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Coming Out to Sons -- Feeling Like You've Betrayed Them?

Started by JaneNicole2013, December 07, 2013, 07:20:11 AM

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JaneNicole2013

Despite being divorced, I've always maintained a good relationship with my sons, now 14 and 24. However, when I think about coming out and transitioning, I worry about their reaction the most. I have two daughters (20 and 22) and I'm not so much worried about them and when I asked myself "why not?" it struck me -- I feel like I'm betraying my sons, who both look up to me as their father. Granted, I'm not the standard, "let's go shoot hoops" type of dad (although I've done that in the past) but I have enjoyed some more masculine pursuits (1st person shooters and wargames) and have always been the dad with a girlfriend or dating. But the thing is, I will still enjoy those activities after transitioning (although I have to admit that I look at some of the hardcore wargames and my eyes kind of gloss over but I think that's an age thing more than anything and anyone else here familiar with "Avalon Hill" or even "MMP" know what I mean) and will still have my current g/f.

Anyone else feel this way? Any tips/suggestions? They both watch Family Guy so I figure if anything else, Quagmire's dad might be a good segue/analogy. Also, I am not planning on doing any coming out until after the holidays when I'm hoping to bump up my HRT dosage.

Thanks!
Jane

PS. I've been thinking about approaching the moms first (the youngest has a different mother)...thoughts?
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." -- Joseph Campbell



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Tristan

i dont think you will be betraying them. after all we look up to people for what they do. and at some point all kids figure out that their parents are not invincible. its a scary day but it just helps us to love them even more for what they do and the sacrifices they made for us.
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Lauren5

I think I understand what you're trying to get at, and I feel the same way with my father. But I don't think that just being female counts as an act of betrayal. They still look up to yo as a parent, and nothing should change that.
Hey, you've reached Lauren's signature! If you have any questions, want to talk, or just need a shoulder to cry on, leave me a message, and I'll get back to you.
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Full time: 12/12/13
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JaneNicole2013

Quote from: Joules on December 07, 2013, 03:06:10 PM
I don't know what I can add to what's in the thread above.  Maybe that children, and the human condition in general, have an amazing capacity to grow and adapt.

Those are very profound words -- thanks!
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." -- Joseph Campbell



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LordKAT

...or are you betraying them by not telling. You take away the time they could be adjusting to it and enjoying the real you when you don't tell. I can see it either way being felt as betrayal when neither option is.
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Joules

Quote from: LordKAT on December 07, 2013, 06:34:50 PM
...or are you betraying them by not telling. You take away the time they could be adjusting to it and enjoying the real you when you don't tell. I can see it either way being felt as betrayal when neither option is.

^^This^^ +1.  I considered just vanishing from my sons lives, I was ashamed and afraid of telling them, I didn't want to burden them with it.  Both my therapist and my endo encouraged against that, I'm sooooo glad I listened.  So far, my coming out to them has had very positive results.  I'm not planning for no further bumps in that road, but I wouldn't expect them either.  If there are a few rough spots yet, I expect that the final tally will still be very positive.



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Felice Aislin

We just talked this evening to our sons (elementary & early middle school aged.)  My spouse has had the very same worries about "letting them down."  But I remind my spouse that they could be providing no better example to our kids than to be true to themselves and others when facing something so scary and difficult.  It may not be easy for our kids, but we will be there to help them each step of the way, and I believe and hope they can and will be better people for it. 

I have never seen someone so brave and courageously loving, as when my partner hours ago helped walk my youngest through their anxiety and fears about them transitioning, when it had to be the hardest thing in the world to face that.  My partner is not letting our kids down...they are being the best parent they could possibly be.  To have the bravery to walk your children through such emotional challenges they may face with this, is giving them the chance to grow and learn how to cope and become better people...and it takes an amazing amount of selflessness and courage to not retreat, but to do that for them...to allow them that chance and your courageous example.  Have faith in their ability to grow through their difficulties, and know you are giving them a great gift by sticking by their side no matter how hard it is on you.


