 Dear Instinct,
My mother- and father-in-law are the greatest and deserve a hearty and loving thank-you. My husband (Ed) and I both came out five years ago, after each of us had been married 20-plus years. Along with the rest of our families, Mom and Dad were surprised but were totally supportive. Immediately, I became part of the family. They further adjusted to another transition when their son converted to Judaism so that we could have a one-religion family. At our wedding in a Reform Judaism synagogue, Mom was described by everyone as the “belle of the ball” because she had such a great time and never left the dance floor. Mom now introduces me to everyone as her “son-in-law.” Our gay friends all love both of them. The two of them traveled out of town with us to a recent commitment ceremony of our best friends. The best evening for me is when we go out for dinner and dancing with my in-laws. They really are the best of the best.
Eddie Reynolds
Palo Alto, CA
“Our relationship is very strong and growing,” Bob and Pat say of their son and son-in-law. “They are also great parents together for Eddie’s three boys and Ed’s three kids (our grandchildren).”
“The four of us are truly great friends,” Eddie says. “Everyone we know loves both of them.”
Something that’s important to both couples is community service.
“We are very proud of all their involvements in the community where they live: Facing History and Ourselves (board members) and their ongoing support for local, live theater (board, contributions, attendance),” Bob and Pat say. “Although they are very involved, they make sure we spend time together, too.”
Eddie and Ed credit the excellent example Bob and Pat have set.
“They have devoted their retirement to improving and enjoying the community around them. They are leaders in a number of organizations that raise scholarships for at-risk youth, mentor students and collect food donations,” the guys say. “They contribute their time and money to help local museums and art organizations, as well as volunteering on community and church committees.”
We had to ask: What’s Bob and Pat’s secret for being magnificent (and not monster) in-laws?
“There must be trust and support,” they say. “We love our son very much, so we are very supportive of his relationship with Eddie.”
With great pride, Bob and Pat mention all the work Ed and Eddie put into helping out at their 50th wedding anniversary, creating multiple table centerpieces highlighting activities and organizations significant in Bob and Pat’s life together, and how much their son and son-in-law’s hard work meant to them.
It was easy, say Eddie and Ed, because it was done out of love to honor two supportive, outstanding people.
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Thanks to Chokerz4Men.com for sending Ed and Eddie a free necklace! Visit Chokerz4Men.com for more information.
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Instinct Online 
written by tgroden on January 08, 2008
This is great!!
written by Amir Shahkarami on January 09, 2008
What a wonderful piece. They are lucky to have such great mother and father in laws.