A warm hello to everyone. New here. Jersey Amethyst.

[J. Amethyst]

   Hello everyone!

I'm brand new here.  My name is Jersey Amethyst, I'm 43 from Minnesota and hate cold weather Haha!!
I've known im different since around 10 years of age but never really really experimented until maybe 6 years ago.  Still im id say a stealth trans. Woman. I have a wife who knows and is very supportive, actually been a great help considering her background as a cosmetologist.  Other than her only a handful of people know my secret. One being my 13 year old daughter who i broke it to, then we both dressed as sexy gypsies this past Halloween. It felt pretty amazing letting her in on it and her in turn loving it and loving the fact she got to do my makeup! I have 3 other daughters ages 19, 14, and 12. The 19 year old knows but says nothing about it, she found a picture on mom's phone one day.  The other 2 girls are my biological daughters and be it very disappointing to me they were sent pictures of me dressed by my ex gf of 8 years sometime this year i think.  They have said nothing to me about it and i haven't too them. I only know because they told my wife they know dada secret.  Im guessing its my ex's way at getting revenge on me because i wouldn't marry her but when i did find Mrs right , i did marry her and she's currently my wife now.  I lost a lot of faith in people finding out that someone could promise to always keep your secret safe could so easily expose a person but always claim to be a lbgt supporter.  I haven't let it get me down tho. I'll continue to press forward, slow as it may be. I also have one son age 8 who saw me Halloween but doesn't know the full extent.  All he could keep saying is dad your wearing pantyhose! Lmao you've got to love a child's authenticity and openness.
I've worked in a factory for 25 years and that feels like it will be my hardest obstacle.
I'm here to learn, listen, share and hopefully make some new friends.
Thank you Susan and thank you to everyone sharing their support on this site.
Jersey Amethyst

[Northern Star Girl]

@J. Amethyst
Dear Jersey Amethyst:
    Thank you for coming to the Forums.
    I am most pleased that you had decided to join the Susan's Place site.

    Please allow me to officially welcome you here.
    Thank you for writing your first postings.... as you get more involved in exchanging comments on various posts other members will be along to offer their thoughts and comments in response to any of your specific questions and concerns..

    This is the right place for you to be to find out what others may have to say that may have been in your circumstances and with your questions and concerns.
    There are a lot of members here that will be able to identify with your situation as you continue to feel free to share it.

    I also want to warmly WELCOME you to Susan's Place. 
You will find this a safe and friendly place to share with others and to read about others similar trials, tribulations, and successes.

    As you are certainly aware you can share with others and involve yourself with some give and take with other like-minded members.  When frustrated or if you have successes you can share it here if you wish and receive support from others and offer support to others. ....
     ***It's a very good chance that you might find that you will make some new friends here. 

    Please come in and continue to be involved at your own pace.
   
    There is information and important LINKS that I have included below.   You will find information about the site that will help you navigate around and best utilize the features here.   
Please look closely at the LINKS in RED, answers are there to many questions that new members ask.

Again, Welcome to Susan's Place.
Danielle

Here are some links to the site rules and stuff that all new members should be familiar with:
 

Things that you should read

Site Terms of Service & Rules to Live By	Standard Terms & Definitions	Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar)	Cautionary Note
Reputation rules	News posting & quoting guidelines	Photo, avatars, & signature images policy	Membership Agreement

[Susan Baum]

Welcome to Susan's, Jersey Amethyst.

I was a long-time CD who told my intended bride about my "hobby" almost 45 years ago; she was intrigued and wanted to meet my "other self" as soon as possible. The next day she met the "real" me and named me Susan. Since I was an inveterate CD, my offspring were equally used to and comfortable with me in both my comfortable and guy clothes from day one. When our daughter was about 12, my bride realized that "just" dressing didn't seem to be enough and started the ball rolling by finding and taking me to a good counselor - so started my transition journey. My bride (now passed) was a saint - can you imagine her comforting two girls through puberty at the same time? 

Whatever path you choose to follow, your children will adapt.

I suggest you visit here often and read as many posts as you can. You are among friends here and a fair number will have backgrounds and stories that will sound very familiar. Don't be afraid to write if you have something to contribute or a question to ask.

I see Danielle has passed on her "official" hello with a load of helpful links and house rules...

Welcome! home.

Susan

[V M]

Hi Jersey Amethyst 

Welcome to Susan's Place    Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

Hugs

V M

[J. Amethyst]

Awe, thank you all for the nice welcoming. Even just getting here i feel I'm going to be among not only new friends but new family.  I'm just looking around and going to check those links posted by  Alaskan Danielle.  Hello to you Susan and V M.