As a side note, here is a link to a children's book some may find helpful.

https://dangerdot.com/faq-the-polkadot-series/press/

I was just talking with another parent about starting a list of children's books and resources that can be helpful.  I think books that talk about ideas behind the civil rights movement, on an age appropriate level, or about not fitting in, bullying, ally-ship for those who are ostracized, etc. are all powerful tools in the life of a child dealing with this. 

I also like the children's books "The Bear That Wasn't" by Frank Tashlin, and "I Like Myself" by Karen Beaumont, both with ideas about being yourself despite what others may think.

The love of my life is the most beautiful woman I've ever met, and it took extraordinary bravery for her to give me the privilege and joy of getting to know this about her
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greypeacock

All I can say is that most kids just want their parents to be there, love and support them. It may be a difficult process, or it may not be. To me the only betrayal you could do is to abandon them. By coming out and working through it, you cause ripples in the pond. Just by being yourself, you will teach a very strong lesson of acceptance to them. They will continue making positive ripples as they grow up. I think it could very well be a bonding experience.
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Felice Aislin

Quote from: greypeacock on December 09, 2013, 05:56:10 AM
All I can say is that most kids just want their parents to be there, love and support them. It may be a difficult process, or it may not be. To me the only betrayal you could do is to abandon them. By coming out and working through it, you cause ripples in the pond. Just by being yourself, you will teach a very strong lesson of acceptance to them. They will continue making positive ripples as they grow up. I think it could very well be a bonding experience.

Beautifully put.  Thank you for that.
The love of my life is the most beautiful woman I've ever met, and it took extraordinary bravery for her to give me the privilege and joy of getting to know this about her
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Carlita

Quote from: JaneNicole2013 on December 07, 2013, 07:20:11 AM
Despite being divorced, I've always maintained a good relationship with my sons, now 14 and 24. However, when I think about coming out and transitioning, I worry about their reaction the most. I have two daughters (20 and 22) and I'm not so much worried about them and when I asked myself "why not?" it struck me -- I feel like I'm betraying my sons, who both look up to me as their father. Granted, I'm not the standard, "let's go shoot hoops" type of dad (although I've done that in the past) but I have enjoyed some more masculine pursuits (1st person shooters and wargames) and have always been the dad with a girlfriend or dating. But the thing is, I will still enjoy those activities after transitioning (although I have to admit that I look at some of the hardcore wargames and my eyes kind of gloss over but I think that's an age thing more than anything and anyone else here familiar with "Avalon Hill" or even "MMP" know what I mean) and will still have my current g/f.

Anyone else feel this way? Any tips/suggestions? They both watch Family Guy so I figure if anything else, Quagmire's dad might be a good segue/analogy. Also, I am not planning on doing any coming out until after the holidays when I'm hoping to bump up my HRT dosage.

Thanks!
Jane

PS. I've been thinking about approaching the moms first (the youngest has a different mother)...thoughts?

I totally relate to this. I have a boy of 15, whom I adore, and I too have always been a proper dad to him: bantering, playing football (soccer) in the back garden and going to big games together, taking him to his hockey games, trying to encourage his school work, talking about all the stuff his Mum doesn't understand (sports, computer games, boys' stuff) ... In fact, being his dad has been by far my greatest pleasure in being a guy and probably the No.1 reason I've not transitioned until now.

But now his Mum and I are separating and once that's done I'll start transition (we agreed I wouldn't start until we were under separate roofs) ... and I'm absolutely dreading having to tell hm what's going on. My wife just can't handle the idea of me transitioning at all and his big sisters, who are in their twenties are so angry with me, one will only talk to me to let me know what a s*** I am and the other won't have any contact at all. So there's no chance anyone in the family will hall me help my son understand what's happening.

I'd love this all to be a wonderful festival of tolerance, compassion and love. But the chances of that are absolutely zero. And the thought of being parted from my son and losing his love tears me into little pieces.

