When your child has a gay friend

How can parents support their child when they have a gay friend? Hear what Lynette Vertoch, mom and entrepreneur has to say about supporting your child and handling these situations.
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When your child has a gay friend

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If your child has a gay friend and you’re looking for the best way to support it, is really to support the friendship. If you’re somebody and you’re comfortable with gay people, then it’s easy. If you’re somebody who maybe has a hard time with it, it’s going to be more difficult for you, but just remember whatever you say, your child is probably going to repeat. We’ve had that happened. We’ve had parents who’ve obviously had conversations in front of their kids, saying things like, “Well, he’s gay, he doesn’t know it yet,” and just things like actually aren’t positive or aren’t helpful. Those get mixed around in the kid’s head and coming right back out at school the next day and in a not so nice way. It’s very hurtful especially children who are gay, who are feeling a little bit outside. Then they’ve got this kid’s saying, “Well my dad said you’re gay and you don’t know it.” It’s mean. I think you really have to watch what you say in front of your kids and know they will go out and repeat those things. If you’re somebody and you’re comfortable with it, encourage the relationship. Like with my son, I could say he does not have a lot of friends who are boys, friends with the girls. I know there is one father who is really uncomfortable with his daughter coming in our house and spend the night. Then other parents who met my son and they see how he is. They let their daughters spend the night. Besides, they just are friends. Those parents have made all the difference in my son’s life because he can have sleepovers and have friends that can come and be at our house or go away with our family for the weekend. It’s a wonderful thing. If those parents weren’t supportive, I mean it would be pretty lonely place for my son.

How can parents support their child when they have a gay friend? Hear what Lynette Vertoch, mom and entrepreneur has to say about supporting your child and handling these situations.

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Lynette Vertoch

Mom & Entrepreneur

Lynette Vertoch is an entrepreneur with a small company she runs with her husband in Seattle, called Cameos & Crowns. In her words, the company designs "these very cool dish towels, pillows, cosmetic bags and aprons."  She has two children, Harris, 16 and Izzy, 13. Harris is gay and Izzy is not. She is divorced from their dad and married to a wonderful man who has been their stepdad for seven years now.  She and her ex-husband and current husband all parent the kids together (even though they live in different states) and are all close as a family - they even vacation together.

More Parenting Videos from Lynette Vertoch >
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