05/12/2024
We planned on doing a Mother's Day catalog featuring the moms of transgender kids because their voices are just the voices this time needs. We asked our email subscribers to see if anyone wanted to be a part of this.
The response was so great, and so moving, and so at the heart of what this year is all about I felt this needs to be a catalog that doesn’t end Monday but continues on through the fall.
Here’s not so much a preview of that catalog but more a tip-of-the-iceberg teaser of the power of these moms' words. Thanks to all:
I am the mom of a beautiful transgender daughter and I cook a lot. I'd love to talk.
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This is the response I got. "Mostly good but it's a hard time to be trans and alive."
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I want to say they are fearless as they navigate the world I see as nothing but threatening.
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There were many years of anxiety and depression. Many therapy sessions. Addiction to alcohol and drugs to numb the feeling. Then there was the text to me on Saturday saying SHE was transgender. I never questioned her, I went to her, hugged her and supported her.
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We live in a very red part of the state of Pennsylvania. Pride flags are scarce. Opinions are loud. Teachers and principals are allies, but only behind closed doors.
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I don’t know what the future holds for my kids. I do know that G feels safe in their community of artists. I know G does not feel safe coming home to Florida and it saddens me to no end.
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Just like the names of some of your spices, it's time for a revolution.
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I am privileged to be the parent of an amazing non-binary child.
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Every hate-filled comment about the LGBTQ+ community, every story of violence, and every supposedly funny meme targeting people like my child plunges me further into fear and anxiety.
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J transitioned when she was 4 in pre-K and is stealth at school now.
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The hardest work is swimming upstream against the cisgender, heteronormative culture that wants us to fit in a specific box.
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Nothing makes me madder than these laws being made by people who clearly know nothing about transgender people!
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PLEASE REMOVE ME FROM YOUR MAILING LIST AS I WILL NEVER BUY FROM THIS COMPANY AGAIN.
PS THERE ARE ONLY 2 GENDERS GOD CREATED ... PERIOD!!!!!
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We escaped Florida 7 months ago, making the choice to move to a safer, more inclusive community.
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I knew that I could not provide the guidance that he needed, so I went out and found experts; that's the heart and soul of parenting: doing your best, then bringing in reinforcements when your best won't cut it.
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A family go-to is just pork loin covered in your Tsar Dust seasoning and roasted until done. We have this almost every week!
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The hate is so hard on my kiddo.
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I have said to him all his life, "I love you always and forever-no matter what." I meant it and mean it with all my heart, soul and being.
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My trans daughter arrived home from the psychiatric hospital last week after being on su***de watch. I have never felt so helpless in my life.
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He has a lot of sensitivities to food, but he loves adding Penzeys cinnamon to his applesauce and he frequently uses the seasoning salt.
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He said "Mom, this is not about you or anyone else, this is about me." I've carried that with me.
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As a mother there is nothing harder than to see your child struggle and truthfully sometimes the only comfort I can offer is the warmth of a meal and to listen.
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At his 5th birthday party, he made a wish and blew out the candles on his cake. When I asked him what he wished for, well... he wished for a different body.
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It breaks my heart that something so joyful - the recognition and expression of one's true self - should have become something so treacherous, dangerous, and frightening.
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I watched my son go from a middle schooler who, despite his intelligence, was barely scraping by in school, miserable, defiant, with suicidal ideations receive gender affirming medical care, have a legal name change, a legal gender change (that was no small feat) enter High School and finish his first trimester with High Honors, and participating in extracurriculars! He was a completely.......validated, affirmed, HAPPY person, living his best life.
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He came out at school in 3rd grade, and I was shocked and relieved at the kindness and grace of that group of 8 year olds, who all responded with support. One asked, "Have you been feeling misunderstood?" Isn't that the question we all hope to be asked?
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She's since gone on and found a boyfriend online. She went to visit him and his family last August and is now living with them in Las Vegas.
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I was proud of how calm she remained. But as soon as we were safely away from the restaurant, she exploded in anger and hurt.
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I'm an 86-year-old grandmother of kind, accepting, loving grandchildren who I believe will change the country. In the meantime if I'm still around, save a seat on the bus for me.
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I'm also a middle school admin at their school, so I've become "the adult" for most of the q***r kids at school. Too many of them don't have supportive families, even in a markedly liberal state like Massachusetts.
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Every family has a different journey in life and it is disheartening that there are people who are trying to legally regulate how ours choose to live it. Life is HARD- trans life is HARD- our kids don't need any more difficulties.
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They all even did a full Friendsgiving spread. Gives me hope for the future.
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Some days it really feels like no one cares about our kids but us, and that is so hard.
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My heart is fullest when they come home, and my heart breaks every time they leave.
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The news cycle and ugliness is petrifying for moms of trans kids! At the same time...Gender affirming care saved my child's life!
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My wonderful 16 year old loves to cook and it's something we enjoy doing together.
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I am an adult and I logically know better, but I am also human and the awful hate, lies, and fear still impact my soul.
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But more than anything, I want to work to normalize kindness and understanding towards everyone, especially transgender people who just want to live their lives without being bombarded with ignorance, suspicion, and hatred!
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This is part of the reason that we're moving to California in a few months. We knew a lot more freedom and safety when we lived in Illinois last year. We re running for a blue state again, as fast as we can.
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My beloved child spent years suicidal because of being bullied for who they are. I spent years hoping against hope they'd find the strength to hold on.
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Their sexual and gender orientation is likely the least interesting thing about them.
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My parents have a Penzeys Choose Love Magnet on their refrigerator that I gave them with a box of spices for Christmas several years ago. Maybe they know. I hope that when my child chooses to come out to them, they will Choose Love!
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And as you can see we don’t do a lot of posts these days. We’ve found our email list a better spot to share our thoughts. You can sign up here: https://www.penzeys.com/sign-up-for-email/
The regularly $2.79 Transgender Remember Vanilla Sugar is just $1 through 5.12.24. The words on the back of the bag are good. You can find them and information on ordering here: https://www.penzeys.com/online-catalog/vanilla-sugar/c-24/p-1524/pd-s
Thanks for reading,
Bill
