Hello my name is Angela,
                                       I started cross dressing when I was about 4. This went on for most of my childhood and into my teenage years. I always new I wanted to be a girl but had to hide this from my family, due to them being Christians and having a lot to do with the church etc.
I grew up in a small rough mining town, where the in thing was to get drunk and fight each other, which I didn't want anything to do with fighting. But fight it was (lucky I'm 6 foot)or get beaten up! I decided to leave the town to find me. So I did the male things joined the Army and spent 11 years part time, still wanting to be a girl. Got married to my first wife, still wanting to be a girl, that lasted 5 years, she didn't like me cross dressing at all! So a single dad I became with my oldest son, he was 4 at the time, he is now 18. Still wanting to be a girl!
I now have a new wife but she knew about my cross dressing before we were married and is very supportive, as she love's me for me regardless of what I'm wearing. I am sooooooo lucky to have her, she is my rock! And I'm her Lesbian lover! She even will go out in public with me or any place I would like to go, again I'm soooo lucky to have such a wonderful wife!
I'm now the stay at home mum/dad for our little boy Zak who is 4 and a half months old, how lucky I am! We all need supportive people in our life and good friends, I lost most of my friends when they found out about my cross dressing, think I might have no friends in this town, not to worry I have been a loner all my life, being different will cause that! 
I cope by having projects like building a camping trailer or making art, that way I don't think about it. I would be classed as multi skilled to the max so keeping busy is no prob.
At this point in my life I don't go down the street as a girl on the outside but the girl is always there with me on the inside. I do this for my children so they don't get teased or bullied as my youngest daughter go's to school in the town, but I do love an evening outing!
At some point I will be able to go out during the day but I need to speak to my children first. My older children know but we have never spoken about me being a girl.
I hope this gives some in site to my pathway travelled so far.
Have a wonderful day 

Hugs Angela 

Welcome and Hi from Tasmania. 

Fantastic news you have an understanding wife.  It sounds like you are fitting into some sort of "really, really Butch" persona for now. 

Have a great weekend, and hope to read more posts in the future.

Karen.

Hi Angela,

Welcome to our little family. Over 9881  strong. That would be one heck of a family reunion.

Feel free to post your successes/failures, Hopes/dreams.  Ask questions and seek answers. Give and receive advice.

But remember we are family here, your family now. And it is always nice to have another sister.

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Janet 

Thank you for the kind welcome!

For me to put this info on the net about myself is a major step forward. Seeing I have only spoken to my wife about how I feel.

I have always dreamed about being a girl, even as a child I knew I was in the wrong body and the other kids new something was different about me, so growing up I would say that I had no close friends that I could speak to.
By bottling up my feelings I have become confused, angry, depressed and in general sad over the years. I have never sorted professional help, as I find that putting on make-up and some very pretty clothes makes all that depression and anger go away. But still I should investigate some professional help.
It makes me excited to let the real me out! I FEEL like the real me has been released and I can be who I really am------ and that's Angela!!!
I am a strong girl by nature and have the ability to deal with my depression with no meds, as they all upset my stomach.
I have always know that I was a girl and have admitted this to myself for many years, this is the starting point for us all, admitting to ourselves that we are Transgender people. I am Transgender MTF.
This does not make us bad people, just people born as the wrong sex!
So now lay a long journey of more discovery, of who I am and the discovery of new friends. I look forward to this road of discovery, and having the support of my wife is a major help to, but having other girls to talk to, that have gone through similar situations is also a major help to me! I look forward to talking to you all and listening to your advise on issues that may/will arise.

For today is Sunday 27/1/13 @ 11:15am, I real nice day to be had, clear sky, sun is out, no rain. Regardless of my depression I will have a great day, I will be the woman that I know I am.

Cause I am ANGELA!!!!!!

Hugs Angela.

Welcome from sunny southern California, Angela!

Hi Angela ,

Another big Aussie welcome to Susan's family. It's good of you to drop in and say "Hi". Hope you like it here, and you stay for a while.

There is a mountain of information, resources and friendship waiting for you here, you just need to jump in start talking and ask any question you like. You're quite safe here and we are very accepting.

I'm glad you have found a place to be at some joy in the recognition of your true self. That's the important bit. Thank you for sharing this important part of your life with us.

Looking forward to hearing more of your story in time to come, but in the meantime, be safe, well and happy.

Lotsa huggs
Catherine