Q about coming out to children in extended family?

[beckles]

hi, my DH's best friend from grade 5 is gay, he and his partner (now they are married they had a commitment ceremony late last year which was beutiful - i was the 'best man'!) have been a big part of our lives including, of course, our kids. Josh who is nearly 13 asked about their relationship when he was about 5 i think the conversation went like this:

J: Mum are A & R brothers like me and Zak?
Me: No josh they are lovers like Dad and me.
J:What does that mean?
Me: Well it means they love each other like Dad and i love each other.
J: oh they love each other like you and Dad.
Me: that's right Josh.

That was how Josh found out about different kinds of families and how love can be found between men and women, men and men and women and women. DH and i hadn't even thought about it much it was just another normal friendship and when josh picked it up we answered his questions and moved on really. Eventually Zak picked up that they weren't what he saw alot of but i think that kids acceptance of situations, if treated normally, is usually easy and matter of factly. kids pick up on how their parents react and responded similiarly, positively or negatively, depending on the parents reaction. anyway that's my 2 cents worth.
beckles

[AnyDream]

Thanks everyone for your fantastic & considered replies. The consensus seems to be, as I suspected, to answer any questions as matter as factly as possible without making a big deal out of it. Leasha, that's an excellent list of resources, thanks very much for that.

Arte, yep I'm pretty proud of my sister and delighted that she can now step up for the happiness that she deserves !