This photo of myself and my eldest daughter holds great meaning to me. This photo was taken for a photo shoot for a well known magazine. My daughter had finally decided to share with me her biggest, darkest secret; she was gay.
My daughter was only 13 at the time and she had spent months feeling guilty and had convinced herself that if she told me, I would be ashamed of her.
The months prior to her telling me were horrendous, her mood swings became out of control and as a mother I felt I had failed my own child. She was hiding herself away in her bedroom for hours at a time. Would refuse to speak to me for hours, I truly felt she hated me, that I had done something wrong.
It became so bad that I was prescribed sleeping pills and antidepressants, our family was falling apart. It broke me heart when she told me she was moving out and going to stay with her dad.
Over the course of several weeks, we had limited communication.
Then she knocked on the door one evening, with her bags and asked if she could come home.
A few weeks later she told me she was gay and that was what had caused her to become the way she had, she felt I would not love her anymore. She was frightened, confused and felt alone.
We talked and I told her I would love her no matter of who she fancied and I even helped her pin pictures of Katy Perry to her bedroom wall to seal our promise, that she would never feel like she could not tell me something so important to her, every again.
Nakita asked if she could speak out about her sexuality as she hoped to be able to help other young teens. I am very proud of my daughter and since that time we have developed a special bond.
I am very pleased to say I have my daughter back and this photo shows what words can not. She is my baby no matter what her age or sexuality.
“This post is Emma’s entry into the Printerpix Photo competition.”
