tears.

After two weeks of this,my parents sat me down for a chat.They gave me a few beers and the ashtray to help.
The upshot is that,although we had never been a very "open" family we had a 4 hour talk about everything.My homosexuality was discussed,my friend was discussed....you get the picture.

My mother ended the conversation by saying that no matter what happened,I was her son.And nothing could be more important than that.She told me to walk tall,head high and be me.She explained that love comes to you when you least expect it and can literally change your world,(I´ll vouch for that).She said she would time to adjust to my "situation",but assured me that even if she was upset or quiet or irritable,she would be there.I found years later that she took time off work because she found it hard to cope,joined a "parents of gay children" group to try and help me andeven had words with my headmaster (all boys school,you see.....)

So really,Mum,this one´s for you.You probably have no idea that the reason I´m sane and happy is because you were there.

I think the nicest thing you can do for anyone is love them,and have a little space in your heart for them.I try to do that,but then again I had a great teacher.

Apologies for lack of laughs-I´ll try harder next time.
(shirleytemplesarse, Wed 8 Oct 2008, 16:23, Reply)