PRIDE MONTH FAMILY SPOTLIGHT: MEET THE GROWING CLARK-SALLY FAMILY

Dads: David (he/him/his) and Matt (he/him/his) ​

Kids: Madden (10), Kate (8), baby girl due October 2021 ​

Location: Madison, WI ​

Follow their story: @davidclarksally + @mattclarksally ​

Photo credit: A & J Photography ​

Q: Why is sharing your story openly on social media so important to your family? ​

A: Growing up as a closeted gay boy, I (David) never saw anybody who looked like me — let alone, someone who looked like me who also had a family. Thankfully, today we see so much more of this — but visibility is still so important. That’s the most important reason why I want to be completely transparent about who we are as a family + what we’ve gone through + how we’ve done it. Because there is no such thing as too much representation. And the more we normalize all types of families, the easier it will be for our kids + their kids + the generations that follow to be who they are.  ​

Q: Who inspires you as a parent? And Why? ​

A: One of the many reasons why we love social media is because of the connections it’s brought us — specifically, connections to other gay parents. These folks inspire us daily. The way that they are living their lives honestly + proudly makes us feel less alone and inspires us to do the same. Parenting is anything but easy. And yet, these people give us so much encouragement in our journey through the world + so much hope for the next generation. ​

Q: What advice do you have for other parents and parents-to-be that are now on a similar journey to yours? ​

A: Be patient. This is often a long + hard journey, and you’re going to need to measure your expectations accordingly. Have a solid support system. There are so many ups + downs, and you’re going to need people who love you who can have your back no matter what. You can’t do this alone! Take care of yourself. No matter how much positive or how much negative you experience along the way, you absolutely must practice self-care. Take a break. Breathe. See a therapist. Do something you enjoy. Don’t ignore what you need. ​

Q: What would you like people to know about your journey to parenthood? A: Whatever journey you’re going through to become a parent, it’s YOURS. Don’t let anyone take that from you. Because it’s YOURS. We opted to use an egg donor + gestational carrier to bring our baby girl into the world this fall — but that’s not the only road to parenthood. It was ours. But maybe yours will look different. And that’s okay. Do what is best for you + for your family + whatever brings you closer to getting the family you want.