Meet Tracy

@tracyjopalmer

Mama of an adorable babe, we love how Tracy shares her sweet motherhood journey. This mama inspires us to stay open, keep growing, and love the little moments! 

KNIT SUSPENDERS | sienna, BODYSUIT | picnic, MAMA SWEATER | artichoke

How have you grown since becoming a mama? 

How have I not grown?! I mean, WOW. I am far more patient, determined, and full of unconditional love than I ever have been in my life. I’ve been pushed to the edge and then discovered the edge isn’t actually all that close. I’ve become a version of myself that I don’t quite know yet, but I’m slowly getting to know her and she’s pretty rad.

CHUNKY KNIT SWEATER WOMEN & KIDS | clay, BAMBOO PANT | clay stripe, KNIT BEANIE ADULT | clay, BABY BOOTS

What is something that has surprised you about your babes?

Cohen has surprised me with some of the innate ways we are similar. I am adopted, so I didn’t have some of the aspects of comparison that I have with Cohen with my own parents…it’s been so interesting and fun to watch the nature/nurture part of his growth.

What is your favorite goumi piece & color or print?

We’re obsessed with the rompers!  The cloud Terry is our current favorite.

BABY SWEATER | sienna, ROMPER | cloud Terry, MAMA SWEATER | artichoke

What do you wish other mamas knew about your experience as being an LGBTQ+ mama in America?

I wish folks understood the burden of “coming out” over and over and over again. I wish they understood the risk that is involved in coming out and being out as a queer family in the United States. The constant assessment of “are we safe here?” or “Will my kid be the only kid with two moms?” I also wish folks understood some of the lesser known aspects of LGBTQIA+ parenting, like the fact that my wife had to legally adopt our son because we used a sperm donor even though she’s on the birth certificate. Or even just the financial burden, in general, that falls on queer folks wanting to build their families and how infrequently those costs are covered by insurance. I also wish folks knew the positive impact families like ours make. Our country will be a more loving, open, and accepting place because of families like ours. 

What do you wish every mama would teach their children about the LGBTQ+ community?

I wish other families would do more than teach “love is love.” I wish they’d teach their kids that families look all sorts of ways. I wish they’d buy books about queer families and watch movies and cartoons with queer characters so that our family doesn’t have to be the first example your kid sees of a non-heteronormative family. Most of all, I wish folks would teach their kids to stand up and to speak up. Activism and doing the right thing can and should be taught to our children. Tolerating us and advocating for us are not one in the same. We need allyship all year long, not just when the rainbows come out in June.