The search for the magical seeds
A kid with two mommies will probably ask who his dad is. I wrote and illustrated this children’s story as the first step to explaining this.
Born from personal experience, this story aims to normalise the question the child will one day ask. Jojo and Hellientje want to have a baby together, like a daddy and a mommy. But they’re two mommies. If they want to have a baby together, they’ll need some help. This story follows their adventure as they search for the magical seeds.
Challenges
- Writing a clear and concise storyline
- Designing clearly identifiable characters
- Creating unique locations that have character
Based on a true story
The idea for this story started as a sketch on a scrap of paper. This was just after the birth of my first biological child, for whom I'm the donor. It deals with something that I had to consider before starting the whole process. Inevitably, the kid's going to be raised in a world where most kids have a mom and a dad. At some point, he'll realize in his case, it's different.
How do you explain that? What is the story you tell? And what is my part in the story?
The story, really, is simple. It tells the story of the two mommies, Jojo en Hellientje, who want to have a baby. Their angry neighbour says that they can't, because they're both mommies. But they are not discouraged by this. They go on a long quest to seek out help. After they traverse the desert, and climb the tallest mountains, they sleep under the stars. Finally, they reach Paul the Parrot, who is more than happy to help them.
The characters went through a lot of iterations. Each of them has their own unique look and character. They're easy to identify. Jojo is more courageous, while Hellientje is a bit more of a scaredy cat. Katrientje, the lady who helps them, gives off cosy grandma vibes. Paul the Parrot projects an image of confidence and determination. But is it just a façade?
But in the end, the most important thing here is the beauty of being able to help. How a small act can create such joy and life. And that's a lesson that should never be forgotten.
We should also not forget to be thankful that we live in a time and place where such a thing is possible. While this story has become a reality, or this reality has become a story, for many others it remains an impossible dream.
