Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son

In Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son, Lori Duron walks you through her family’s journey with her son, CJ, as they transition into acceptance of his gender creativity. This was an easy and enjoyable read that brings light to an issue of immense anxiety, fear, and confusion for many. Her sense of humor in conveying the struggles they experienced along the way is both charming and relatable. The underlying message is the same one I advocate for: it’s your child’s job to be their authentic self and it’s your job as a parent to accept them for who they are, love them unconditionally, and advocate for them whenever necessary.“God, grant me the serenity to bee an awesome mom for my gender-nonconforming child and the courage not to send him to UCLA to be experimented on; and wisdom, because we are different. Oh, and watch over Anderson Cooper, too. Amen.”While I did really enjoy the book (and her blog), her perspective is firmly in the mainstream camp. Most of her family’s struggles were really more about school than CJ. When you’re in a natural homeschooling culture, the vast majority of those problems just don’t exist. I would love to slip a copy of Sage Homeschooling: Wild and Free under her virtual door.“I hastily devised a plan in my head that would never come to fruition. I’d homeschool them. I’d burst up on my long division and get some workbooks from the local teachers’ supply store and set up class in our family room. I’d always wondered why anybody would homeschool their children. Not anymore. I started thinking about field trips we could go on. The zoo. The park. The library. The salon for mani-pedis. With me as teacher, principal, coach, and guidance counselor, they might not bee prepared for college, they might not bet socialized, they might not understand a lick of math, but by God, they wouldn’t be bullied. I could promise that.”I’m looking forward to continuing to follow along on her family’s journey as her son grows. Perhaps a sequel once her son is through puberty is in the future . . . (hint)?

I have started and stopped writing a review of this book 3 different times now because there is so much that I want to say and share with someone thinking of buying this book. This book is full of stories of a family trying to keep up with a vibrant little boy who loves all things pink, or princess, and magical and seeing the world through his eyes while also seeing it as parents who want nothing but the best for both of their sons.I think this book is a reminder that we should all take a second before making judgement of anyone but more importantly of children who are finding their path and their parents, grandparents, slinging’s, who love them and who are just doing their best to show that love while trying to also come to terms with whatever the situation is.I will say as an only child I was most impressed of the big brother who in his own right probably had to be more grown up than he should have to try and protect his brother the way he knew how while still navigating his own world and his own challenges.So, if you are looking for a book that will make you laugh, at times make you cry and at other times make you want to write a letter to your congressman this book is for you.Also, find the blog because you’ll want to devour it as well because I know I want to know what is in store for CJ and the rest of the family and I hope they have found a kinder world but when it isn’t so kind that they have each other.

I have been reading the blog, Raising My Rainbow, for several years. I have loved the story of C.J. and his Mom in every way - I've laughed, been moved, been angry on their behalf and generally just appreciated how C.J.'s Mom (and father and brother) let C.J. be just as fabulous as he is. I loved C.J.'s choice of birthday themes, his delight in the Oscars, going to have mani-pedis and various other adventures.I was really looking forward to having the blog in book form to re-visit stories and have it in one readable place. That is *not* what this book is. This is not a book of a blog, but a book about a blog. The book details how C.J.'s Mom (who we now know is Lori Duron) struggled with her feeling around having a gender creative child and how she came to write the blog. It talks about her family and her community. There are very few of the stories about C.J. that made the blog so delightful. Her blog is one of the few I get email updates from and look forward to reading the next installment with anticipation, clicking through the moment the new post arrives.This is a good book and an important book. Ms. Duron has been a beacon of light to other parents with gender creative children, a "wish my family had supported me like this" icon for many LGBTQ readers, and a very readable and entertaining blogger. If you are interested in this book at all, I cannot recommend highly enough that you go read the blog itself. Thank you Ms. Duron for sharing your story with your readers.

I am not a parent (in my 60's - by choice), but as I read this lovely piece of work - I cried, laughed my butt off, and had every emotion I could imagine a parent would have. I held my breath more than a dozen times, I was scared, terrified, happy, and elated. It made me, revisit, the honest sincerity of children -- no hatred -- just pure love. This book should have made us realize how quickly we loose so much of your innocence. I commend the strength and commitment of this family to recognize this beautiful human being and respect his 'needs'. I am not quite 1/2 way through the book, but felt so compelled to write a quick review - as I see it, at this point. This young boy's story has - resurrected my belief in ones' individuality. We become so hardened as we age.Do not hesitate to load this book (or pick it up), ASAP. You'll not want to put it down. It will hold you attention from the 1st sentence. This writer is easy and fun to read, at times you inhale a big breath and read 1 sentence that takes up most of a page. She is so funny.You can not go wrong with this lovely, heartwarming read. It is the best read I have had in a few years.I hope she writes another one sharing the next level of her son.

We have our own CJ in this house and we too have an older brother who is male to the core. Our oldest has suffered too in the same way as Chase - this book could have been about our life. It is hugely wonderful to know that other families have experienced the same thing. Interestingly the book prompted me to talk to my son about how he feels about being girly and it brought all sorts of worries to the surface. he is 10 and wishes he was 'normal' it was great to be able to have a conversation where I could point out how wonderful he is and how there is no such thing as normal. Thank you Lori xxx

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading true life stories, but especially to those who work with, know of or want to find out more about dealing with the issues that may come up in the family when one of the children is gender non-conforming and/or LGBT.I gave it 4 stars because it is such an accessible easy read and does not blind you with science or academia, although some points are backed up with quotes/footnotes on relevant research. The only thing to be aware of is the US bias, which is to be expected as the family is American.

This is book is fabulous and I think every parent and early years worker should read this, the book lets you into their world and shares with you the worries and the highs of a parent and child living with gender creativity x

Excellent book especially for a Mum with a gender creative son. Great to know I am not the only one and a couple of laugh out loud funny bits too.

Informative, interesting and easy to read if you want an insight into the world of " gender nonconforming"