Triple Threat

Triple Threat parenting triplets in the Capital District

Conversation creates safe space

Pride Month celebrates inclusion and equity for everyone

June is Pride Month. Last year was the first time that we went to Pride Fest as a family. Like many families, we fly a Pride flag. We want people to know our family is safe. While trying to let others know we are safe, we were threatened. I knew that flying a rainbow flag on our garage might rub some folks the wrong way. I knew that it might be stolen. The problem I didn’t foresee is a child threatening to burn our house down because we are heathens. An eighth-grader made the threat. What does a mom do? I bought two rainbow windsocks and added them to our collection.

Last year, because of the pandemic, Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca chose to postpone their B’nai Mitzvah ceremony until the end of June, which is Pride Weekend. I love our synagogue because people aren’t turned away because they identify with any part of the LGBTQ+ spectrum. I love that my kids honored themselves, family and friends by wearing rainbows. I love that my kids are allies. I love that they are growing up in a time when there are openly LGBTQ+ celebrities, musicians, people in power and people that they spend time with, and they know it’s OK to be themselves.

I am so pleased that Harlan and I are on the same page about LGBTQ+ and that we are both allies. We want our friends to know that their kids are safe here. I grew up in a family like this. All were welcome, and I know my mom fed lots of kids and gave them a place to crash if they needed one. Her rule was that they had to call home and let an adult know where they were and that they were OK. To me, that’s just the way growing up is – be there for your kids and any kid who might just need to give their parents a break.

by Jennifer Steuer

Not every kid has a safe place to sleep. Not every kid has a family where they feel safe and loved. We try so hard to make sure Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca know they are loved and cherished.

I’ve lost track of the number

The Steuer triplets are growing up in a time when there are openly LGBTQ+ celebrities, musicians, people in power and people that they spend time with, and they know it’s OK to be themselves.

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Editor’s note:

Summer is a perfect time to get reading

Summer learning doesn’t have to be a drag. The unstructured nature of an extended break from school can present a bounty of “teaching moments” that have the potential to resonate with your child even more than a classroom discussion. In fact, summer learning isn’t just something for the kids. It’s also a great season for adults of all ages to stretch their minds.

In the Capital District, we are fortunate to have an absolute ace up our sleeves here with an outstanding library system that puts a lot of effort into coming up with programs that are fun, free and will keep you reading all summer long. This summer’s theme — Oceans of Possibilities — promises to make a splash! Check with your library to see how you can get involved.

So even as our children shrug off the structure of the classroom, there is no shortage of ways to keep their brains busy and ready for a new year of learning come fall.

Check out our articles and more at www.cdfamilynow.com and mail your story ideas and pictures to Capital District Family Now, P.O. Box 100, Delmar, NY 12054, or e-mail me at robertsk@spotlightnews.com. Kristen Roberts Editor, Capital District Family Now

n Soundtrack

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For example, I’ve always enjoyed musical scores, and I’m drawn to EDM during the winter months. This genre — with its synth and computer-generated sounds — fits the outside world with its lack of warmth. And the lack of sunlight requires a need for something uptempo.

The summer, however, can involve so much more.

Nostalgia always plays a factor, but so much more often does it spin a record this time of year. We have all created soundtracks for road trips taken to the beach, or Utica — at least someone has. Genre doesn’t matter. The song just needs to sound good with the speakers dialed up as the wind rushes past your windows while you drive down the highway. And while that conjures some wonder if you know how they live in Tokyo, it doesn’t require all songs to be fast and furious. Grab a bag of Kakinotane and pay attention, Han, as I share a few tracks.

David Lee Roth, ‘Yankee Rose’ (1985)

Whether you’ve made a choice between David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar as the best frontman for Van Halen, the first release of Roth’s solo album is gold. There’s a strong argument that Roth left for a better band. He was initially flanked by guitarist Steve Vai and bassist Billy Sheehan. “Yankee Rose” exhibits Vai’s dexterity with his talking guitar. The following summer, he’d appear as the antagonist in the cult classic Ralph Macchio film “Crossroads.” In the dramatic playoff between the two dueling guitarists, Vai actually plays both parts. Sheehan was first linked with Roth when his band, Talas, toured with Van Halen. Though he later denied it, Guitar World magazine reported he was offered a spot on Van Halen at least three times over the years.

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, ‘Summertime’ (1991)

This slapping tune harkens back to when Will Smith’s celebrity arc was on the meteoric rise; sandwiched between a hit television series and soon-to-be A-list status for summer blockbuster films. Please don’t do the math on this one, but “Summertime” became an instant classic. “Just a little somethin’ to break the monotony of all the hardcore dance that has gotten to be a little bit out of control. It’s cool to dance, but what about the groove that soothes, that moves romance?” Let your Alpine blast on this one and soak it in.

From the cover

Earth, Wind & Fire, ‘September’ (1978)

You can’t have a proper cookout without Earth, Wind and Fire. The six-time Grammy Award-winning band helped define the ’70s and outperformed RSO Records darlings The Bee Gees on the ill-fated Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band soundtrack. If you want to get people up and dancing in the backyard, this should get grandma up from out of her crosshatched vinyl picnic chair. There are a handful of local bands that capture the danceable funk of this era — Hartley’s Encore, Victory Soul Orchestra and Wurliday — which only lends credence to how necessary it is for the soul. Rain, wind or shine, you won’t have a bad day at the grill with this track in your playlist.

Girl Blue, ‘Because It Moves Me’ (2017)

Arielle O’Keefe rebranded herself and hit the local stages on her own as Girl Blue in 2017. The singer/ songwriter is top tier among area acts, capturing an audience’s attention with her intimate lyrics and storytelling. “Because It Moves Me” may not garner as much attention as “Fire Under Water,” the initial release from her 2017 LP “I Am Not a Star.” Nonetheless, it’s a playful tune behind a person sharing an uneasy comfort for what lies ahead in both love and life. The baseline reminds me of Paul Simon’s 1980 hit “Late in the Evening,” another great tune charged by an upbeat horn section.

Jake Owen, ‘Beachin’ (2014)

When you’re in need of a good summer tune for your playlist, pop-country is a cold cooler to dip your hand into and pull one out. Jake Owen has his share of hits. In 2014, he followed the success of “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” with this laidback No. 1 hit. He comes off as a good guy, too. The LGBT ally dropped a cover of Cher’s “Believe” through an Instagram post in June 2019. “Some of my closest friends and coworkers, are part of the #lgbt community and I couldn’t be [happier] for the progress they have made,” he wrote. “I BELIEVE the world needs more love.” He’s welcome to the cookout.

These tracks were pulled from our curated playlist, “Summertime in the 518,” on Spotify. There are 113 songs, covering more than Find it through your Spotify account or visit spoti.fi/3wD2jhR.

The writer is the editor-at-large of Capital District Family Now.

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