I'm looking for a little feedback on an idea I have. I love my family, friends, and neighbors so much for their unquestioning support, but they're still struggling with pronouns (though they mostly have the name right). Some time after my name change, I plan to have a party to celebrate and thank them all, and I thought of a little ritual that I'm wondering will help.
I'll have a bonfire in the backyard, and pass out a pen and two blank post-it notes to each person. I'll ask them to take one note and write my old name, and "He, Him, His" on it. Maybe "Sir, Mr., Dude", too. Then take the other note and write my new name, and "She, Her, Hers" on that one. Possibly "Mrs., Ms., Chickie Babe" or something similarly silly, too.
Then I'll ask them to hold up and read the old one, crumple it up, and throw it in the fire - and put the new one in their pocket. Later when they get home and take it out of their pocket, it'll be a reminder. Maybe they'll leave it on their dresser or counter and get their memory refreshed occasionally. Or they may do what I'm usually guilty of, which is leave it in the pocket and launder the clothes. That's why, despite hating to reinforce stereotypes, I'm thinking about blue and pink notes. At least when they pull a crumpled, unreadable piece of pink paper out of their pocket, they may remember what it represents.
Anyway, is that too much to ask them to do, and do you think it would help?
Steph
