Why does Johnny have two Mommys? Did You Lie to Me about Where Babies Come From?
When your eight year old asks you this question, it is a tough moment. You just had the conversation that they were born because Mommy and Daddy loved each other and made them. Now, your child sees on television that another child has no father, only two mothers. This is very confusing, and not natural. If evolution has taught us anything, its that two species of the same gender cannot reproduce. How do you explain that they used the sperm of a man, who is the baby’s birth father, but not his " Daddy " ? This is when other peoples " choices " are brought into the home and become a problem for your family unit.
I believe a child should have a male and female presence in the home to provide the most balanced upbringing. Divorce can cause this balance to break down, but same sex couples raising a child is a choice. When this choice is brought into my home on the television, this is where I have a problem. If my child is watching a show they’ve seen before and I approve of, but tonight there are new neighbors Jason and Tim with there seven year old, I cannot shield my child from that. I do not believe this represents a significant portion of society and it is not the kind of " family " model I want portrayed for my child. Is it so wrong to expect television to show middle of the road, regular situations instead of catering at times to the extreme element of society, most often just for shock value?
whereIstand Tags
October 19th, 2007 at 11:29 am
It is a problem. I’m sure TV doesn’t care. Sounds like you might have to have another talk with your child. WOW.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Good grief. There’s so much to object to here.
I’ll start by saying that my daughter has known that there are lots of different kinds of families for as long as she’s known anything, and has known that some people have two mommies for as long as she’s known her (adopted) cousin, who she first met at about 6 months old.
She’s now almost 7, and is simply not perturbed whenever it comes up. Some people have two mommies. Some people have two daddies. Some people have a mommy and a daddy. Some people have a mommy, a step-mommy, and a daddy. Some people are being raised by their grandparents. And on and on.
Big whoop.
From your arguments here, I assume you’re against adoption? In general? After all, the sperm of a man other than the child’s "Daddy" produced a baby who is not being raised by the sperm-producer.
October 19th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
I am all for adoption, I think its wonderful. It provides a couple who cannot have children a way to have them, and it provides a child without a home a family to belong to. My blog did not mention this, and I was unclear.
I am happy that you and your daughter are comfortable with these situations. You have this right. I am not comfortable and find them objectionable.
I have no problem with gay and lesbian couples. Knock yourself out, live any lifestyle you want. I still do not believe two people of the same gender should raise children as a couple. It is not natural, anyway you want to look at it. This lifestyle is then inflicted on me and my family when it comes on television, and that is where the problem comes in. As we are told all the time on this blog, people should be able to do what they want as long as they do not affect others anyone. Well, this affects and offends me.
The fact that people have step parents, children raised grandparents, etc. is becoming more common, and this is unfortunate. Do you think these grandparents want to raise more children? It usually due to the selfishness of their children that they are forced into this situation. This is happening too often in modern society and demeans the importance of the family. Mother, father, child this is the classic definition of a traditional family unit. Why does it need to be constantly compromised?
October 21st, 2007 at 12:02 am
It doesn’t matter what you see. It’s what you think of it.
It doesn’t matter what you hear. It’s what you think of it.
It doesn’t matter what you read. It’s what you think of it.
That’s a primer for raising children.
If you don’t get it. Don’t have children.
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:37 pm
For Sarah and Carol. Thanks for your comments.
The question I was answering was whether same sex couples should be on children’s media, and I still think the answer is no. My children know that everyone is different, but why do we need to discuss sexual orientation at the age of eight? Why should my child be exposed to this lifestyle without me in the room? Is there any innocence in the world where children can be brought up in a loving environment without having to " understand " every liberal tendency? I believe same sex couples should be on prime time, adult oriented shows.
Will the next children’s show be about a nudist colony? Maybe the neighbors smoke pot, hey that’s OK, its victimless, we should be understanding of their lifestyle. Should I be OK with that too because everyone is different? Where do you draw the line? Yes I have gay friends, gay family members, yes I know gay people having children, some even in my son’s class. Does this mean I need to approve and condone everyone’s behavior in the world because it exists? I don’t think so, I am entitled to object to things I do not see as morally right.
While we are at it, let’s see some minister’s families as the next door neighbor. When was the last time you saw that? You don’t, because it’s not pushing the envelope. Let’s see a guy or girl in their twenties talking about commitment, not just looking to get lucky. Let’s see a priest or nun in clerical garb who are not the butt of a joke. Well, the atheists would be up in arms if these people were shown as good role models, think about it, you know its true. Why is that? Because the media is very liberal, and does not want to promote these lifestyles. Well, I am not very liberal, so I object to some other lifestyles.
October 24th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
If my eight year old is watching children’s television, Sesame Street, Barney, etc, I as a parent should not have to sit there and monitor this show. Our expectations for children’s television, especially a show we are familiar with, is that there will not be anything objectionable or controversial on it. Same sex couples are controversial and should not be on children’s programming.
October 30th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
There have been many labor saving devices for raising children. The first one was school. Why educate individually at home when one teacher can educate 25 at one time.
I can tell you as a father of three, it is not possible to protect your child from all things, but if they can’t watch a long running predictable children’s television show for 30 minutes without exposing them to the latest liberal issues, that is the fault of the producer of the show, not the parent. If you think parents can monitor their children’s lives 24/7, its not possible. What are young parents to do, sit with baby every minute until they are 18? You should try it and let me know how it works out.
October 30th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Congratulations on your family. Nothing succeeds like success.
I stand by my blog on same sex couples on childrens’ programming. I think its wrong whether I am in the room or not.
December 23rd, 2007 at 9:45 am
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article Why does Johnny have two Mommys? Did You Lie to Me about Where Babies Come From?, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.