#131 Nicole, Shannon and Elkie

We are the Knox-Gray family, comprising of Shannon, 35, Nicole 35 and Elkie 3.

We believe that a family contains individuals that love each other, support each other, lift each other up and bring out the best in each other. They come together as a collective to make amazing things happen. Whether they are related biologically or by blood is not important nor essential. Families will be there always and will work hard to ensure that you are the best version of yourself that you can be. Family isn’t a tangible product, it’s a feeling you have. It’s an essence of trust and love.

We had a commitment ceremony in April 2010 in front of our nearest and dearest and Elkie was born in 2013 via IVF. As is typical for most parents, we cannot imagine our lives without her in it. We have both been blessed beyond belief to not only find each other, but to fall in love and then have our own child.

We appreciate and are deeply grateful for those that worked to make this happen for our generation. We are lucky to live in a time where our lives are considered just as ‘normal’ as anyone else’s and without those paving the way before us, it would never have been a possibility. We could never repay those that risked so much for equality.

We hope for a future filled with love, acceptance, and most of all kindness. A world where equality reigns and it doesn’t matter what your age, skin colour, religion, gender, or sexual orientation is. The sun shines on us all the same. Where any child can be anything they choose to be and live a fulfilling life.

We are sharing our story in the hope that younger people who fear that they cannot find love, get ‘married’ or have their own families realise that anything they hope and dream for can become a reality. You CAN have it all, and by injecting just a little more love in the world you are making it a better place. The world is a better place because you are in it.