AMA about trans life from an out of the closet transmasc person! Fire away! Gonna keep this going until the 19th. #AMA #TransAwarenessWeek
@PaganMother
My 16 year old (she/they) born female has been feeling out their gender identity. As a cis mom in my early 50s, I may not understand everything, but I support that she understands how she feels. When she asked for a binder, I bought them two. When she asked for a tux instead of gown, no hesitation. She seems to be more gender fluid than trans, but not sure. Unfortunately, they got my busty genes, so sometimes she likes them, other times they annoy her (continued)
@PaganMother
(Sorry so long) What I do understand because I experienced it growing up: I was "a tomboy". Often carrying myself, acting, dressing and talking in a stereotypical male expression. I was teased for it but always just thought it was because I was punk, poor and had to fight to be safe n the street. Now I see it may have been more but I identify as a woman now. It was just easier. My questions: how do you advise I best support my kid to enable their journey find their true self?
@Aja Well, you are alright on a great start with opening the doors to listen and understand, that's the biggest and most challenging hurdle to leap honestly as a parent of a trans kid. My own family, well, I was traumatized into the closet at age 8, didn't get a chance to really know or understand my own gender identity until I was well into my mid 30's. Most of my blood relations are no contact with me due to their abuse and enabling the abusive cycle, my immediate family all are supportive./1
@PaganMother I'm so saddened that your own journey was so painful. I'm glad you were able to discover yourself despite the setbacks that were imposed on you. Parents can be so self centric. I just don't understand. Our whole job when we have kids is to enable them to be happy, healthy, strong and resilient adults. Ready then for the world. Not whatever some parents of LGBTQ kids are doing. I'm a second mom to so many of my kid's friends. I'm just glad they have someone.
@Aja Yeah, that's quite true. Some just don't know how to see themselves in their own child and try to guide them away from past parenting techniques and behaviors ingrained from their own upbringing history. You'll do alright, Aja, just be patient with yourself, and them, and take everything one step at a time.