Come to terms with your own gayness before
disclosing to children. This is crucial. The parent who feels negatively about her
homosexuality or is ashamed of it is much more likely to have children who also
react negatively. The parent must create
a setting of acceptance by first
accepting him or herself. If she tells
her children when she is ready and
comfortable, it is likely to be a
positive experience for everyone.
Children
are never too young to be told. They will
absorb only as much as they are capable
of understanding. Use words appropriate
to the age of the child. Details may be
added as they grow older.
Discuss it with children before they know
or suspect. When children discover their
parent's sexual orientation from someone
other than the parent, they often are
upset that their parent did not trust
them sufficiently to share the
information with them. It is exceedingly
difficult for children to initiate the
subject, and they will not bring it up
even though they want to.
