Everything you've always wanted to know about same-sex parents but were afraid to ask.
Get ready for some 'not so straight' talk.
We all know that same-sex couples have been around since the beginning of time. But do we know how they navigate through their unique parenting challenges?
Thankfully that's where Brandy Black, the founder of The Next Family, and her wife, Susan, come in.
Susan (left), Brandy, and their three kids. All photos and GIFs from The Next Family, used with permission.
They decided to educate the masses on what it's truly like to raise kids in a same-sex household by delivering some straight talk.
Noted — "not so straight" talk.
A recent study confirmed that children raised by same-sex parents do not experience any disadvantages compared with being raised by other parents. That in itself is wonderful to hear, but Brandy knows there are a lot of misconceptions still out there.
"We've met people who've never spent time with a gay or lesbian couple, and they're shocked by how normal we are," Brandy told Upworthy. "I don't know what they expected, but at the end of the day, we're just moms living our lives with our kids."
With that in mind, the couple created a video series discussing the issues they encounter in their daily lives. Here are three examples.
1. Um ... you're two moms. What do your kids call you?
There are many things that straight couples take for granted, and one of them is how their kids will address them. It's usually some version of mom and dad.
"It was daunting for us at first," Brandy said. "We didn't know how to handle it."
But after a while, they figured out a plan. Brandy is "mama" and Susan is "mom." It's working for them so far, and the kids dig it.
To Brandy, she feels it's a good idea to help guide your kids in a certain direction, but it's definitely not something that should be forced.
2. So, how did you pick a donor?
To Brandy and Susan, it was one of the most awkward and impersonal experiences that they could remember.
"The baby-making process is far from a romantic one," Brandy said. "I envy straight couples in that regard."
But it didn't stop them from doing what they had to do. Before long they sifted through the donor options.
"Sure it's exciting to build a family, but it's also hard," Brandy recalled. "After the donor was picked, we rarely thought about that part again."
No same-sex couple is, well ... the same. Brandy recognizes that and advises both partners to be on the same page. "Choosing a donor is the biggest decision you'll make," she said.
3. How has parenting changed your relationship?
Yeah, it's no secret that raising tiny humans changes the dynamics of any romantic relationship. Brandy and Susan are no different.
"We stopped having sex for a period of time, we're sleep-deprived, and we have disagreements on how to raise our kids at times,"Brandy said. "Straight couples go through the same stuff."
But Brandy knew there was a difference between the two moms.
Since Brandy gave birth to all three of her kids, Susan felt that she identified more with a dad's experience. In doing so, she reached out to fathers to get some insight on how they handle the parenting gig. It helped both of them immensely.
"There's no competition between us to be the best or favorite mom," Brandy said. "We handle things differently just like other couples, and our kids are benefiting from it."
When it comes to Mother's Day, Brandy and Susan are able to reflect on how truly lucky they are to live their truth as a couple and as moms.
Brandy and Susan never forget how blessed they are to have such an awesome family.
Coming out and being true to who you are can be extremely scary. Brandy wanted to create these videos with Susan to help people who are struggling with acknowledging their personal truth.
"We want to show that there is life after coming out, and it's awesome," Brandy said. "Mother's Day holds a higher meaning to me knowing that I had to overcome so many fears to have the family I built."
Because at the end of the day, happiness is found by being real.