The McLeod Family is one unique family full of love! Mom, Eeka, always dreamed of adopting and now she has three one of a kind kids: Eli, Evan, and Ella! Can we just talk about how cute it is that everyone in this family has an E name?? Eli has Cerebral Palsy and Evan and Ella are on the Autism Spectrum. Evan is extra fabulous as he is already so self-aware that he knows he is non-binary and loves wearing dresses. To learn more about this adorable family, please read our exclusive interview below.

Where is your family based?
We are currently located in Orange County, but plan to move out to L.A. later this year. We are excited for this move and can’t wait to be closer to friends.

Eeka, we were told that your lifelong dream was to adopt children. Why was this so important to you?
I think some people are called to do things from a very young age. I have known I wanted to adopt children since I was about five or six years old. It’s a calling that never left me, and when I was finally in a place in my life in which I was able to take the next step, I did.

What drew you to Eli, Evan, and Ella?
It wasn’t that we were drawn to one another, it’s that each of us needed the other. We were always meant to be family and whether it be in this life or the next, I know our souls will always find their way to one another.

You have earned two Master's Degrees in Professional Counseling as well as Marriage and Family Therapy. How does your education allow you to grow as a parent?
I think my education helped me grow as a person more than as a parent. As a parent, I’m flying by the seat of my pants most days because our lives come with so many unique challenges. My education is something I honestly did for me. I am the first person in my family to attain their undergraduate degree and also to complete graduate programs.

You were also a licensed foster parent. Do you have any advice for people considering welcoming children into their home through foster care?
I hung my license up about four years ago because I want to focus on my three kiddos and give them as much as I can. My advice for anyone wanting to foster would be to have a very strong support system in place. It can be a very lonely road.

Eli has Cerebral Palsy while Evan and Ella are on the Autism Spectrum. How do you find new ways to meet their unique needs and help them express their individuality?
My kids are going to express themselves no matter what. I’m just there for support so to speak. My children do not care what others think and have always expressed themselves as they so choose to. Some times are learning moments to talk about how other people might be feeling, while others are moments I can just let them run with it. My goal is to teach my neurodivergent children how to live in a neurotypical world without feeling like they have to be someone they’re not.

30%-50% of kids in foster care live with a disability, and the cost of their medical care can often deter potential parents from adopting. What advice do you have for potential parents who are concerned about adopting a disabled child?
First: medical, dental, and vision are covered for adoptive children until the age of 21. After that, social security usually steps in. As far as raising a child or children with disabilities, it just becomes second nature. I don’t really think about it most days because it’s just a part of our everyday life. As a parent, it’s instinctual to know you need to meet the needs of your child(ren). Even when I’m sick, extremely exhausted, or both, I still ensure I meet their needs because they’re like extensions of my own body. That’s the only way I can explain it.

Do you have any advice for parents on how to help their own children best express their individuality?
Just let your children figure out who they are on their own and always be there to remind them that they are loved, supported, and protected.

Your family has made a name for itself on social media, with an immense following on TikTok, Instagram, and Youtube. What inspires your content creation?
Our content is almost totally organic. It’s just us living our lives and then me creating content out of little moments I don’t want to forget. I share the moments that bring me the most joy. If other people enjoy it, that’s great! If not, that moment still meant something to me.

Your son Evan, who is non-binary, is well known on social media for his love of dresses and colorful hairstyles. When did you first notice his affinity for these things? How did you support Evan?
Probably when Evan was about two years old. I remember telling someone I thought Evan was gay because I didn’t know how to verbalize what I was seeing in him. That person’s reaction has stuck with me forever. They said, “Don’t wish that on him!” Like being gay was a bad thing. Like being “different” from the so-called norm wasn’t ok. I will never forget that response. I knew then that I would never stifle any of my children in living their most authentic lives. Evan just started wearing his sisters bows and tutus, then he asked for dolls, and eventually dressed. It was a natural progression and Evan is a happy, healthy, thriving kid. The best way I support Evan is simply by allowing Evan to be Evan. I don’t push anyone else’s agenda on him and give him the space to live his life to the fullest.

Evan also frequently appears in content with the popular TikTok House PrideHouseLA. Jejune has interviewed their members in the past as well! How did you become connected with them?
Mollee Gray reached out to us and stated that they wanted to do something special for Evan. They invited us to their home where they had created an entire rainbow wonderland. It was one of the kindest, most selfless gestures we’ve ever had the privilege of experiencing. We’ve become good friends with all of them, and are beyond thankful for their presence in our lives.

In a recent TikTok, you described the members of PrideHouse LA, Mollee Gray, Kent Boyd, and Jeka Jane, as lifelong friends. How do you all best support each other?
We’re always there to lend an ear for listening, a shoulder to cry on, or arms outstretched for a big hug. They adore my kids and are always playing with them and making them feel so special. My kids often ask for them by name because they miss them when they don’t see them.

Evan also recently met the Old Gays, and all of them were wearing a dress! How special of a moment was this for Evan?
Evan was blown away! He was in complete shock. He’s seen other children in dresses, but never grown men. I don’t think he completely knew how to react, but they were so kind to him and played with him like any other kid. Acceptance like that is priceless for a child like Evan.

Are your kids aware of their fame? How do they react to the media coverage?
My kids do not understand fame, celebrity, money, or wealth. We’ve become friends with JoJo Siwa and, for them, JoJo is someone they’ve watched on YouTube the same as us (they love watching our own vlogs). They do not know that JoJo is a celebrity. She’s the girl who sings the songs they love, wears the clothes they want to have, and they truly believe she’s just friends with everyone. They see themselves in the same way, I’d imagine. We don’t talk about numbers of followers and I’ve never used the words “fame” or “famous” with them. All of that is over their heads. Social media is something they love to do because it’s fun. They love attention (it’s a part of their autism) and think it’s so cool when they see themselves on TV or online publications.

How are you staying positive during the current wave of the pandemic and everything else going on?
Honestly, the pandemic wasn’t too rough for us. We have been able to avoid contracting COVID (thus far) and it was kind of nice to just be home together without any outside pressure to go anywhere. My only real concern was Eli’s health because he’s high risk. All we could do was take it one day at a time like everyone else and have fun making lots of TikTok videos.

What does your new normal look like?
My kids went from being almost babies to being kids during that time. So our lives went from being in theme parks all the time to school, sports and activities, and events. Life would’ve changed for us regardless of the pandemic.

What is your motto in life?
I have no motto. I’m getting through this life on a wing and a prayer like everyone else…ha!

Please list any social media platforms that you would like Jejune Magazine to promote:
IG: @TheMcLeodFamily
YouTube: The McLeod Fam
TikTok: @TheMcLeodFam

Team Credits:
Photographer: Ashly Nicole
Makeup: Erik Torppe
Hair: Bijan Kazemzadeh
Eeka’s Fashion: Rebdolls // Michele Marie PR
Kids’ Fashion: Joyfolie // Michele Marie PR

The Unique McLeod Family