Someone at my daughter's high school that had no business knowing about me, found out about me and proceeded to tell EVERYBODY. My daughter is now in total meltdown mode over it. I have no idea how to handle this situation. It's not like it can be taken back. Any suggestions?
This will blow over at some point but it may be a rough ride until it does. I assume she wishes to remain in the same school so education and support are your tools. Possibly having a adult or teacher around her for a while to control the conversation or putting on some sort of presentation. It would be best to talk with the school as they may already have a support system for transgender children that could be put into place for this case. Most important is to talk with you daughter after she has had time to cool down and ask her what would help her feel comfortable with this.
She finally calmed down a bit. It's someone in her circle of friends that spread the news, so it's tough for her to avoid it. I did relay your suggestions to her and she said she wants to try to wait it out, so we'll keep those suggestions on the back burner for now. She's hoping, as are we, that things will blow over by the time the school year restarts next month. She's really worried about bullying. She says she knows other kids in the same situation as her and they're bulled relentlessly.
If there is a problem with bullying the school should be informed about this because it's time they addressed the kids who are behind the bullying. I was the target of some of it when I was younger but they didn't expect what would happened when they bullied me. I had younger brother and sister who "trained" me to fight back. This is something that bullies don't expect BUT it shouldn't be necessary to do so if the school is targeting the kids who are causing the problem. Bullies depend on a climate of fear to maintain control and if they lose that, they will look for another target or stop.
Also, I was not targeted because I was transgender as I wasn't out. I was targeted because I wasn't athletic. I was 6'2", 140 pound and was a nerd. A very ripe target for a bully.
After completing and wining my second fight in high school, I noticed my teacher had viewed the very end of it. He reported it to the principle and I was called in for an interview. It drove me to the point of tear explaining what happened but I was believed and that was the last I heard of it.
Sadly, reacting to it adds fuel to the fire so best to let it blow over and just be there for your daughter is about all you can do at this point. Hugs
Mariah
If it comes to it, you can always have her go to a different school perhaps?
My sister did this due to stress from bullying and far as I know it wasn't a difficult process, and she was happier in a different school.
We would consider a different school if necessary, but she lives with her father and none of us can afford to send her to private school, so about the only option she'd have would be to move switch the custody and have her live with us since we're in a different district.