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I will tell her this week.

Started by confusedlauren, February 22, 2016, 11:02:24 AM

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confusedlauren

I have made my decision. Since that 1st appointment with my gender therapist last week, things have escalated for me. I have been crying, been happy, I have made two decisions:

  • I will go to my 2nd apointment wearing the new Gap dress I bought, leggings and light make up. I'm crazy but what the hell.
  • After the apointment (I give myself until the end of this week), I will tell my wife.

I have spent 4 days writing the 18 pages letter which I might write up like old times with pen, and not print for more impact. I cannot hide this from her anymore. In the letter, I explain everything. What's going on, why I've been cross dressing, (she knows I have, we've had sex while I wore her nightie and pantyhose/stockings a few times), what changed last year when Caitlyn Jenner came out. I told her that once I realized that I was trans, and that there was no way to get rid of it, 35 was a good enough age to come clean. It has taken me a little bit less than a year to come to terms with it... Now might be the time to transition as it is *not* going away.

To spice up the situation, she's been dealing with chronic pain for years, the kind that goes everywhere, and tells me often that I don't know how it feels like and never will be able to, that I don't support her, which is not true. I have done everything that is reasonably and humanly possible to help her, even if I disagree with the way she manages the pain after all these years. I don't agree with it, but I never block her way to get treatments (which I pay for, since she hasn't worked in years), no matter how useless I think they are. I think this is respect and support in my books.
Often, in arguments where she mentioned the unfounded criticism of my lack of help, I kept telling her: "Listen, you know maybe one day, something will happen to me, which you can't relate to nor understand, or even will refuse to understand, and then we'll see how you deal with it, if you stick around with me, for 9 years, like I have...". Well, *now is the time*. I phrased it nicely in the letter, saying that no, I'm not infallible, never claimed I was a perfect person for giving her advice she always refused to consider, now, my weakness is in the open.

Everything about my wardrobe, what I did, the signs I sent, what I think about the relationship, our kids, our life together as a family is in this letter. No ultimatum, just a letter to inform her that I will probably try to transition... It's either now or later, but it won't be never...

I will go through the outline of this letter with my therapist and if she gives me the go ahead, I will give her the letter as soon as I find the courage to do it, deadline being this next Sunday. Pain or not. I'm done with chronic pain blocking my way at every chance it gets. Even if this Sunday night was painful, with arguments about the pain, the sames ones, over and over... I have to tell her. I'm sure we're at the bottom of the pit anyway, and perhaps she has some resentment against me because she knows something is up, this might clear it up...

To add on top of this, she is pregnant, 26 weeks along. It's our third, not sure it will make any difference if she's pregnant now. I can't tell her right after the birth, and I won't be able to hold it that long. Just yesterday, at lunch, I had to excuse myself to go cry, randomly, and I'm not on HRT yet... this is impacting me too much. There is literally nothing else I can think about. Something has to change. I had given myself one year after Caithlyn came out and I realized I was trans.

If you have any last minute advice, feel free to send it my way and wish me luck...
  •  

Fara

Sounds so much like my situation it's scary.  I'm 41, and I've been going to gender therapy for about 2 months.  I've come out as trans to my wife since about two weeks into therapy.  She is 31 weeks pregnant with our second daughter.  I've known I was different for a long time, not necessarily the classic "woman trapped in a mans body" narrative, but identity issues and a long history of fantasizing about becoming a woman. 

My wife's been very supportive so far, but I'm at the point now that I need to talk to her about starting HRT, and what that entails, and how it might impact our lives.  All I can say is I am dreading it. 

My heart goes out to you and hope your letter is received well.

-GF
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confusedlauren

How does her support manifest? Are you dressing up around the house? Are you guys talking about it often?

When you came out, you didn't mention HRT? I mention it in the letter... That's the part I need to discuss with my therapist as it might be too much to digest at once...
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Fara

I dress around the house, try out makeup, paint nails, got my right ear pierced (left was already done from teen years).  We've gone out together with me en femme, to get pedicures, and run some errands.  She helps me pick out clothes, gives me makeup tips, and will kiss me with lipstick on (only if it's same color she's wearing ;P)

She has no problems with any of it, but there were some moments early on where things like wigs and breast forms kinda freaked her out, think it was just early and sudden, so I backed off of those. 

To be honest, those two things, breast forms, body padding in particular don't do anything for me but add to my dysphoria, so not a big deal for me.

When I came out to her I gave her information, links and articles about transition and HRT, I haven't sat down to discuss them in detail with her though.  Honestly, my intention at this point is to talk about HRT with her, and explain why I need it.  I will talk to her about an initial trial period of 3-4 months, to see how my body and mind react.  My daughter is due in April, so this will obviously overlap with that, she may ask me to wait to start until after that, I don't know.
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confusedlauren

Quote from: GiaFarrell on February 22, 2016, 03:22:47 PM
I dress around the house, try out makeup, paint nails, got my right ear pierced (left was already done from teen years).  We've gone out together with me en femme, to get pedicures, and run some errands.  She helps me pick out clothes, gives me makeup tips, and will kiss me with lipstick on (only if it's same color she's wearing ;P)

You're so lucky. I hope my experience will be similar. Mine knows a lot about makeup, she could have so much fun with me ;-)

Quote from: GiaFarrell on February 22, 2016, 03:22:47 PM
She has no problems with any of it, but there were some moments early on where things like wigs and breast forms kinda freaked her out, think it was just early and sudden, so I backed off of those. 

I'm not at the wig stage yet hehe. My first step would be to have my hair grow, it's pretty long already but I want longer.

Quote from: GiaFarrell on February 22, 2016, 03:22:47 PM
When I came out to her I gave her information, links and articles about transition and HRT, I haven't sat down to discuss them in detail with her though.  Honestly, my intention at this point is to talk about HRT with her, and explain why I need it.  I will talk to her about an initial trial period of 3-4 months, to see how my body and mind react.  My daughter is due in April, so this will obviously overlap with that, she may ask me to wait to start until after that, I don't know.

Thanks for the info, I hope my story goes similar to yours.
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Tasha_

I probably would have repressed until I exploded if my wife weren't so supportive!!! I truly think if it were not for her then I would never have fully admitted it to myself even. My wife was upset that I didn't tell her sooner, and has since helped me consider feelings that I didn't realize having. She will stay with me, and I with her... Forever.... Just now looking for breast forms and wigs, and re-kindled my love for jewelry, my wife loves that we have such similar taste in clothes that I can wear what she is not willing to.... And I even opened up her world to high heels.... My issues stem more form everybody outside my home. I am known as a man, and have always been slightly hyper masculine because of my insecurity and fear of being found out. My wife will see me for me, and so Will my kids (actually they all do already). But to reconcile myself with the rest of my community and family outside my home scares me so much that I would rather disappear than tell them. Hence the reason I joined this site last night, you all seem so helpful and many of you so much more experience and time dealing with this that I feel good just reading about how you have all either overcome, or are trying to overcome what I feel is my same fight. No circumstances are going to exactly the same, not feelings, but you are all strong people overcoming a confusing or painful or simply difficult step in self realization that it makes me feel like no matter what, all I really need is the support of my wife and kids.... The most important people in my life.... And I can do whatever will make me happy.

Sorry, I feel like I got off topic, but you are all awesome and I want you to know that you are such a positive influence on my well being.

I hope your wife will be understanding, as I minimized the extent of my crossdressing and my wife was pretty much the same kind of accepting as yours. If you tell her how important it is to you without using any kind of currency (I did this for you, you made me feel this way and I didn't leave... Stuff like that...) Then maybe you can keep the life you love and become the person you are, on the outside as well as on the inside.

Good luck, and I hope everything goes the best it possibly can for you!!!
  •  

confusedlauren

Quick update... Went to my gender therapist completely dressed up and with make up. A Gap dress with gray and white stripes, leggings, nice sandals with 3" heels and light make up because I'm such a noob, I can't do much more.

