Book Review: Raising My Rainbow by Lori Duran

Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son by Lori Duron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Avg rating: 4.06
Genre: Non-fiction, Autobiography, Parenting, LGBT

Goodreads Summary:
Raising My Rainbow is Lori Duron’s frank, heartfelt, and brutally funny account of her and her family's adventures of distress and happiness raising a gender-creative son. Whereas her older son, Chase, is a Lego-loving, sports-playing boy's boy, her younger son, C.J., would much rather twirl around in a pink sparkly tutu, with a Disney Princess in each hand while singing Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi."

C.J. is gender variant or gender nonconforming, whichever you prefer. Whatever the term, Lori has a boy who likes girl stuff—really likes girl stuff. He floats on the gender-variation spectrum from super-macho-masculine on the left all the way to super-girly-feminine on the right. He's not all pink and not all blue. He's a muddled mess or a rainbow creation. Lori and her family choose to see the rainbow.

Written in Lori's uniquely witty and warm voice and launched by her incredibly popular blog of the same name, Raising My Rainbow is the unforgettable story of her wonderful family as they navigate the often challenging but never dull privilege of raising a slightly effeminate, possibly gay, totally fabulous son.

My Rating: 4.5

I am so SO glad this book exists. I want to tell everyone I know about it, even people who don't read.

I have absolutely nothing against the LGBT community and I am so thankful this woman decided to open up about a topic that isn't addressed as much as it is probably experienced. I love how real, raw and honest the stories were in this book. It felt so real and relatable. My heart broke for all the people in this book (dare I call them characters) at one point or another. But at the same time, my heart, mind and soul soared for them in their times of happiness and love. 

It is only recently that I'm realizing how much gender stereotyping goes on in todays society and that it starts at birth. It is quite disturbing that pink and barbies are constantly forced on girls and blue and trucks/cars are pushed on boys. I LOVE that this mother was able to take societies opinions out of it and do what is best for her child. The things the "haters" were saying to her really upset me. People are so close minded and have no right to judge a 3 year old boy that likes barbie dolls and especially not the parents that are doing everything they can to raise and support their child.

I think that Lori did a REALLY good job of describing all sides of the spectrum. She didn't CHOOSE this, she didn't ask for this. But it's what she was handed and she fought her own selfish feelings and opinions to be who her child needed her to be. I can only hope that if I and my partner are ever put in a situation as serious as this one that we excel like Lori & Matt have done and be the best parent we can be regardless of what society thinks of us. There is always so much more to someones story then you would ever guess just by looking at them. I am so thankful that Lori had the "balls" to share her life with us. I will definitely be keeping up with RaisingMyRainbow's blog.

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