BTW: After my wife outed me to my daughters, I wrote to them both, saying I had always loved tham and always would and I'd always be there for them. One told me that she had made it clear, through my mother, that she didn't want to hear anything from me. The other simply does not acknowledge my existence. I cannot begin to understand what vI have ever done to deserve to be treated like this, or how young women I raised to be tolerant and loving could behave in this way.
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Felice Aislin

This breaks my heart.  I am so sorry, Carlita.

I'm sure this is not something you haven't already thought of, but I'm going to go ahead and say these things anyway, just in case something I say might help.  Here's my thought on the how/why your daughters could react that way, only because looking at the reasons may give you a leg up on helping your son, and maybe (with much luck) eventually your daughters.  I think the reason is, they see hurt and disruption (in their mom's life, and in their own) and they don't understand gender dysphoria, and so it is easier to blame that hurt and disruption on you, than to see the root causes of it lay in both the random lot of life (like having a loved one born with MD or any other major life-impacting condition) AND (most importantly, because this is the one thing they have a chance to improve) magnified by their (and their mother's) own choices of how to respond.  In the position of being a family member, it sucks to have a loved one being treated for cancer, but your life will suck a lot more if you get angry at that loved one for the difficulties that causes everyone, and start treating them poorly, and cutting them out of your life, and placing all the blame on them.  You can tell yourself that person is ripping your family apart, but in reality it is both the cancer, and even more-so your own reaction to it, that is doing that!  The blame is a poison that you can choose to feed, or not, and it can destroy your relationships if you choose to let it, or not.  Learning and becoming educated about the condition your loved one has, and coming to recognize it is not something they are at fault for, is vital to helping you be able to deal with it well in your life.  I am the wife of someone who is transitioning, and we have children, and I can say to your family that my experience has been that it need not destroy relationships, and that if you truly have or had any love for your family member that is transitioning, then the best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to learn about and come to an understanding of this, and try to help everyone deal with it in the most positive fashion you can.  Blame and bitterness towards the transitioning family member will do you no favor, and robs everyone.

If you can point this out to your kids, let them know you recognize how difficult this is for everyone, and wish more than anything this wasn't the hand you or they were dealt, but that you are doing the best you can and will always be there for them with love, and hope they will not let bitterness and blame win out...at least they will have this idea planted in their minds that may eventually speak to them as they are grappling with their reaction to this.

I would probably write all the things out that I would like to be able to say to my son, all the thoughts that if things go badly I might not have a chance to say in the future, when I talk to them, all the "counseling" so to speak that might help him have a way to better deal with this, so at least they will have access to your thoughts in some form, that they may not be able to digest right now, but may help them in time.  Continue to have a strong, unwavering message of love, as that has the greatest chance of at some point winning out over fears, hurts, and bitterness.

It is unfair that gender dysphoria is still so not understood by so many, that people going through such h***, are treated so poorly and put in the position of having to try to be the strong & forgiving ones, for all around them.  But parental love *can* have amazingly selfless capacities, and it often is sure put to the test.

I know that it is a small consolation, but my heart is with you.
The love of my life is the most beautiful woman I've ever met, and it took extraordinary bravery for her to give me the privilege and joy of getting to know this about her
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JaneNicole2013

Quote from: Joules on December 07, 2013, 06:45:12 PM
I considered just vanishing from my sons lives, I was ashamed and afraid of telling them, I didn't want to burden them with it.

This is exactly how I feel. I still live in the same town as them (same suburb actually) and I've actually looked at out-of-town job postings, although I know that's not the right answer. At least I don't think it is...
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." -- Joseph Campbell



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JaneNicole2013

Quote from: Felice Aislin on December 09, 2013, 01:47:37 PM
I'm sure this is not something you haven't already thought of, but I'm going to go ahead and say these things anyway, just in case something I say might help.  Here's my thought on the how/why your daughters could react that way, only because looking at the reasons may give you a leg up on helping your son, and maybe (with much luck) eventually your daughters.  I think the reason is, they see hurt and disruption (in their mom's life, and in their own) and they don't understand gender dysphoria, and so it is easier to blame that hurt and disruption on you, than to see the root causes of it lay in both the random lot of life.

