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I am looking for ideas for the letter to my Dad

Started by michelleinktown, January 11, 2012, 06:02:47 PM

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michelleinktown

I am in the process of writing my Dad am email about who I am and was wondering if anybody has done this before and if so where can I get a copy of a good letter that I could take chunks out of if I need them?  I have tried to explain this as best as possible but I am still afraid he won't understand and I want him to have very little questions about this.  He is very old fashioned and has made homo or trans jokes in the past.

Michelle
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pidgeontoed

I wrote up something that I was going to send my mom to come out to her, but ended up doing it face to face. I think it turned out better that way (for me, at least). She's even going to my second therapy appointment tomorrow and agreed to help cover the cost, but she's a different case. Always been very supportive of the alphabet community as a whole.

What I tried to focus on in my letter was the things from my past that made me realize it, the trouble and pain it has caused me, and the positive things about why I feel like I need to tell her. I find that communicating things about dysphoria (if that is your case), though not fun to read or talk about it may be, draws light to the seriousness of this decision. However you put it, don't come off too lightly. Being trans, in my opinion, is the biggest decision you could make in your life, short of going all the way with transition.

I wish you the best with writing, sorry I can't be of more help. I could share what I wrote in a private message if you'd like. It's even more personal than my intro post, if that's possible so I'd rather not post it. For me, just writing it down helped me gather my thoughts for the actual face-to-face and talking about the things I wrote out loud to my therapist gave me the extra push to vocalize it. Good luck :)
"Playing things too safe is a popular way to fail... dying is another way."
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Jenny_B_Good

Quote from: michelleinktown on January 11, 2012, 06:02:47 PM
... but I am still afraid he won't understand
This is quite normal, but I fear that he'll sense a streak of weakness in you, and attack this weakness to preserve his own point of view. Cause that is what you'll be challenging. His view on genders.
Actually most people will have an issue with how they'll be perceived rather than the issue itself. ie What did I do to cause this, What will people think of me?

You don't have to buy into anyone else's paranoia if you choose not to..

Quote from: michelleinktown on January 11, 2012, 06:02:47 PM
...and I want him to have very little questions about this.

I feel you'll be setting yourself up for disaster.
  Firstly it's not fair on yourself to setup an exception that you have no control over. You can't control your Dad. He'll feel what he feels.
Secondly, I believe it's actually quite selfish of you to not expect questions. You are 'Trans' right? If so, that makes you all of about 1% of the population. Of course he's going to have questions. His life experience- as well as the other 99%- means he has nothing to go by. Help him. Help yourself.

I believe Michelle that you know exactly what to say and more importantly- how to say it. It will probably take time but you'll do it. I'm positive.
These forums are an excellent vent for problems that eventually you solve yourself.

Best wishes

Jen

OXOXOXO
-       The longest journey a human must take, is the eighteen inches from their head to their heart    -
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