Everybody knows that kids brought up in a "normal" two-parent household -- "normal" meaning that the two parents are a heterosexual married couple, of course -- turn out just the way they're supposed to, right? It's as easy as baking cookies: Follow the recipe exactly and presto! You'll be rewarded with perfect cookies.
What's that you say? The formula doesn't always work so well? You'd think it was foolproof, given the "outrage" over NYC couples like Andy Berg and Dominic Pisciotta, who are now raising their children as a legally married pair. Not that they were raising them any differently before, or that they weren't doing such a fabulous job that it was the kids who insisted their dads be married on the very first day it was possible for same-sex couples to get married by the state. The point is, now that it's "official," people feel the need to drag out the old dead "children need a mother and a father" horse and beat it up some more. Really?
You might find this shocking, but guess what? Growing up with a "mom" and "dad" doesn't stop kids from having issues, nor does growing up with a mom and a mom or a dad and a dad or just a mom or just a dad guarantee that kids will have issues. I know this for a fact.
My parents weren't together when I was a kid -- I barely even saw my dad until I was about 18 (though we developed a very strong relationship after that, which I never expected to happen). Now it's my turn to play divorced mom -- but it's a different gig than the one my mom had, because, unlike me, my two kids get to see their dad all the time.
So, here's something I've noticed, as a lifelong resident of "broken homes." Actually, another product (and creator) of a broken home said it best, years ago, so you'll excuse me if I borrow his words to tell you the secret to raising a happy, healthy family:
All you need is love.
Kids need to be raised by people who love them, first and foremost. This is a million times more important than any other quality in a parent, eclipsing gender, finances, religion ... everything. Kids need to feel loved and they need to know that the people they love also love each other. It's when bitterness, anger, and resentment take the place of love in a family that kids come out either burnt or half baked.
I'm pretty sure Andy Berg and Dominic Pisciotta's kids are going to be some of the best cookies ever.
Do you think the most important ingredient in raising a family is love?
Image via Keshet/Flickr
Ashley Is a Widow Who Stays Strong...
This Hot Dad Wants to Vacuum Your Rug
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
Comments 35
Sssssssooooo, if all the kids need is love, how is it they're "better off" when raised by same sex parents? Are you claiming that same sex parents love their kids more than hetero couples? Or are we just diving right into The Stir's infamous Bullshit Headlines cesspool and fishing out a big, fragrant turd that really has nothing to do with the actual content of your article?
lol I agree 100% with hoticedcoffee!
One again, I agree with what you wrote but it was another LOUSY headline. Why are they better off?? Nicely said hoticedcoffee. Isn't a heterosexual couple just as loving or what?
So I could write this same headline, except title it, "Kids of Gay Parents are Going to BURN IN HELL", right? And you wouldn't have a single thing to say about it, right?
Wow, I didn't realize that being gay meant that you were perfect so therefore would raise perfect children. If my memory serves me correctly even gay couple spilt up and end up raising kids in broken homestoo. This article is really quite narrow minded and I find it degrading to heterosexuals couples. Why is it that in order to make one group of people feel good, you need to tear down another group? Why couldn't you just say that kids raise in a loving home fare better than kids raised in broken homes? Isn't that really the point of your blog?