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25 January 2007

Part two for this... Y'all ain't gonna believe THIS.→[More:]

I just got off the phone from my mom. Apparently she and my dad actually sat down and had a talk. In which he said,"Things cannot go on this way."

Long story short, they want me to come over tomorrow and have a talk with them, regarding their new decision to actually have daughter and the grandbun visit.

They understand that her husband is part of the deal but they want to take this one step at a time. For them I cannot stress to you what a miracle this is. Heck, even the fact they actually TALKED is a miracle. (If you are southern you understand this. If you aren't, you need to know that to a Southerner, if you don't talk about it then it doesn't exist.)

What I didn't tell you all is that after the earlier events of the day I called up a pastor friend of mine and we had a yack, then he prayed. Looks like God is doing something...

post by: bunnyfire at: 18:35 | 26 comments

That's great to hear!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 25 January | 18:40

This is great! I'm so happy for you, bunnyfire! Also, would it do any good to have a chat with your parents and the pastor together? You indicated they're not regular church-goers, but still...

posted by pieisexactlythree 25 January | 18:48

The grandbun will melt their hearts.

posted by essexjan 25 January | 18:49

Praise Obama!

posted by Pretty_Generic 25 January | 18:51

Oh that's good news. Baby steps, baby steps...

posted by gaspode 25 January | 19:05

My faith in humanity is restored!

posted by CitrusFreak12 25 January | 19:10

That's very good news, bunnyfire! Although I don't agree with your parents' stance, I realise it is a big step for them to even think about and be willing to discuss letting go of long held beliefs. Good luck!

posted by deborah 25 January | 20:42

Sentence of folks-slapping suspended, pending continued good behavior.

posted by cortex 25 January | 20:48

I hope this goes well, bunnyfire. Glad to hear some hope is restored.

posted by elizard 25 January | 20:53

Oh, wow, that is great news!

posted by Specklet 25 January | 20:53

Yeah, I'm pretty shocked-pleasantly, of course.

Thank you bunnies near and far, for being here and listening to my ranting. Tank ewe fairy mush.

posted by bunnyfire 25 January | 21:03

Uk. I'm glad that you're going to sit down and talk, and that you had a yack with the pastor. My thoughts: pray for them. God has this quirky habit of changing people's hearts.

posted by youngergirl44 25 January | 21:50

This is the central way and really the only way that we break down barriers to prejudice - through personal connections. Make no mistake, this is a huge step. Once you crack open the door to your heart to admit a little bit of love for someone who is different from you, or even has made different choices, it gets harder and harder to slam that door shut again.

It's only because people are willing to take small steps like this that big progress gets made.

I know there's a long way to go, and maybe they'll never reach full acceptance of your SIL, let alone the rest of his racial group as a whole. But you should still let them know how touched and proud you are of them, somehow, and how happy you are that they decided that family bonds trump tribal ones.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 25 January | 23:09

Congratulations. Apparently your prayers went from your lips to God's ears, to ricochet back down to the right human ears. Or your steadfastness in this issue just impressed the old farts and started to break down their resistance. Either way, the battle is not over, things aren't going to be easy, and there will be times when this uneasy cease-fire will break down and get ugly, but keep on keeping on, bun. I've long been impressed in the courage it takes for you to just hang out among all us heathens, sinners and MetaTrolls... either that or total lunacy. Either way, it'll help you get through the next shaky steps.

posted by wendell 25 January | 23:58

Wow, bunnyfire, that's fantastic. And if you missed this from the Green (and the Blue's sidebar), Ask Culture vs. Guess Culture.

I think there was actually something good that they said no, meaning, they knew they couldn't make that step yet. But now they're saying that they know they have to, but they're worried or scared. So those are good messages you're getting, instead of just a stone wall.

posted by stilicho 26 January | 00:28

This is a good step, indeed and one that I hope leads to more and more steps. Racism is very prevalent in my family so I understand the frustration and pain this deep-seated anger and resentment that is not based on logic but emotion can cause people. I wish you the best as this situation progresses. And not to make the post about me, but adoption is very attractive to me and I fear that if we were to adopt a non-white child my family and members of my partner's family would not love the child as much as if it were white and that is something I have to overcome before I can take those steps. But hearing stories like this make me more hopeful. Thanks for sharing, bunnyfire.

posted by Cinnamon 26 January | 00:47

This is fantastic news. Family rifts are horrible things and if this one can be fixed, then that can be nothing but good. Having been through a couple, lots of understanding and patience are required, but it'll be worth it in the end.

posted by TheDonF 26 January | 01:57

*smiling*

So glad for you all... small steps. I hope we eventually also get to hear some good news regarding your parents and your son in law!

posted by taz 26 January | 02:11

So glad for you and your daughter's family, bunnyfire.

And LT, your comment made me feel all happy and warm fuzzy and hopeful.

posted by occhiblu 26 January | 02:32

YAY!

posted by chewatadistance 26 January | 08:25

Wow, that's amazingly good news.

posted by TrishaLynn 26 January | 10:46

(yeah, LT's comment was great)

posted by gaspode 26 January | 11:01

A very blonde friend of mine married a very black girl, his Hitler-youth German parents changed the locks on their ski cabin and refused to take his phone calls. He flew out, rang the doorbell, and thrust the mixed race baby into the grandma's arms and that was the end of the freeze out.

My mother, surprisingly, had a similar reaction to my lesbian sister's marriage and artificially inseminated natural child. The handing over the baby thing didn't work, but the toddler won her heart and now they spend Christmas at grandma's.

posted by StickyCarpet 26 January | 11:58

Well, it's all set. Me, daughter, and the grandbun will go out for a visit next week.

There most definitely IS a God.

posted by bunnyfire 26 January | 17:31

Fabulous, bunnyfire! So happy for you and yours.

posted by initapplette 26 January | 18:32

Glad to hear it, bunnyfire. I'm sure they'll fall in love with their great-grandbun, how could they not? I grew up down the street from an Italian man who unfortunately disliked African Americans. All four of his daughters "hooked up" with men of that race. He absolutely adored all of his grandchildren. And learned in time to accept his sons-in-law. This is a big step, and it's amazing that they initiated it.

posted by redvixen 26 January | 19:55

← Tomorrow, I go into battle. || Flash mob justice. →

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