Hun, you need to chill!
Gay panic at the school gates, Juno Dawson's new picture book, rainbow foam
Well, it’s the night before the first day of BIG SCHOOL in our house and all is not quiet. It’s 7pm and my daughter is ‘reading’ (she can’t read) Richard Scary’s Busy Town to herself over and over again but won’t let me leave her bedroom, so I’m held hostage, listening to her surreal interpretations of even more surreal drawings. Thankfully I stowed my laptop into captivity with me so I can write this as she talks about little birthday sticker tickers with custard cream cookies. I mean I’ve been to weirder one-woman shows tbf. She seems pretty chilled about starting school tomorrow, I on the other hand have been to my own kind of Busy Town over-thinking my school gate debut. What kind of parent do I want to establish myself as? How do I set the tone of friendly, approachable and up for a play date but not keen on devoting my minimal free time to fundraising events?
My naturally enthusiastic nature and desire to push my gay agenda has already lumbered me with governor duties at my daughter’s old nursery - a role which I now realise doesn’t end when she leaves. I know what I’m like and someone will offer me a clip board and a whistle and I’ll be project-managing the summer fair before I know it. I have to get better at saying no and not feeling so grateful to be accepted as a queer parent that I’ll be selling raffle tickets for the next seven years.
What does ‘back to school’ or the first day of a new school mean to you as an LGBTQ parent? What’s your school gate attitude? Any advice about joining school parent What’sApp Groups? Making friends, dealing with bullying - please share!
This issue, paid subscribers are in for a treat as we have an interview with the best-selling author Juno Dawson, whose new picture book Hun, You Need to Chill! Is about a little girl understanding her older sibling’s transition. Please consider subscribing to read the full interview and discover Juno’s brilliant advice for parents whose own children may be trans. We’ll send you a copy of the book if subscribe by Tuesday!
Hun, you need to chill is such a great message in today’s highly charged and divisive social climate is it something you hope adults reading the book will take heed of?
Whether people like it or not, trans kids are part of the fabric of society. They are vulnerable and need help. Lots and lots of families are in the same situation as the characters in this book and it's just not a big deal. People really do need to chill.We love the book!