The first thing that went through my mind when Addison came out of the bathroom and woke me up to tell me she was pregnant was “please just give me a healthy baby”.  As a parent you want to give your child everything.  You see a toy or an outfit, you want to buy it for them.  You have to get the perfect crib, stroller or baby monitor so you buy it.  All of these things you can control.    The one thing you can’t really provide your children are their friends.  You can’t decide who likes them or who they like.  You can’t pick who they really get along with or who gets along with them.  In the back of your mind you close your eyes real tight, and just know that you taught them right from wrong and hope for the best.

During the whole pregnancy everyone would ask “do you want a boy or a girl?”  I knew I wanted a daughter but I knew deep down inside I WANTED HEALTHY.  Before I left Memphis someone asked me if I would have a problem if my child was gay.  I paused for a second and answered with “I would not mind at all.  I would worry that they could have it harder in life, but If that is what made them happy then who am I to choose who they love”.  They were not a real big fan of my answer and just gave me this look like I was nuts.  That response has always stuck with me in the back of my mind.  I felt like as a nation we have started to move in a more tolerant direction and are starting to see people as people not who they love.  The reaction I got from the 3 other people in the room  made me worry that one day could my child be an outcast.  After watching this video below it has given me hope.  I don’t care if you are gay, straight, transgender, transsexual, Bi, or just confused, this is how your friends should always respond to you.  They are your friends.  Who gets you excited in your britches should have no bearing on you as a person.   What this brave young man did was amazing and I hope that if Kendall or any of my children ever have anything in life that makes them different, they have friends that stand up for them.