Chelsea Austin Montgomery-Duban Wächter - Inexplicably Me: A Story of Labels, Worthiness, and Refusing to Be Boxed In

Inexplicably Me

A Story of Labels, Worthiness, and Refusing to Be Boxed In

Chelsea Austin Montgomery-Duban Wchter

Chelsea has inspired us for years as a child of same-sex parents navigating her life with grace, love, and humility. She now brings to paper her inspiring story giving insight into finding your worth and path in life with humor and love. You will be inspired by her words and moved by her heart. We are so grateful that now so many will be able to benefit from her journey, especially our little one.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Emmy Awardnominated actor, and Justin Mikita, Tony Awardwinning producer

Ive have had the privilege of watching Chelsea grow from a thoughtful young woman into a dynamic advocate. In her book, she gives you a glimpse of her world and how growing up with two gay dads, not only molded who she was, but gave her a base of unconditional love to carry her through her life. Of course, in Inexplicably Me she has chosen to inspire and encourage everyone to find their worth and their purpose, doing this while using her own story, with touching vulnerability, to ignite each readers sense of possibility.

Joe Solomonese, CEO of the Democratic National Convention 2020, and former president of the Human Rights Campaign

Having known the wonderful Chelsea and her dads since she was a toddler it comes as no surprise that she has written an incredible piece about growing up as the daughter of gay dads. Her new book tells of her journey and how that inspired her to seek out, give back, and pursue worthiness at every level. With her charming style, warm wit, and incredible openness she gives you the tools you need to navigate this world with a strong sense of worth, gratitude, and purpose. Chelsea is a gem and her new book is a gold mine!

Ed Harris and Amy Madigan, Academy Awardnominated actors

For Dad, Daddy, and Domi, because we never can put into words just how much we love each other.

We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to a cork board like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through and away she flew.

Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl

I sat crying in my car this morning. They were happy tears, and this is definitely not out of the ordinary for me. I was thinking of how, if I could make one wish for all humans on this planet, I would wish that every single day we all woke up with the courage to define ourselves regardless of who the world tells us to be.

I will never deny that the blessings and privilege I have benefitted from have given me an advantage, a huge one. I have always felt I was loved and wanted immeasurably, and my parents have always reminded me of that. The world was always my oyster. And in this beautiful bubble, I grew up thinking all kids thought as I did, believing they could do anything they set their minds to. I thought their parents must have also told them that anything is possible.

If every little kid had an angel who would love them as much as my parents loved me, then every one of us would believe there is room for everyone on the planet to have it all. Maybe we would be less competitive and more loving with each other. I may not have known how to express it as a little tyke, but as I got older, I realized the necessity of spreading the gospel of tolerance, which I believe starts with self-acceptance. Even if your parents did not teach you to love yourself like mine did, you can come to know that the worlds love is unlimited, not divisible like pieces of pie.

I have come to realize over my twenty-seven years on this planet that there is a common factor among people who are achieving their dreams. Those who are able to find their purpose with inner peace refuse to let the world define them. They refuse to believe that they should be labeled by how they were raised, or where they were born, or their gender identity, race, religion, socioeconomic status, level of ability, or sexual orientation. Those who have chosen to find joy have looked at their surroundings and decided those surroundings are not limitations, or definitions, but springboards. Those who believe they can, can check step one off their list.

Just remember this:

• We define our worth.
• We approve of ourselves.
• We choose what we identify as.
• We are allowed to start over any time.
• Dont look out, look in.
• Expect the best.
• Breathe when things get tough.
• Love immensely and deeplyyourself and others.
• Have a vast amount of gratitude.
• Trust yourself.
• Laugh at yourself.
• Love.
• Take some deep breaths.
• Believe in yourself.

Okay, enough of this for now. Lets get to how I came to be who I am.

The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.

Mark Twain

T he story of how I came to be lands me in an incredibly stable household as an only child with two adoring and doting fathers. My dads had been together for eleven years when they decided to have me, so they were already seasoned vets in the long-term relationship department. Like many romantic comedies, they met on a blind date. It is a long and complicated story in which my dads old roommate, Phoebe, and my dads brother compete for being the reason Dad and Daddy got together.

By the way, I still call my parents Dad and Daddy. Dont you still call your parents Mom and Dad? I thought so

I do often find myself explaining to strangers that, yes, I know it is strange that at twenty-seven I call one of my fathers Daddy, but there are two dads involved here. I call one Dad and the other Daddy; those are their names and that is the way it will be until the end of time.

It does get exhausting sometimes.

But before I get ahead of myself, let me set the stage. The beaches of Malibu, California, are where my story begins. My hometown. No, I am not kidding, and yes, it is paradise. I am blessed and beyond grateful to have grown up there. I did not really realize the whole paradise aspect of it until I spent four years away in Pennsylvania shoveling snow until my hands felt like they were going to fall off.

I have to say Malibu is one of the weirdest places in the world. It is a large tourist trap created by a fascination with fame. People come to see celebrities, and most of the stars they want to see do not even live here anymore. It is a gorgeous place, but most of our beaches do not even have toilets or trash cans, and I am sorry but you cant tell me that you can sit on a beach all day without going number one or number two at some point.

The summer can become insufferable with the heat and the traffic, and all of the people who actually live in Malibu run to Los Angeles International Airport and fly to any location not on the coast of California. And to be honest, who cares where we go?

I lived in a bubble for most of my life. I was raised in a place where everyone thought being gay was cool. I was also incredibly specialI was the only kid I knew with two gay dads where the kid was not from another marriage or adopted. I was a true test-tube baby (cue gasps and villagers with their pitchforks). I was conceived on a glorious day at UCLA hospital way back in 1992. Dad even got to see me in a Petri dish of four cells, and I am pretty sure he looks at me now the same way he looked at the Petri dish on that day: full of hope, joy, and wonder. I kind of wish I had been there to see his face.