When she greeted me in the waiting room she told me "I almost didn't recognize you!" :-) That felt nice! Being there with MY clothes, I simply loved it! There's just no words to describe it. Two scary moments though, one where I had to walk from my car to the office, out in the open... thank god for the big sunglasses I had bought for that specific purpose! Then the whole driving part was a bit scary.

We spent the hour going over my coming out letter. It appears to be ready to go. I think it says what has to be said, and I will let the universe decide what to do with me...

Unless something catastrophic comes in my way, tonight is the night my life will change forever.
  •  

rachel_grr

Quote from: GiaFarrell on February 22, 2016, 02:38:12 PM
Sounds so much like my situation it's scary.  I'm 41, and I've been going to gender therapy for about 2 months.  I've come out as trans to my wife since about two weeks into therapy.  She is 31 weeks pregnant with our second daughter.  I've known I was different for a long time, not necessarily the classic "woman trapped in a mans body" narrative, but identity issues and a long history of fantasizing about becoming a woman. 

My wife's been very supportive so far, but I'm at the point now that I need to talk to her about starting HRT, and what that entails, and how it might impact our lives.  All I can say is I am dreading it. 

My heart goes out to you and hope your letter is received well.

-GF

Sorry I would normally PM you but I don't seem to have the reputation to do so yet. I empathize with everyone on this thread and wish them much strength. GF, I feel like I am in similar shoes as you as I never felt trapped, but there has definitely been some perturbation in terms of identity and fantasies for as long as I can remember. Do you think on this basis that a doctor would subscribe HRT to someone? I'm trying to start some therapy ASAP.
Should I be a working Toyota Corolla, or a broken down Ferrari?
  •  

Tasha_

I am glad you had such a great experience!! And to go so far on your visit in public!!! Awesome... I slowly tried out small things , but only out of town... Still the only time I wore a skirt out in public is 'cause I got locked out on a hotel balcony at 1 am with no phone.... But even only wearing heels for me with "man clothes" and making through the trip is hard... I did once receive a compliment on my shoes though...

I hope everything with goes perfectly with your wife, and that you can continue on your journey with even more support. I wish I could be as bold as you, it really is inspirational!!
  •  

confusedlauren

Update on my coming out situation, she read the later yesterday night, it took her one hour. She initially thought I wanted to leave her and avoided reading the letter for like half an hour, doing things around the house.

It took her almost 1hr to read it, she called me, her reaction was mostly positive overall. That was her first exposure to the concept of transgender. She asked plenty of questions about how I was so sure, if I wanted to just be a guy in women's clothes or more, what I'd feel in front of our friends, my parents, the kids, etc... I didn't sugar coat anything with "maybe's", the answers were as straight as possible. She told me she didn't really mind about the dressing up and nail polish, etc... only if it is in front of friends... and the classic "So, would that make me a lesbian?! I'm not a lesbian...". One of the toughest and most open conversion I've had in a very long time.

What's funny is that it got us closer together. We're cuddled like we hadn't in months, we talked about her pain and how we felt about it, etc...

I will try to gradually dress up around the house. I told her I wanted to show her the clothes I had bought for myself.

Step 1 out of a million is past me. That's quite a relief. Let's move on to step 2, whatever it is...
  •  

Tasha_

I am so happy for you!! It sounds like it went as well as possible... I like how my wife put it when I asked her about that, and she said that it makes us US.... And she love the person I am, no matter my outward appearance. Good job and good luck!!!

Tasha
  •  

Denise

That's awesome.  You took the biggest step, now it's a lot of little ones with a few bigger ones thrown in for good measure.   :D
1st Person out: 16-Oct-2015
Restarted Spironolactone 26-Aug-2016
Restarted Estradiol Valerate: 02-Nov-2016
Full time: 02-Mar-2017
Breast Augmentation (Schechter): 31-Oct-2017
FFS (Walton in Chicago): 25-Sep-2018
Vaginoplasty (Schechter): 13-Dec-2018









A haiku in honor of my grandmother who loved them.
The Voices are Gone
Living Life to the Fullest
I am just Denise
  •  

confusedlauren

Thanks guys!

