A seven- and a twelve-year-old, a world apart, have shared their views on being donor conceived. Listen to what they have to say.
First, twelve-year-old Corin shares the speech he gave in Victoria, Australia, at a seminar of the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA). He explains why it is important to discuss with young kids how they were made, and tells what it was like to meet his donor and his donor siblings. He also offers advice to kids who may get teased for having a donor—or simply asked intrusive questions. He advises parents, “You should sit down with them and explain how they were made—you need to explain about how babies are made first so they are not completely confused—and then just let it out gently.”
I also like the observation from his mom, Jacqui Tomlins, that “One of the issues discussed at the seminar was the fact that once you tell your kids their story it belongs to them and you have no control over who they tell, or how they tell it. And that can be a bit scary, or not.” Kudos to her for posting his unedited words (with his permission) for us to read.
Next, seven-year-old Sophia tells us “How my moms had a baby,” in this video from The Next Family (via HuffPo Gay Voices). (Her location is unspecified, but she sounds like she comes from somewhere in the U.S.) She doesn’t go into the nuances that Corin does, and that’s age appropriate, but her enthusiasm for discussing her family is contagious.
