Before I go off on my rant about the woman who completely appalled me on the train… a lil shameless self promotion.

I got a Bloggy Make-over this past week- a little spring cleaning- and I feel fabulous! Its just as almost as rewarding as spring cleaning your home (which I know nothing about).

You may have noticed that pur-ty little box over there on the right with this FaceBook icon:

I started a fan page a few weeks ago and have been meaning to write a post officially announcing it, but there’s been too much other stuff to share. However, I’d love for you to check it out and join in my lil’ slivers of Complicated-ness. I’m loving the interaction on the page so far— so…. if you love me, … just sayin’.

{{Back to the real meat and potatoes post here}}

Yesterday I had a meeting in the city with the folks at The Big Toy Book. We talked about fun new toys, we played with a fun new game… yes that’s right a business meeting with a Toy Company includes game playing (who’s got the “best  job in the world” now, Mr. I got to blog on an Island and got stung by a jelly fish???) but most importantly, we worked hard developing a large to do list for some fun projects we’re working.

So when the our meeting had ended, I was looking forward to a nice quiet train ride home where I would get to decompress, maybe catch up on email and read over some notes–with nothing but the peace and quiet of my own mind. However, Ms. Ignorant Ingrid sat next to me and was ready to not only share her life story with me- but grace me with her close minded- 1932 ways of thinking.

{Let me preface this with I am not one to typically get on a soap box about these issues  being brought up but this woman got to me}

She began telling me how she was retired and working in the NY school system, but had gone back as a substitute. She was recently called back to sub for a kindergarten class and fell in love with one little girl, Ruby. They were doing a tap dancing class (?) and the little Ruby said to Ms. II “My Daddy and Papa” are going to come and see me dance.” Ms. II replied “Oh! your Father and Grandfather… that’s very sweet… what about your Mommy?” Ruby said “No not my Grandfather. I don’t have a Mommy” and twirled away. Ms.II felt terrible- thinking the child lost her mother.

Later that day, the girl said something else about “Papa and Daddy” Ms.I says “Who is Papa? You said he is not your grandfather”… and little Ruby said (probably very matter of fact-ly), “He is my other Daddy. I have 2 Daddy’s. That is why I don’t have a Mommy”.

{and here’s where the story gets me crazy}

Ms. Ignorant Ingrid then proceeds to tell me how “AWFUL” this is and can I believe it? … to which I replied ‘Yes, its becoming very common”. She then goes on to say that its terrible because the child is a female and 2 homosexual men have no right raising a little girl. She asked “Who will the child identify with?” …. and then finished her rant– as if I wasn’t sickened already by saying: “And the child is black, her Dad’s are white! I mean really?!? Who can that girl identify with even racially”

Hello? is it 2010? .. cause I thought it was… o and did anyone catch that she worked in THE SCHOOL SYSTEM!? Hello!

{Deep Breaths, Deep Breaths… she’s an older woman… she doesn’t know any better}

I could have argued my thoughts… but I chose just to give her a “WOW” look– and return to my Iphone… feverishly tweeting about the encounter.

Then as I watched Modern Family tonight, I wished that at that moment– I had this picture to show her.

photo credit: ABC.com

The sad part about my run-in is that Ms. II isn’t the only Ms./Mr. II out there.

Is it “traditional“? maybe not- but how can you pity a child who has 2 loving parents? Before Ms. II knew Ruby had 2 Dad’s she thought the child had lost a mother– when in fact she was actually blessed with 2 fathers… would it honestly have been better to have a child lose a mother at the age of 5?…. Would it make a difference if she were being raised by one (widowed) father and not 2 (gay) men?  My point is- it shouldn’t.

Who will the child identify with? … she will identify with the caring and nurturing traits that her fathers most possess. She is not going to have a gender crisis because she has 2 Dad’s – the child is not isolated, Im sure has a Family tree just like the one above. As for race identity…. there are so many bi-racial children out there today, who show more ethnicity from one parent than the other… what does that matter? Should the child feel like they don’t fit in with a parent they do not look like? NO!

Children are taught these things. These ‘differences’ are influenced by the Mr. & Mrs. II’s out there- not their families. And in 2010.. its just sad… and sadder that they could possibly be hiding out in our school systems.

Hopefully, somewhere Mrs. II caught  Modern Family tonight and learned a something.