Community Conversation => Transitioning => Coming out of the closet => Topic started by: Hazumu on March 18, 2007, 11:45:39 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Dad finally asked...
Post by: Hazumu on March 18, 2007, 11:45:39 AM
Post by: Hazumu on March 18, 2007, 11:45:39 AM
Yesterday, while I was out with our own Terri Gene attending a local support group meeting, my new California Drivers' License finally showed up--
--addressed to Karen Jean Savage (as I knew it would.)
My father happened to collect and sort the mail, and put it in my box.
When I got home, before heading to my so-called 'Granny flat', I stopped in the main house to collect my mail. I went upstairs to show my step-mother the new license, and she said my dad had been asking questions again, but 'way more than in the past.
Today, I gathered up my laundry and went into the main house to use the machines, before taking them shopping.
Dad finally asked me what's up.
It was very anti-climactic. I explained about being diagnosed with GID and that I'm transsexual and undergoing transition. His response was on the order of, "Oh!...Okay."
Then we talked about a computer problem he was having earlier this morning as he made and ate toast and drank his coffee.
My youngest sister has been ultra concerned that dad didn't know, and has been bugging me incessantly.
I e-mailed her the following: "Subject; It Is Done, Text: Dad knows. -kjs" She carries a CrackBerry from work, so she might have read it by now.
Karen
--addressed to Karen Jean Savage (as I knew it would.)
My father happened to collect and sort the mail, and put it in my box.
When I got home, before heading to my so-called 'Granny flat', I stopped in the main house to collect my mail. I went upstairs to show my step-mother the new license, and she said my dad had been asking questions again, but 'way more than in the past.
Today, I gathered up my laundry and went into the main house to use the machines, before taking them shopping.
Dad finally asked me what's up.
It was very anti-climactic. I explained about being diagnosed with GID and that I'm transsexual and undergoing transition. His response was on the order of, "Oh!...Okay."
Then we talked about a computer problem he was having earlier this morning as he made and ate toast and drank his coffee.
My youngest sister has been ultra concerned that dad didn't know, and has been bugging me incessantly.
I e-mailed her the following: "Subject; It Is Done, Text: Dad knows. -kjs" She carries a CrackBerry from work, so she might have read it by now.
Karen
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: Gill on March 18, 2007, 11:56:20 AM
Post by: Gill on March 18, 2007, 11:56:20 AM
Hi Karen:
Glad that went well for you. Sometimes it is just the confirming of the situation is all that is needed. Though he may need the time to process this info and probably get back to you with questions. But you probably already know all this. For me what I found is when say my Mom had questions for Steph but she directed them to me, I had to tell her that's a question you should ask Steph. Perhaps your step-mom might want to keep that in mind so she isn't bombarded with all the queries.
Just my 2 cents.
g
Glad that went well for you. Sometimes it is just the confirming of the situation is all that is needed. Though he may need the time to process this info and probably get back to you with questions. But you probably already know all this. For me what I found is when say my Mom had questions for Steph but she directed them to me, I had to tell her that's a question you should ask Steph. Perhaps your step-mom might want to keep that in mind so she isn't bombarded with all the queries.
Just my 2 cents.
g
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: Suzy on March 18, 2007, 05:24:41 PM
Post by: Suzy on March 18, 2007, 05:24:41 PM
Quote from: Kiera on March 18, 2007, 12:04:05 PM
Somebody surely must'a "prepped" him already!! :icon_bunch:
Sure sounds like that's what happened. But congrats on it going so well! Gotta be a load off your mind. Great for you! (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4fxearth.net%2FphpBB2%2Fsmilies_mod%2Fupload%2F2d90b895dd45ed3cc55332ea0ccf5f2b.gif&hash=d076f736141f66c8d439b72e78a03b3a6d12e1cc)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fganjataz.com%2F01smileys%2Fimages%2Fsmileys%2FloopyBlonde-blinking.gif&hash=4545ddf8251cf9c32ae6074d56e48bc34a755857)Kristi
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: Krisstina on March 18, 2007, 05:30:49 PM
Post by: Krisstina on March 18, 2007, 05:30:49 PM
Wow how nice I think it is like Gill says he just needs a moment to process . I am very happy that this went well for you !!!!!
Kristina
Kristina
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: HelenW on March 18, 2007, 07:56:04 PM
Post by: HelenW on March 18, 2007, 07:56:04 PM
Karen,
How on earth could your dad NOT know? Well, ok, I don't know how your life is arranged but I can't imagine him not noticing something was up when he looked at you!
The best part is his nonchalance in answering you. When I have something that I think is earth shattering to say and I finally screw up enough courage to say it and the reaction is as blasé as your dad's was I usually stand there feeling very foolish and confused. I'm glad I wasn't in your shoes that day!
