family values: illustrated

owenpataudreyIMG_0279, a photo by marymactavish on Flickr.

I’m feeling very family-rich lately. Well, I usually do, but today it’s just more so.

We visited Casey’s mother yesterday. She adores Owen, and also adores Audrey. She hasn’t always understood how we live (we’ve been out as polyamorous to her for most of our 16-year relationship, and she’s always known who Audrey is in Casey’s life), but she loves us and wants us to be happy, and is clear that we’re sort of Doing This Right with regard to Owen, so she’s extraordinarily accepting. (She is just that kind of person, but also, there’s a reason her family is so close, and a lot of it is because it’s really about love, not baggage, and that she has a broad definition of “family.”)

Today Audrey took Owen to visit her parents, and though our family plans were more of a surprise and discomfiture for her parents, they also came to see very rapidly that a happy family is a glory anyhow, and they’ve been very welcoming and kind to me and Casey. And because Casey and I couldn’t be there for a barbecue this afternoon, Audrey’s mom sent home dinner for us. It was just *sweet*, kind, thoughtful. I feel cared for and appreciated as Owen’s mom.

In the picture: Casey's mom loves on her grandson, with Audrey watching - July 2, 2011