Mrs. Cowen-Whitman
For the first time today, I was called Mrs. Cowen-Whitman.
More than once.
It was the last day of school and the kids all wanted to go to Tom's Pizza. We went and as I stood in line to order, I heard a small voice.
Hey... Mrs... Mrs. Cowen-Whitman.
I turned. It was a friend of Ben's who I have know since he was a kindergartner.
Hey, sweetie, I said. I reached over and grabbed his shoulder. then finished ordering.
A few other kids said Hello. They all called me Mrs. Cowen-Whitman. It was a little strange. I'm used to Ben's mom. Zach's mom. Jake's mom. I'm used to a simple "hey."
For an institution mired in patriarchal privilege, I must say, marriage has it's benefits. If nothing else, the younger generation sees me as just as married, just as boring, and just as deserving of respect as any heterosexual parent.
Mrs. Cowen-Whitman was a little strange.
But mostly? Nice.
More than once.
It was the last day of school and the kids all wanted to go to Tom's Pizza. We went and as I stood in line to order, I heard a small voice.
Hey... Mrs... Mrs. Cowen-Whitman.
I turned. It was a friend of Ben's who I have know since he was a kindergartner.
Hey, sweetie, I said. I reached over and grabbed his shoulder. then finished ordering.
A few other kids said Hello. They all called me Mrs. Cowen-Whitman. It was a little strange. I'm used to Ben's mom. Zach's mom. Jake's mom. I'm used to a simple "hey."
For an institution mired in patriarchal privilege, I must say, marriage has it's benefits. If nothing else, the younger generation sees me as just as married, just as boring, and just as deserving of respect as any heterosexual parent.
Mrs. Cowen-Whitman was a little strange.
But mostly? Nice.
Labels: lesbian mom, LGBT issues, lgbt rights, marriage equality
posted by Sara at 9:50 PM
10 Comments:
How sweet!
Very nice. How good that must feel, Sara! I'm happy for you. It is actually just very, very cool.
maybe it just means you are getting older! LOL
i'm sure it felt great. you certainly deserve the respect.
well, it's funny because I haven't changed my name but the kids are cowen-whitman's.
I think mrs. whitman would have freaked me out.
aaaaahhhhhh!!! that's my mother!
I love when you tell us these stories about your kids -- it gives me such hope for the future!
misez cowen-whitman iz switi
Sorry, I forgot to ask for peetsa.
Oh, my God, you have another Bob, but this time it's Ganshorn. Congrats supermom!
I'm waiting for Sara to adopt me. So long as the other boys cut down on the fart noises.
Btw, I've taken a vow to post in kitteh from now on.
Sori. Iz relijus.
Sara--just wondering how you two decided who's name to put first in the hyphenation. Cowen-Witman...Witman-Cowen? We're having that debate right now.
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