Site News and Information => Introductions => Topic started by: Transteenmom on May 22, 2019, 09:08:40 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Hello gang
Post by: Transteenmom on May 22, 2019, 09:08:40 AM
Post by: Transteenmom on May 22, 2019, 09:08:40 AM
Greetings from Park City, Utah,
I'm a writer and former journalist and a 51-year-old mom of a 14-year-old child who came out as trans to me and my husband two months ago. We were not surprised as our kid didn't ever seem to have a girlie bone in his body from the day he was born, though he never talked about being a boy until now. He just lived his life in a way that was basically free of gender constraints - he dressed how he wanted, played how he wanted (mostly in the dirt, with boys) had sharks and dinosaurs on his birthday cakes, went fishing with dad, tried to join Boy Scouts in 3rd grade (they said no, we were five years ahead of that policy change in Massachusetts). And on and on.
We adored having a 'tomboy' as fishing and hiking were cooler than lip gloss and fast fashion, in our opinions. But he was beginning a journey, which he did by thinking and reading and researching a lot before finally telling us he is a boy. The onset of puberty also brought him anxiety and emotional distress, and we sought input from a therapist. When he came out, he let us know he was already out at school and with friends. Since then he's come out to everyone except one grandparent, and has had a loving, extremely positive reception from everyone, including newer friends in our Utah community (we moved from MA last year to live in the mountains and be closer to skiing).
There seems to have been so much progress on understanding and embracing gender diversity jus tin the last few years that his junior high has an all-gender bathroom, and four other kids who identify as trans - with apparently no bullying or social repercussions. It's amazing what the kids are up to these days. When my son comes out to elementary schoolers (friends of his sister, etc.) they all just basically say "Cool!" and move on immediately to looking for cookies. One fifth-grader advised him that now he will need to pull chairs out for women, which is a chore. :-))
My son is very social justice and activism minded, and plans to focus on gender identity issues as he goes through school and plans his future. He's looking forward to his first UT Pride parade next month (we've already taken our kids to Pride parades in New Orleans and Paris, but this will be his first carrying the trans flag).
Everyone is on board with his identity - family, friends, school, community - and we realize it will be a challenging road at times, but it's going to be a beautiful thing seeing what he accomplishes from a position of safety and support!
I'm a writer and former journalist and a 51-year-old mom of a 14-year-old child who came out as trans to me and my husband two months ago. We were not surprised as our kid didn't ever seem to have a girlie bone in his body from the day he was born, though he never talked about being a boy until now. He just lived his life in a way that was basically free of gender constraints - he dressed how he wanted, played how he wanted (mostly in the dirt, with boys) had sharks and dinosaurs on his birthday cakes, went fishing with dad, tried to join Boy Scouts in 3rd grade (they said no, we were five years ahead of that policy change in Massachusetts). And on and on.
We adored having a 'tomboy' as fishing and hiking were cooler than lip gloss and fast fashion, in our opinions. But he was beginning a journey, which he did by thinking and reading and researching a lot before finally telling us he is a boy. The onset of puberty also brought him anxiety and emotional distress, and we sought input from a therapist. When he came out, he let us know he was already out at school and with friends. Since then he's come out to everyone except one grandparent, and has had a loving, extremely positive reception from everyone, including newer friends in our Utah community (we moved from MA last year to live in the mountains and be closer to skiing).
There seems to have been so much progress on understanding and embracing gender diversity jus tin the last few years that his junior high has an all-gender bathroom, and four other kids who identify as trans - with apparently no bullying or social repercussions. It's amazing what the kids are up to these days. When my son comes out to elementary schoolers (friends of his sister, etc.) they all just basically say "Cool!" and move on immediately to looking for cookies. One fifth-grader advised him that now he will need to pull chairs out for women, which is a chore. :-))
My son is very social justice and activism minded, and plans to focus on gender identity issues as he goes through school and plans his future. He's looking forward to his first UT Pride parade next month (we've already taken our kids to Pride parades in New Orleans and Paris, but this will be his first carrying the trans flag).
Everyone is on board with his identity - family, friends, school, community - and we realize it will be a challenging road at times, but it's going to be a beautiful thing seeing what he accomplishes from a position of safety and support!
Title: Re: Hello gang
Post by: Northern Star Girl on May 22, 2019, 09:21:16 AM
Post by: Northern Star Girl on May 22, 2019, 09:21:16 AM
@Transteenmom
Dear Transteenmom:
Per the suggestion by our lovely @V M in her Welcome Message to you in reply to your first posting yesterday I am happy to see that you came here to the Introductions Forum to tell us more about yourself so that other members will be aware of your arrival... therefore you will be able to share your thoughts with more members here.
Thank you again for joining Susan's Place and being involved in the Forums here.
Best wishes to you,
Danielle
NOTE: Now after all of this Greeting Stuff I will you have your thread back so that the exchange of conversation can continue.
Other members here will certainly be along to give you their comments and suggestions that you may be seeking
Dear Transteenmom:
Per the suggestion by our lovely @V M in her Welcome Message to you in reply to your first posting yesterday I am happy to see that you came here to the Introductions Forum to tell us more about yourself so that other members will be aware of your arrival... therefore you will be able to share your thoughts with more members here.
Thank you again for joining Susan's Place and being involved in the Forums here.
Best wishes to you,
Danielle
NOTE: Now after all of this Greeting Stuff I will you have your thread back so that the exchange of conversation can continue.
Other members here will certainly be along to give you their comments and suggestions that you may be seeking
Title: Re: Hello gang
Post by: V M on May 22, 2019, 12:20:27 PM
Post by: V M on May 22, 2019, 12:20:27 PM
Hi Transteenmom :icon_wave:
I think it's great how you support your child in his journey
Thank you for posting an Introduction and again...
Welcome to Susan's Place :)
Hugs
V M
I think it's great how you support your child in his journey
Thank you for posting an Introduction and again...
Welcome to Susan's Place :)
Hugs
V M
Title: Re: Hello gang
Post by: Bea1968 on May 22, 2019, 01:42:17 PM
Post by: Bea1968 on May 22, 2019, 01:42:17 PM
That is so awesome that you support your son like you do! Welcome to this forum. There are lots and lots of kind folk here willing to share their experiences and answer questions.
Title: Re: Hello gang
Post by: Transteenmom on May 22, 2019, 02:05:42 PM
Post by: Transteenmom on May 22, 2019, 02:05:42 PM
Thank you all, glad to have found you here!
Title: Re: Hello gang
Post by: Wendi on May 22, 2019, 02:22:04 PM
Post by: Wendi on May 22, 2019, 02:22:04 PM
You guys are awesome parents accepting him the way you have. I know he's your child but as I'm sure you are aware not all parents are as supportive.
And I give him tons of credit for coming out now while he's young and can live his life as he looks. He won't have to go through the misery many of us have had to endure because we waited.
Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
And I give him tons of credit for coming out now while he's young and can live his life as he looks. He won't have to go through the misery many of us have had to endure because we waited.
Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk