At some point during her visit she will typically ask the same old question over and over and over again, as if something magical will happen and suddenly it will all make sense to her. In a recent visit she started again with, "Now," clarifying, "You are Mitch and Cam's mom, right?" Replying with the obvious, I say, "Yes." With a wrinkled forehead, and a brain clearly searching for data that has not yet been imported, she then says, "And so is she?" pointing to my partner Teresa. Again, I respond with "Yes."

So you can imagine my concern when the other day I hear her say to my son Mitchell, "You have two moms, right?" And with a little bit of irritation in his voice he quips, "No! I don't have two moms." Clearly confused, and surely now believing that we are not only aliens, but we are also liars, the little girl just looks at Mitch with confusion, as do I. When finally he sets the record straight (well, not entirely straight) for everyone by saying, "I have one Mama, and one Mommy." Phew. I think she understands now.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.