A Colonial Forge Student Media Publication

Colonial Forge High School - 550 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA

Colonial Forge High School - 550 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA

A Colonial Forge Student Media Publication

Colonial Forge High School - 550 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA

A Colonial Forge Student Media Publication

Colonial Forge High School - 550 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA

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The Modern Family: Miranda and Mikayla Hendrickson

The+Modern+Family%3A+Miranda+and+Mikayla+Hendrickson

Our beliefs and morals are shaped throughout our lives and much of that shaping is attributed to our parents. Raised in a very Christian home, Miranda and Mikayla Hendrickson (‘16) were taught the fundamental beliefs of the religion, and the idea that being homosexual was wrong. But after the separation of their parents, their father came out.

“The way that I was raised,” Miranda said. “Even by him, gays are wrong, you shouldn’t do it, you can’t do it, and then for him to come out and say he’s gay. It was definitely different.”

This change in the girl’s lives was difficult to comprehend at first, but after a while things became more clear.

“Initially it was kind of shocking,” said Mr. Hendrickson. “But a lot of the comments I got back from the girls were that things made more sense now.”

While Miranda and Mikayla were going through their own process of coming to terms with this new reality, some of the people that they used to be close with were not as keen on accepting it as they were.

“Once people found out that my dad was gay people kind of closed out on us.” Miranda said.

They lost friends at their church, a few from school, and even some of their own family members.

“People would ask ‘Is your dad really gay?’ and then they’d say ‘I don’t want to talk to you anymore,’” said Mikayla.”Now some people don’t talk to him, people were making fun of us. It was hard.”

“Other people talking about me in front of them or to them was very painful for them as well as for me,” he said. “It wasn’t an easy transition.”

For Mr. Hendrickson, the most important thing wasn’t necessarily acceptance, it was knowing that he was supported.

“People need to realize if someone is transitioning and coming to terms with who they are the key thing that that person needs is their love and support,” he said. “They don’t necessarily need their agreement they just need to know that they’re loved and they’re supported even though that person may not agree with them.”

After the initial shock of the news subsided and the questions began to die down, Miranda and Mikayla found it in themselves to support their father.

“We’re really close now, closer than we were and I’m beginning to think I can be okay with this,” Miranda said. “I don’t agree with what he’s doing but I’m okay with him doing it because he is my father and I accept him.”

When it came to that point of realization that this was something they’d have to adjust to, Mikayla explains that it was just something she had to do.

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have a dad in my life and I want that fatherly figure,” she said. “It’s different I’ll admit that but I wouldn’t trade him for anything.

Miranda and Mikayla’s lives were altered by the confession of their father, but even though it’s not the type of family they were used to, it still works.

“People think it has to be cookiecutter and it doesn’t,” he said. “What really defines family these days? Family really needs to be looked at with who serves those roles in your life and that doesn’t have to be biological.”

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About the Contributor
Katie Bashista, Editor in Chief

I’m Katie and I’m Editor in Chief for the Talon. I shop too much and spend the majority of my time at concerts. I’m also obsessed with my dogs. The stories I write about other people are a lot more interesting than I am so check them out. My Email is [email protected]

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The Modern Family: Miranda and Mikayla Hendrickson