The children do understand
Earlier while waiting for lunch at California Tortilla, I overheard the most adorable conversation. Two women and a little girl were at a table eating. The girl was probably around five years old.
She asked, suddenly, "Mommy and Mama, when we go back to Canada, you're gonna get married, right?"
The taller woman said, "Yes, that's right."
The little girl said, frowning, "But what if you're not happy and you get a divorce?"
The shorter woman smiled and said, "Oh, honey, I don't think that will happen."
The little girl frowned more. "But lots of straight people are getting divorced. Won't that happen to gay people too?"
The tall woman said, "Well, it might. Sometimes couples just can't make it work. But don't you worry, because Mama and I love each other very very very much, and we love you very very very much, and if we ever have problems, I promise we will work them out, especially because we want what's best for you. Okay?"
The little girl said, brightly, "Okay!" and went back to eating.
I had to stop myself from running over to their table and hugging them all.
She asked, suddenly, "Mommy and Mama, when we go back to Canada, you're gonna get married, right?"
The taller woman said, "Yes, that's right."
The little girl said, frowning, "But what if you're not happy and you get a divorce?"
The shorter woman smiled and said, "Oh, honey, I don't think that will happen."
The little girl frowned more. "But lots of straight people are getting divorced. Won't that happen to gay people too?"
The tall woman said, "Well, it might. Sometimes couples just can't make it work. But don't you worry, because Mama and I love each other very very very much, and we love you very very very much, and if we ever have problems, I promise we will work them out, especially because we want what's best for you. Okay?"
The little girl said, brightly, "Okay!" and went back to eating.
I had to stop myself from running over to their table and hugging them all.