OK, I have to say something. Most of the people on this board are the nicest people I've ever done boards with (and I've been doing boards since the 'Well, back when we did them in dos) they are nice, polite, sensitive - almost to a fault - and very loving. They try to offer support in any way they can.
I've often wished those traits were mine, but, alas, they are not.
Part of what I know, though, is that many people have read this, and I'm going to try to say what a bunch of them felt, because it's what I viewed as not exactly right.
I've known people - and my life has been the much sadder for it, and, also, the stronger and better for helping the ones I could - who have been abused.
(I do not think I was ever abused, so I can only go on those I know)
They were beaten, both physically, and mentally, held down, restricted and imposed upon, they were not free to be real people. They were people who were subject to physical, mental, psychological and sexual humiliation, threats, beatings and rapes.
THAT'S, abuse.
You ain't even close to that, if its just a matter of not getting what you want for Xmas, or being called exactly and only what you want. Granted it might suck, I sure hate it when people call me "hey *sshole" instead of "dear tekla" but its only a passing (though frequent) deal.
I make up names for people. I do it all the time, I've done it all my life. Like Pet Names. Drives some people crazy. Most just live with it. In the beginning of the relationship, it's a way I created to remember their names. Often a pop culture reference is involved. So, I have a friend named "Rob" who to me is not just "Rob" but that mary tyler moore "Oh, Rooobb" and I say it just like that (and I do a damn good mary tyler moore - at least vocally, on that line). Other people, I make up a name for them. All sorts of people call me all sorts of names. In the course of a day I can be ____ (my given name - or the shortened version of it), Kat, Tink (short for tinkerbell, because of the work I do), one calls me "Doc" one calls me "Doctor Boner" (Don't ask), tekla, or some rather obscene things too. How confusing is it to know when people are talking to you? No matter what label they are using, I know they are talking to me. I guess I'm all those people, all those names. Really.
So, it ain't your favorite name, (mine's Kat) but.... so it goes.
As for little brothers not getting you a present, and you getting bent about it... that's exactly what tons and tons of little brothers are like, trans or not. I'll assume, that if he is like my little brother, he kept the money and spent it on himself.
You were that (old) person to them for a long time. Sometimes it takes a while for some people to come around. Some never do. Is a simple name worth a friendship, a family? I don't know, never had to make that choice, but I try not to get too bent out of shape either. After all, perhaps they meant "*sshole" in a good way.
'Ya never know.