[Linde]

@ Jersey Amethyst.
Welcome here in the forum!  The first thing you have to do is to get out of Minnesnowta!
Until early last year I live just at the border with Wisconsin (I 94) and decided to take a hike to SW Florida.  It will be 64 here later this week, and people are concerned how they can survive this extremely low temperature (it was 83 today).  They are wearing down coats as soon as the temps go below 70!

Anyway, I hope you will find a way to transition and still live a happy life.  For the next 6 months or so you can dress up anyway you want, because who would know if you are male or female underneath all that down clothing?

[Susan R]

Hi there Jersey Amethyst, I empathize with you on what your ex did to you with your children.  That's so hurtful but I can tell your resilient.  There are always people that will let us down. It's sort of par for the course.
When my current wife (then fiancé) and I first moved in together with our 3 girls, I had come into the relationship after just purging everything female I owned.  I only kept my favorite cotton jockey bikini underwear (ladies).  It looked just like the men's except the tiny "Jockey for Her" label and size 7 instead of 34-36 waist.  The girls decided to do our laundry for us one day. They knew these panties weren't their mom's so they confronted her.  They asked why I had a dozen pairs of ladies panties.  My fiancé, at that time, knew nothing about my CD. She actually covered for me the best she could and made up a silly excuse.  The girls really didn't buy it but have never treated me bad or held it against me.  We have all always been very close.  I will be coming out to them soon but it goes to show you that kids can be very empathetic and understanding too.  It's easy to underestimate kids in these situations.
I do hope it all works out for you and your family.  I bet in time you'll look back and wonder what was all the worry about.

Wishing you the best,
Susan R🌷

[J. Amethyst]

I'm with you on the idk how i handle the Minnesota cold! It sucks! I been here my whole life and it feels like it gets worse every year!
Kids are much more open minded these days. My daughter about had a heart attack when i showed her then let her use my urban decay collection on Halloween. She's also covered for me a few times to her brother which made me smile.  She's gonna flip when i show her my 200+ dress collection and my almost 100 pairs of platform heels!! Haha.

Everyone here is so nice,i really like it here.

[Linde]

Everyone here is so nice,i really like it here.

Everyone here is really working hard to be Minnesota Nice!

[J. Amethyst]

Sometimes i think Minnesota nice isn't all that nice but there's rude people really everywhere.  There is such s thing as Minnesota nice tho.  I try to treat everyone like how id like to be treated. I think sometimes people get wound up over things that have no effect on them and that's what ive never understood.

[Susan Baum]

She's gonna flip when i show her my 200+ dress collection and my almost 100 pairs of platform heels!! Haha.

Everyone here is so nice,i really like it here.

Now that is what I call a Wardrobe!

Susan

[Linde]

Now that is what I call a Wardrobe!

Susan

She did not tell us that most of the shoes are different versions of snow boots or Sorrel pack boots, and that most of the dresses are quilted or down filled!
I lived up there for over 40 years, I know the local dress code! 

[J. Amethyst]

Haha the dresses are mostly snow pants and the heels more like snow shoes! I'm only kidding but really up here that could be the case.  We just got a couple inches of snow today and i hate it! Ugh! When is global warming going to take place.  Lol

[Linde]

Haha the dresses are mostly snow pants and the heels more like snow shoes! I'm only kidding but really up here that could be the case.  We just got a couple inches of snow today and i hate it! Ugh! When is global warming going to take place.  Lol

Do it like I did, move!  I lived for 40 + years in North west Wisconsin, and now I live in South West Florida, at the Gulf of Mexico in the never ending summer.  It was 85 today!  Shorts and t-shirt weather all year round!

[KimOct]

Hi Jersey,  Welcome, I live in MN also.  From reading your introduction I understand that you are not currently living full time and only out on a very limited basis.  Hey, this is a journey for all of us and who knows where your path will lead.

I don't know if you are in the Twin Cities or somewhere out-state but I can provide you a lot of different resources in the area, everything from therapists to support groups to social groups.  I did my therapy and surgery at the U of M but if that is too far in this journey to even think about I have some great early options for you to explore.

Regardless of where you are on the gender spectrum I may be able to provide you some great local info if it could be of some use to you.  If so let me know.
Kim

[Linde]

  I did my therapy and surgery at the U of M but if that is too far in this journey to even think about I have some great early options for you to explore.

Regardless of where you are on the gender spectrum I may be able to provide you some great local info if it could be of some use to you.  If so let me know.
Kim

How was your surgery at the UoM?  I am thinking of moving in with my son for a few weeks (he lives in Hastings), and have my stuff done either at the U or at the Mayo in Rochester.  I was a Mayo patient for the last 30 or so years, and know that i can trust them.