Congratulations, hugs & smiles!!
helen
How on earth could your dad NOT know? Well, ok, I don't know how your life is arranged but I can't imagine him not noticing something was up when he looked at you!
The best part is his nonchalance in answering you. When I have something that I think is earth shattering to say and I finally screw up enough courage to say it and the reaction is as blasé as your dad's was I usually stand there feeling very foolish and confused. I'm glad I wasn't in your shoes that day!
Congratulations, hugs & smiles!!
helen
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: cindianna_jones on March 18, 2007, 09:15:50 PM
Post by: cindianna_jones on March 18, 2007, 09:15:50 PM
It kinda sorta sounds like he wanted to know the answer before he asked. ;) Maybe he didn't want to hurt your feelings just in case he was wrong.
Cindi
Cindi
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: KarenLyn on March 18, 2007, 09:22:11 PM
Post by: KarenLyn on March 18, 2007, 09:22:11 PM
Sounds just like my family. My daughter's response was "Well duh" and my mother was almost as nonchalant. I'm glad it went well.
Karen Lyn :icon_female:
Karen Lyn :icon_female:
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: cindianna_jones on March 18, 2007, 10:24:53 PM
Post by: cindianna_jones on March 18, 2007, 10:24:53 PM
When I finally confided to my mother about being married for 15 years, she told me "you know, I might be old, but I'm not stupid". ;) She figured it out a long time ago and just played along. Bless her heart.
Cindi
Cindi
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: BeverlyAnn on March 18, 2007, 10:41:58 PM
Post by: BeverlyAnn on March 18, 2007, 10:41:58 PM
I believe it was Mark Twain who said, "When I was a child, I was appalled at my parents ignorance. When I became a man, I was amazed at how much they had learned."
Karen, I know that some parents have extreme negative reactions when coming out to them but others, as Cindi said about her marriage, figure things out and just sort of play along. As one friend of mine talks about, her father (a lifelong butcher) was highly upset when she told him she was a vegetarian but had a reaction similar to your father's when she told him she was TS. Anyway, I'm glad things went well and I hope they continue to do so.
Bev
Karen, I know that some parents have extreme negative reactions when coming out to them but others, as Cindi said about her marriage, figure things out and just sort of play along. As one friend of mine talks about, her father (a lifelong butcher) was highly upset when she told him she was a vegetarian but had a reaction similar to your father's when she told him she was TS. Anyway, I'm glad things went well and I hope they continue to do so.
Bev
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: Hazumu on March 19, 2007, 12:01:51 AM
Post by: Hazumu on March 19, 2007, 12:01:51 AM
Oops, something I take for granted about my dad but you need to be told to understand the situation:
He's legally blind. To him I'm very blurry and am in a thick London fog, He sees where my eyes are, but can't tell if they're open or closed if he's farther away than three feet.
So of course I was able to change appearance right in front of him. The one thing he really noticed, though, was me working on changing my voice -- which HE attributed to my 'coming down with a cold', or having hay-fever.
My sincere apologies -- I should have included this in the initial post.
Karen
He's legally blind. To him I'm very blurry and am in a thick London fog, He sees where my eyes are, but can't tell if they're open or closed if he's farther away than three feet.
So of course I was able to change appearance right in front of him. The one thing he really noticed, though, was me working on changing my voice -- which HE attributed to my 'coming down with a cold', or having hay-fever.
My sincere apologies -- I should have included this in the initial post.
Karen
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: tinkerbell on March 19, 2007, 12:20:40 AM
Post by: tinkerbell on March 19, 2007, 12:20:40 AM
Hi karen;
I am glad things went great for you and needless to say I love your dad's response. "oh, okay!" that's great! why can't anyone answer this way?
tink :icon_chick:
I am glad things went great for you and needless to say I love your dad's response. "oh, okay!" that's great! why can't anyone answer this way?
tink :icon_chick:
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: Dennis on March 19, 2007, 12:27:12 AM
Post by: Dennis on March 19, 2007, 12:27:12 AM
That's great Karen. Another stressor gone.
Dennis
Dennis
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: LostInTime on March 19, 2007, 06:54:27 AM
Post by: LostInTime on March 19, 2007, 06:54:27 AM
Congrats! :)
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: Rachel on March 21, 2007, 04:42:18 PM
Post by: Rachel on March 21, 2007, 04:42:18 PM
that is so cool, i hope my dad reacts similarly
Title: Re: Dad finally asked...
Post by: Mario on March 21, 2007, 08:47:11 PM
Post by: Mario on March 21, 2007, 08:47:11 PM
Still Karen you told him. :)
Marco
Marco