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Moms bring smiles at Pride parades by offering free hugs to kids who were rejected by their parents

Though free hugs might seem like a simple thing to offer, it would undoubtedly mean a lot to folks who simply want love and acceptance from their families.

Moms bring smiles at Pride parades by offering free hugs to kids who were rejected by their parents
Cover Image Source: Instagram | @jenhatmaker

Nothing can be more magically healing than mom's hugs. Though most children feel loved and accepted by their parents, their lifestyle choices as they grow up sometimes cause a rift between them. Especially in the LGBTQ+ community, many individuals are not accepted by their families. Those magical hugs from their moms and dads become a thing of the past for such folks. To not let any kid feel that way, a wholesome initiative named "Free Mom Hugs" allows moms across the country to offer free hugs at the Pride parade. Jen Hatmaker, an author, podcaster and mom of five, shared a heartwarming post on Instagram about her "Free Mom Hugs" experience and it's absolutely heartwarming

Representative Image Source: Pexels | Marcus Aurelius
Representative Image Source: Pexels | Marcus Aurelius

In August 2018, Hatmaker wrote an emotional account of how she and many other moms made an impact at the Pride parade in Austin. On behalf of her church, Hatmaker joined the "Free Mom Hugs" troop, holding placards and embracing anyone who longed for that "mom's hug." She wrote in the caption, "My beloved little church went downtown to the #AustinPrideParade and gave out Free Mom Hugs, Free Dad Hugs, Free Grana Hugs and Free Pastor Hugs like it was our paying jobs." Hatmaker described the free hugs as the kind that "a mama gives her beloved kid."


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Jen Hatmaker (@jenhatmaker)


 

This initiative worked out so well that their "arms were never empty." Hatmaker explained, "We 'happy hugged' a ton of folks, but dozens of times, I’d spot someone in the parade look our way, squint at our shirts and posters and race into our arms." The desperate yearning for their parents' embrace led several participants to delightfully run towards Hatmaker and fellow volunteer moms. "These were the dear hearts who said: 'I miss this,' 'My mom doesn’t love me anymore,' 'My Dad hasn’t spoken to me in three years,' 'Please just one more hug,'" she added. 

But it was not just about mom's hugs. Even some dads and the church pastor showed up. One may wonder what good a pastor's hug brings, but to those members of the LGBTQ+ community who grew up religious, being accepted by a religious representative makes a huge difference. "You can only imagine what 'Pastor Hugs' did to folks. So, we told them over and over that they were impossibly loved and needed and precious. And we hugged until our arms fell off. This is what we are doing here, what we are here for," Hatmaker explained. After a lot of pictures of happy faces, Hatmaker showed what it was like at the end of the parade. Covered in glitter and sweat, Hatmaker was grinning from ear to ear after making the day for many queer kids.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Free Mom Hugs (@freemomhugs)


 

The "Free Mom Hugs" initiative still is going strong and for this year's Pride, they brought smiles to many faces at parades across the country. "At Free Mom Hugs, we don’t claim to replace anyone’s mom. We simply want to be that loving presence to support you until your mom comes around. And Free Mom Hugs is full of moms who came around!" their Instagram post from the beginning of this year's Pride month reads. Being a Christian, Sara Cunningham—the founder of this initiative—initially didn't accept her son's coming out as gay. It took some spiritual searching on her part to fully embrace her son's lifestyle, reports New York Times. "There’s a mom out there like me then who needs a mom like me now," she told the publication. She now aims to warm as many queer hearts across the country as possible.

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