How did you meet each other?
BJ: We were both out one night and happened to be sitting next to each other. We had the same shoes on and Frank started chatting me up!
Frankie: I was out with a friend having dinner on church street on a beautiful spring evening. We were sitting on the patio and I noticed this very hot guy next to me. Lucky for me we had on the same shoes, which gave me a great opening line.
Tell us the Coles notes version of your birth story
B: After I signed my contract with the school board, Frank pretty much started the process! It was an emotional rollercoaster, but we met the most amazing woman named Kathy who carried our son, Milo.
F: After about five years of asking BJ if he was ready to start a family yet he finally said yes around Christmas 2012. We has spent the last five years reinventing ourselves. We both went back to school to become teachers and once we both got full time jobs with the board BJ finally agreed! I jumped in very quickly, found an agent, was very active on surrogacy websites and we had found an egg donour within a few months and a surrogate 6a few months later. We were pregnant by October 2013! It was a whirlwind. Looking back we had a pretty easy journey.
Your birth photo is deeply heartfelt and touching. What does that photo mean to you?
B: This photo means everything to us. It was a moment captured by fluke that we will forever look back on and feel all the feels just like the day we met our little man Milo!
F: We get asked this all the time, and it’s so hard to answer. Means so much to me! It’s the most amazing day of my life. The day my dreams came true. I NEVER imagined that I would ever be a father, raising a child with my husband! As you can see in my face in that photo, I was feeling overwhelmed.
Did you anticipate it would be shared so much and resonate with so many people?
B: We never thought our photo would be shared around the world as much as it did. We are truly humbled and honoured that our photo resonated with so many people. No matter what orientation you identify as, the moment you meet your child the first time is absolutely incredible.
F: We didn’t even anticipate the photo shared with more people than our family. I feel honoured and humbled that a photo of my family has brought acceptance and happiness to so many others. There is pure love in that picture and like we always say Family is About Love!
Did you always want to become fathers?
B: I never thought being a dad was ever in my cards. I accepted it that I wouldn’t but after meeting Frankie my views changed and look at us now!! There is nothing I would change in this world for being a dad! It’s the most rewarding role ever!
F: I always knew I wanted kids, I just never knew how that would happen. After going to rehab my third and final time over ten years ago, I decided it was time to make my dream of being a dad a reality. I met BJ six months out of rehab and pretty much told him on our first date I wanted to be a dad. He was still unsure however. It is the best thing I have ever done! Milo brings so much joy to our lives every day.
What were you most afraid of about becoming a parent?
B: The thing I was most afraid of about becoming a parent was to be a good one. Life is all about Milo, and I don’t think I was mentally ready that I was directly responsible to take care of another human being!!
F: I was worried a lot about having a little boy. I didn’t always have the best relationship with my father growing up and didn’t want that to happen with Milo. I worry about history repeating itself!
What is the most rewarding thing about being a parent?
B: The most rewarding thing about being a parent is watching your child grow and learn. Seeing how independent he is and how is personality is getting bigger and bigger!
F: Watching Milo becoming the kind, gentle, compassionate, smart, and loving little boy we are trying to raise him to be!
What’s your favourite thing to do to unwind or do in free time?
B: I enjoy going to the gym. It’s my “me” time and I get to relieve stress, and work on my dad bod at the same time! It’s a win-win!
F: I’m a homebody, and like to sit and listen to music or watch a good movie.
What is your favourite choice of drink?
B: I really like a good strong Negroni or vodka/soda. Ok anything alcohol!
F: I like a strong Cosmopolitan! I am still so 1999!!
What do you do for work?
B: I am a high school cooking teacher.
F: I am currently teaching Adults Information Technology.
BJ, do you do the cooking then at home?
B: Ha! Actually no! Frank does most of the cooking. He apparently doesn’t like mine!!
F: BJ makes lunches (that all I let him make), I make dinners. BJ thinks he knows how to make everything and refuses to read recipes. Drives me crazy 🙂
Who is the strict one in the house?
B: Frank is totally the strict one! I am such a pushover. Milo will ask for chocolate for breakfast and how can I say no to that cute little face!! Lol
F: I am definitely the strict one. I have become my mother, how does that happen? I think rules and structure are good for Milo, someone has to be bad cop!
What is something you like to do as a family?
B: As a family, we enjoy travelling together. But one of my favourite things to do is all of us sit on the couch, a big bowl of popcorn and watch a movie together!
F: We love to travel together as a family. BJ and I want to see the world with Milo by our side.
How would you describe your parenting style?
B: I would describe my parenting style as way too relaxed! Lol
F: My mother calls our parenting style as “Laissez Faire!”
What’s a goal you want to achieve?
B: To be an Italian sample size! Haha Just kidding!
F: To visit all five continents
Who is more addicted to their phone? Frankie or BJ?
B: Totally Frankie
F: Totally BJ
Who does more housework?
B: Totally me.
F: Totally BJ!
What would be your ideal way to spend the weekend?
B: In the winter staying inside and watching movies, and the summer being outside doing yard work and cleaning up!
F: We he said, but replace the cleaning with a walk on the beach.
Boxers or briefs?
B: Ummmm…neither! Lol
F: Briefs all the way!
What would you do if you won the lottery?
B: Pay off debts, donate some, invest some and travel the world!
F: I would put away money for Milo, build my dream home, send my parents on a trip of a lifetime and buy my mother the biggest diamond ring she can find, invest, and travel the world first class with my family!
If you could meet and have dinner with any person who ever lived, who would it be and why?
B: My grandpa. I just want to hear his voice and hold his hand one more time.
F: I have always been so fascinated with Liz Taylor. She was so beautiful and larger than life. She was always such a huge ally to the gay community, she spent second half of her life raising money for AIDS research and she had to most incredible love life…and all those diamonds. I mean, who wouldn’t want her at a dinner party!
But I too would like to have my grandfather there as well. I never met my mother’s father as he committed suicide before I was born. I have heard so much about him and have so many questions for him.
In three words, describe yourself.
B: Artistic, patient, loving
F: Charismatic, creative, loving
Finish this sentence with one word… “To me, family is….”
B: My everything (ok technically that’s two…)
F: Love