What does gay mean?

[npmommie]

question from a 6 year old.
How would you answer?

 

[MonorailMan]

It means "faaaaaaaabulous".

 

[dreamer03]

You tell them it means happy.

 

[Tommy_B]

question from a 6 year old.
How would you answer?

How would I Answer?

"Hey, wouldn't you like an ice cream cone? Doesn't that sound great?"

I find changing the topic and distracting works really well for me.

No? Ok then.... maybe this.

"Gay is a word used to describe two men or two women who really like each other"

If they are precocious and press further with a come back like, "I really like Tommy so am I gay?"

Suppress the laugh or horror as the case may be and come back with, "No, it is more like how Mommy and I like each other."

It the six year old presses again, we are back to "Hey, wouldn't you like an ice cream cone? Doesn't that sound great?" 'cuz I am out of ideas by that point.

 

[MonorailMan]

I'm not sure how I'd answer it, but the conversation would probably start out with "Some men like women. Some women like men. But some men like men, and some women like women......"

Now that I look back at what I typed, it's kind of like a Dr. Seuss book.......so I'm sure that would help things along.

 

[natashag76]

I answered my kids like this:

It's 2 women who are in a family together or 2 men in a family together.

I got a nod and an "ok, can I go do play-doh?"

 

[soulmates]

All good answers and I REALLY think Sean needs to do a Dr. Seuss type of book for kids, "Hey, I'm gay I say, I was born that way!"

 

[MonorailMan]

All good answers and I REALLY think Sean needs to do a Dr. Seuss type of book for kids, "Hey, I'm gay I say, I was born that way!"

*grabs some paper and starts doodling the illustrations*

 

[npmommie]

I'm not sure how I'd answer it, but the conversation would probably start out with "Some men like women. Some women like men. But some men like men, and some women like women......"

Now that I look back at what I typed, it's kind of like a Dr. Seuss book.......so I'm sure that would help things along.

LOL, that is how I answered! LOL!

I had to give an answer because the question came up because of a Super Nanny episode.
2 boys were fighting and calling each other "gay" and super nanny told the parents that is wrong to allow them to speak like that, wrong to use the word like that etc.
so my 6 yo wanted to know what gay meant.

So I said kind of what MM said,
I am a married heterosexual, so there was no home example to use

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I would also (when 6 becomes 10 or so???) make it clear that gay or lesbian means that someone can be gay or lesbian without being in a relationship.

Just to clarify, eh?

 

[Alesia]

When my daughter asked, I said "It's when 2 men, or 2 women, love each other the way Daddy and I love each other."

Simple, honest, direct. That's how I try to answer all of my daughter's questions. It hasn't failed me yet...

 

[rosiep]

How would I Answer?

"Hey, wouldn't you like an ice cream cone? Doesn't that sound great?"

I find changing the topic and distracting works really well for me.

No? Ok then.... maybe this.

"Gay is a word used to describe two men or two women who really like each other"

If they are precocious and press further with a come back like, "I really like Tommy so am I gay?"

Suppress the laugh or horror as the case may be and come back with, "No, it more like how Mommy and I like each other."

It the six year old presses again, we are back to "Hey, wouldn't you like an ice cream cone? Doesn't that sound great?" 'cuz I am out of ideas by that point.

Loved your response.

 

[C&G'sMama]

I dont' think my own kids have ever asked but I'd say when men love men and women love women.

Any other former or current "gay chorusters"(sp) out there. In 1995 our Womens' Chorus Sang "Everything Possible" with our Gay Men's Chorus and a line is "Some Women love women, some men love men....." and now that's going through my head.

 

[Hathaway Browne]

After reading the thread title, it did make me wonder of the actual origins of the word. Surprisingly Wikipedia has a good explainable:

The word "gay" arrived in English during the 12th century from Old French gai, most likely deriving ultimately from a Germanic source For most of its life in English, the word's primary meaning was "joyful", "carefree", "bright and showy", and the word was very commonly used with this meaning in speech and literature.

It appears that the word start of the switch from "happy" to how we now know it occurred in 1922 or 1929. The latter being attributed to Sir Noël Coward and his musical Bitter Sweet.

I know that probably doesn't answer the OP's question, but its kinda interesting to know.

 

[franandaj]

We have only furkids, so I've never been faced with the problem. My Mother circumvented the whole issue shortly after I came out by sitting down with my neice and reading her a book something like, "Why do I have two Mommies?"

I think the direct approach is best with kids, they know when you are BSing them and if you don't tell them they will ask their friends and possibly get a skewed opinon.

Any other former or current "gay chorusters"(sp) out there.

Not chorus, but I'm a band geek, if you know anyone in your local gay band we might have some common friends or acquaintances!

 

[MonorailMan]

Yeah.....kids definitely know when you're BS-ing them. It's the adults that can never figure it out.

 

[turkeymama]

LOL, that is how I answered! LOL!

I had to give an answer because the question came up because of a Super Nanny episode.
2 boys were fighting and calling each other "gay" and super nanny told the parents that is wrong to allow them to speak like that, wrong to use the word like that etc.
so my 6 yo wanted to know what gay meant.

So I said kind of what MM said,
I am a married heterosexual, so there was no home example to use

I'm also a married heterosexual and DD asked me. I told her it is when 2 boys/men or 2 girls/women like each other the same way Mommy and Daddy like each other. Her response? Oh okay, that's cool (in her very nonchalant 9 year old way). And my nephew uses the term incorrectly all the time and it drives me mad.

 

[wallyb]

When they start to ask the tuff questions...
Time to sell the Kids!

 

[C&G'sMama]

When they start to ask the tuff questions...
Time to sell the Kids!

If only
I don't think I could pay anyone enough take them....

 

[rosiep]

When they start to ask the tuff questions...
Time to sell the Kids!

But not to Wally...his last check BOUNCED.