[long post] What a whirlwind of a month. Getting married in what turned out to be a crazy wedding weekend (pictures to come) & being adopted by these two wonderful women.
Some of you asked why my name changed on social media. Well, I took the last name of Alexander as a legal step for my adoption. With the adoption finalized, I can finally introduce you all to my wonderful moms.
Growing up in the foster care system, I felt impermeable to the idea of family. It wasn’t until I made it through the system & left for college that I realized I have no where to go other than a dorm room.
It's like RuPaul said, “You know, we as gay people, we get to choose our family. We get to choose the people we’re around.”
When I moved to Pittsburgh, I kept myself open to a chosen family; filled with connection, love, & support. Flashback to 6 years ago, I met Loni & Anastasia and I finally understood what led me this idea of chosen family through them.
When my moms invited me over last year & asked me to be apart of their family with a simple, “We would like to adopt you”, I was frozen. I was looking at these two women - who I’ve spent years admiring for their strong relationship, their welcoming hearts during the holidays, the joy they find in life - & I felt home.
With getting married & being adopted, the idea of family to me continues to transform & with that comes new perspectives & questions such as how do I be a husband, how do I be a good son, a nephew, a brother, & a cousin & maybe one day an uncle or father myself - I don’t know what the future is going to bring but with my family, I’m excited to see what the future brings & the memories we all get to make together.
I’ll be back in January with a blended schedule of food/gaming videos but for now I’ll be taking time off to get content ready for 2024.
Sincerely love & appreciate you all. I hope you have wonderful winter holiday celebrations with your chosen families filled with connection, love, & support.
Dan Sheppard
[long post] What a whirlwind of a month. Getting married in what turned out to be a crazy wedding weekend (pictures to come) & being adopted by these two wonderful women.
Some of you asked why my name changed on social media. Well, I took the last name of Alexander as a legal step for my adoption. With the adoption finalized, I can finally introduce you all to my wonderful moms.
Growing up in the foster care system, I felt impermeable to the idea of family. It wasn’t until I made it through the system & left for college that I realized I have no where to go other than a dorm room.
It's like RuPaul said, “You know, we as gay people, we get to choose our family. We get to choose the people we’re around.”
When I moved to Pittsburgh, I kept myself open to a chosen family; filled with connection, love, & support. Flashback to 6 years ago, I met Loni & Anastasia and I finally understood what led me this idea of chosen family through them.
When my moms invited me over last year & asked me to be apart of their family with a simple, “We would like to adopt you”, I was frozen. I was looking at these two women - who I’ve spent years admiring for their strong relationship, their welcoming hearts during the holidays, the joy they find in life - & I felt home.
With getting married & being adopted, the idea of family to me continues to transform & with that comes new perspectives & questions such as how do I be a husband, how do I be a good son, a nephew, a brother, & a cousin & maybe one day an uncle or father myself - I don’t know what the future is going to bring but with my family, I’m excited to see what the future brings & the memories we all get to make together.
I’ll be back in January with a blended schedule of food/gaming videos but for now I’ll be taking time off to get content ready for 2024.
Sincerely love & appreciate you all. I hope you have wonderful winter holiday celebrations with your chosen families filled with connection, love, & support.
11 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 16