She's a little freaked out still... she's worried about me transitioning... she really doesn't want to be with a girl. She's still trying to understand why we can't just go to therapy and deal with it this way.

We will watch some videos together about it. And hopefully, when she comes to see my therapist, it will help things a little...

I still feel bad for her having to go through this...
  •  

Tasha_

I wonder if it would help to talk to another woman who is dealing with it.... Be sure really you don't have to reach for a specific end game... You could always make the transition together to a point where you are both comfortable. Message me if you both think it's a good idea, my wife would like to talk to someone too....
  •  

Denise

My therapist recommended a book "She's Not There" by Jennifer [Jenny] Finney Boylan.  It is told in the first person so some of the reviews on Amazon are a little harsh about being narcissistic. 
The first third of the book is a narrative about her life growing up and the thoughts/feelings she had.  At one point I had to put the book down since the tears were smearing on my glasses.  It put into beautiful words what I have been struggling with for decades.  It might help your wife understand what's in your head.

Read it first, make sure you want to share it.  You don't want your wife to feel trapped to stay if she doesn't want to.  Jenny's wife did stay in the end because of their very strong relationship.  Not relationship is that strong.

Just be prepared with tissues.  I had to stop and do something else at least three times.
1st Person out: 16-Oct-2015
Restarted Spironolactone 26-Aug-2016
Restarted Estradiol Valerate: 02-Nov-2016
Full time: 02-Mar-2017
Breast Augmentation (Schechter): 31-Oct-2017
FFS (Walton in Chicago): 25-Sep-2018
Vaginoplasty (Schechter): 13-Dec-2018









A haiku in honor of my grandmother who loved them.
The Voices are Gone
Living Life to the Fullest
I am just Denise
  •  

confusedlauren

Quote from: pj on February 24, 2016, 02:48:13 PM
My therapist recommended a book "She's Not There" by Jennifer [Jenny] Finney Boylan.  It is told in the first person so some of the reviews on Amazon are a little harsh about being narcissistic.Just be prepared with tissues.  I had to stop and do something else at least three times.

Thanks for the advice, I actually already have it on my Kindle, just haven't read it yet. I was reading My Husband Betty but it feels a bit outdated.
  •  

confusedlauren

Quote from: Tasha_ on February 24, 2016, 02:32:22 PM
I wonder if it would help to talk to another woman who is dealing with it.... Be sure really you don't have to reach for a specific end game... You could always make the transition together to a point where you are both comfortable. Message me if you both think it's a good idea, my wife would like to talk to someone too....

Thanks, we'll see how things progress. I might ping you later :)

Today's been good, we seem to be closer than before. I will take it a day at a time. Gotta let the shock settle. Appointment is set up for next week for both of us. I'm very much looking forward to it!
  •  

Colleen M

Cautiously optimistic for you.  It's a very vulnerable time for you and a very confusing time for her, and it's always good to hear somebody working toward positive results like yours. 
When in doubt, ignore the moral judgments of anybody who engages in cannibalism.
  •  

Tasha_

I still have to ask her if she is comfortable talking to someone she doesn't know... But I AM sure she wants to talk to someone who can relate... So time is our side here anyway.... But I am glad she wants to at least start trying to work through it!!
  •  

JBme

Wow, I'm jelous of how supportive alot of your wives are. I've spent my entire life having to hide being transgender. As a kid if I said anything feminine I would be beaten down (some literal some non literal). I've spent the last several years in depression over it and it has been so bad that I finally had to tell my wife because I needed help. Basically she told me that if I was to move forward or even think about transitioning that she would devorce me and I would b lucky if I ever seen my kids again. So I'm stuck but hope everything goes wonderfully for you. Best wishes.
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