I already knew they weren't going to take it badly as they are quite liberal, the kind of parents who wouldn't bat an eyelash if I told them something like "I'm gay". Of course this was a little more out there. It was still the most scared I've ever been in my life, the conversation I had so carefully planned just flew out the window and I was left rambling on for some time before just blurting it out. How some of you have managed to do it in less supportive environments I'll never know.
They were really surprised, but this was reasonable as I never showed any signs before puberty and kept it carefully hidden ever since. My guilty pleasures consisted mainly in always using the toilet stalls and creating female characters in video games
They are supportive of me getting HRT although are very worried about me facing harassment and employment difficulties (though I am very worried about this too)
They accept what I am of course although they don't really understand it (it also doesn't help that I am terrible at explaining it). My mother seems to have more issues with the fact that I don't have a very "feminine" personality. It is true that I'm neither stereotypically manly nor feminine but I explained to her that you don't have to be "feminine" to be a woman. She was also surprised that I'm attracted to women even though I'm a trans woman.
My father at first seemed not to understand why I would prefer to transition even if I ended up really ugly or non passing. I think I explained to him that I would prefer to be the ugliest woman in the world rather than the world's most handsome man. The other thing he has an issue with I find much more difficult to explain. Neither of us really believes in gender roles so he doesn't really understand what difference there could be to me between being a man or a woman, seeing also as I have no desire to adopt any interests beside those I already have, except dressing in women's clothes. I tried to explain to him that it wasn't like a gender role thing but that rather something in my brain just kind of rejected my body, that it felt wrong. But I don't think I did a very good job of it since in a way I don't even understand it myself. Right now I don't think he can really understand how it is different in nature from a normal problem with your body image.
I haven't asked them to start using female pronouns with me even in private, as I know they'd do it but also that they won't really see me that way until I look physically more feminine.
