Real 'Modern Family': Two Gay Moms, One Gay Dad and a Whole Lot of Love

Feb. 17, 2011 — -- With two moms and two boys, the Berman-Cotlar family of Boulder, Colorado is not your typical family of four.

"My family is modern because we were created out of love and not determined by what society told us to do," said Holli Berman.

Holli Berman and Marcia Cotlar have 10-year-old twins named Jaron and Seth.

"The ingredients for a family are kindness and love, friendship and understanding," said Seth.

In real life, just like on the series "Modern Family," a gay family experiences different situations than most families, like when the twins call upstairs for their mother.

"If the wrong one answers I say, I say 'OTHER mom'," said Jaron.

"One gives me lots of candy, one doesn't," said Seth.

"It's kind of good I have two moms because one of my moms has a lot of treats, the other would never have me see candy until Halloween," said Jaron.

It took a long time for the Berman-Cotlar family to come together. More than 30 years ago, Marcia Cotlar met Frank Zwinklis in Rhode Island. But when they hit their 20's, life took them separate ways.

"It was the end of our senior year in high school. I was a short order cook and Marcia was a waitress," said Zwinklis.

Cotlar got married to another man and had a daughter. But as years went by, eventually both Zwinklis and Cotlar realized they were gay.

Fifteen years ago, Cotlar met Berman, and their relationship as a couple began.

"I feel like I found the person that has been able to help me be the person I'm supposed to be. And I can support her to be able to be who she's supposed to be," said Cotlar.

They got married in 1998, and there was one thing they immediately wanted to do – have children.

"When we were looking at having children we were looking for a donor who we wouldn't know," said Marcia.

But Zwinklis volunteered.

"Frank was there was to hold them first and he looked in their eyes and said, 'we have to figure out a schedule, I have to be here,'" said Cotlar.

So Jaron and Seth have two moms and a dad - three gay parents and a stepsister Lauren. They are one big happy family.

"They have six grandparents they have many many many cousins," said Berman.

"My family [is] like everyone else 'cause I do what every other 10-year- old in the USA does… I wake up get ready for school go to school do stuff after school…even though I have gay parents that does not affect what I do at all," said Jaron.