Well, life as a radical gay family is not always sparkles and rainbows. Our daughter decided to have a major meltdown last night. She had it in her little head that her dad would be tucking her in to bed even after I (daddy) was in her room with a book in hand. A temper tantrum ensued that would give Naomi Campbell a run for her money. Thank goodness she is too young to have a cell phone to throw! We decided that we have been spoiling her a little too much and have to reign in the demon child before she turns into a spoiled brat. After a battle of wills last night, she finally left Time Out after an hour of kicking and screaming and trotted off to bed…ALONE. She did not get her way and did not get tucked in at all. I guess tough love is also a part of our radical gay family agenda.
The morning started very quietly as our daughter sat with no TV or toys and had to eat her oatmeal in silence. She got dressed for school, made her bed, apologized for her actions and quietly left for school. I went to Homo Depot, bought 10 medium cardboard boxes and returned home to pack all her toys and special stuffed animals. We have decided to take everything away from her and make her understand that she has to earn those things by minding, being polite and respectful, and behaving. It may take her a while to earn everything back one item at a time. The good news, we do not have to spend much money for Christmas this year. By the time she gets to the end of 10 boxes of Barbie, Dora, Toy Story, and Disney stuff, she will think it is all new.
Things are definitely much more different from the way they were when I was young. My mother would have back-handed me through a wall for acting the way my daughter did last night. We are trying to take the approach of mutual respect and talking through issues instead of spanking and yelling. We choose to use Time Out and restrictions. Our radical gay family agenda may have to start including a military boarding school if she does not get it in line! I wonder if military boarding schools go by the ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Us If Your Daddies Are Gay’ rule. If so, we would just pretend to be straight.
We are back on a diet, so I will cook a light meal for dinner and replace dessert with a firm and strict discussion about destroying some marriages in Ohio.
I saw this article today and felt it was important for people to read. We are asked these questions all the time and are often offended:
http://www.advocate.com/Society/Modern_Families/Say_What_5_Bad_Questions_for_Gay_Parents/
radicalgayfamilyagenda
Radical Gay Family Agenda 
I’m ten days late getting to the tantrum story so by now the hurricane has passed. Our daughter, now 28, could have doubled for the story related about your princess. There were lots of marches off to the bed room on the hand of her father. Reasoning didn’t work.
Today she is doing graduate work at Cornell, a free ride to boot. As you struggle with these tirades be sure not to break your daughter’s spirit or will for someday these will blossom in her life and the beauty of her spirit shall carry her far. Be thankful she’s got that much fight in her, the world needs women like her.
Jeff Wilfahrt, Rosemount, MN
Don’t panic. I teach teenagers and I can guarantee that the tantrums will stop in about 25-30 years (give or take).
I’m expecting a good first day of school story! Hope all is well.