When was a teenager, I did babysitting in the neighborhood for money, along with being a custodian in my church. [I was in there 2 hrs a day, 7 days a week for 6 years straight. They had a nursury school and hosted other community activities]. ]I spent a lot of time thinking, “This place needs more candles”[Methodist]. well that’s a side story.
Anyway, I was babysitting the brothers and sisters of a friend of mine – the mother was a good soul who just had to work a lot, the father hit or miss and abusing when he *was* around, and
Her name was Carla, which your name, Calla reminded me of.
One day I was playing with the 6 yr old (Christopher), and I looked up at Carla who was doing her taxes and said, “Carla, would I make a good Father?”
Without looking up she said, “No.”
She made a dramatic pause as she looked over to watch my face fall.
Then she smiled and said, “BUT, you’d make an excellent Mother.”
I’m not even gay; I just, never thought much about gender either way.