Yep, That’s My Mommy

YEP, THAT’S MY MOMMY!

By Jean Mountain (She/Her/Hers)

Illustrated by Ashley Finch

What a family looks like is ever-evolving. No longer is there only the nuclear family; we have single-parent families, blended families, extended families, forever families, friendship families, LGBT families, and each family is valid in its own right. I once heard a child say, “Families are the people who love you the most.” That being said, I am kicking off Pride Month with Jean Mountain’s children’s book Yep, That’s My Mommy.

Miguel was upset at school because the kids were saying that his mommy, Ms. Mountain, was his daddy. At the grocery store, the cashier referred to Ms. Mountain as “sir” instead of “ma’am.” The reason: Ms. Mountain is a transgender woman, and the kids in question have no concept of gender identity. When Miguel asks what “transgender” means, Ms. Mountain explains it to her son in terms he can understand. The concept of Two Spirits helps him to understand, and at the end of the day, so do his classmates.

Mountain’s book reminds us of the importance of children seeing themselves and their families reflected in the books they read. The white, cisgender, nuclear family cookie-cutter children’s books aren’t enough in this age of diverse families and gender identity. As a transgender woman, a mother, and BIPOC, Mountain raises awareness of treating children and parents of modern families with the respect and dignity they deserve. At the end of the day, Miguel has a mommy who loves him.

As one who retired as a teacher for elementary school students, from time to time I came across students who had two moms or two dads, and as such I felt it important to set an example for the other students on how to treat them, since children take their cues from the adults around them. I appreciate how beautifully Mountain, with the wonderful illustrations by Ashley Finch, captures the perspective of a child who has a transgender parent and how to handle this with others. The fact that she shows a supportive, affirming, extended family for Miguel and his mommy in the book is priceless and heartwarming. To further discussion, Mountain includes questions and vocabulary terms at the end of the book.

Yep, That’s My Mommy is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Strive Publishing. It is the winner of the Royal Dragonfly Book Award.

Thank you, Jean, for bringing your unique voice and story to the table to start off Pride Month. Representation matters, and I acknowledge you for changing the narrative by changing the perception.