I was thinking about something along these lines as well...that they really aren't mad at you as much as they are the situation. I can actually see kids reacting like this in any divorce situation. The GD just gives them an easy target because it isn't understood and it's still seen as a choice. In fact, going through my own therapy, one of the most difficult aspects for me was to accept it as a condition I was born with and not some freakish perversion, which I was raised to see it as.

And Felice, thank you soooo much for posting on this thread and this site. I think it's beneficial for us to have the spouse's viewpoint.

Speaking of which, as a divorced parent, do you think I should come out to the moms first? My kids from my first marriage are 24, 22, and 20 and my youngest son, from a relationship that didn't work out, is the 14-year-old.
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." -- Joseph Campbell



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Joules

Quote from: JaneNicole2013 on December 09, 2013, 09:51:07 PM
This is exactly how I feel. I still live in the same town as them (same suburb actually) and I've actually looked at out-of-town job postings, although I know that's not the right answer. At least I don't think it is...

I got over the shame and guilt I felt initially.  I still wrestle with a few bits that are left, but it's nothing like it was when I first came out to myself.  I anticipate that my sense of self-worth will continue to rise.  I'm sure I'll continue to be self-conscious for a very long time but I'm slowly feeling OK with my status and who I will eventually be transformed into.  I live in a large city, and am fairly unknown to most of the people around me.  A movie that was a huge turning point for me was "Prodigal Sons".  The movie itself is a sort of home made documentary of sorts, but the story behind it is fascinating and inspiring.  It's on Netflix now.  Maybe watching that will help you feel better with yourself and your surroundings as well.  Kimberley Reed is inspiring!
This space for rent
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Carlita

Quote from: Felice Aislin on December 09, 2013, 01:47:37 PM
This breaks my heart.  I am so sorry, Carlita.

... In the position of being a family member, it sucks to have a loved one being treated for cancer, but your life will suck a lot more if you get angry at that loved one for the difficulties that causes everyone, and start treating them poorly, and cutting them out of your life, and placing all the blame on them.  You can tell yourself that person is ripping your family apart, but in reality it is both the cancer, and even more-so your own reaction to it, that is doing that!  The blame is a poison that you can choose to feed, or not, and it can destroy your relationships if you choose to let it, or not.  Learning and becoming educated about the condition your loved one has, and coming to recognize it is not something they are at fault for, is vital to helping you be able to deal with it well in your life.  I am the wife of someone who is transitioning, and we have children, and I can say to your family that my experience has been that it need not destroy relationships, and that if you truly have or had any love for your family member that is transitioning, then the best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to learn about and come to an understanding of this, and try to help everyone deal with it in the most positive fashion you can.  Blame and bitterness towards the transitioning family member will do you no favor, and robs everyone.

It is unfair that gender dysphoria is still so not understood by so many, that people going through such h***, are treated so poorly and put in the position of having to try to be the strong & forgiving ones, for all around them.  But parental love *can* have amazingly selfless capacities, and it often is sure put to the test.

I know that it is a small consolation, but my heart is with you.

Thank you so much for your sweet, kind words, Felice. It's funny you should mention cancer. My daughter, who is a medical student, admitted (and she knew how awful it sounded) that it would be much easier if I had cancer, because then she could tell her friends what the matter was and they would sympathise. but as it is is, she's too ashamed and embarrassed to say anything to anyone.

She hates herself for feeling that way, because it goes against all her personal and professional principles ... but she feels it, nonetheless ...
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Joules

I came across this article today:

http://www.transtherapist.com/children-in-transition/in-the-best-interest-of-the-children

The site is by Reid Vanderburgh, a well-regarded therapist, now retired, in the Portland, OR area.  Lots of other useful info there as well.
This space for rent
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JaneNicole2013

Joules, thanks for the movie tip. I watched it last night. I wish they would have focused more on her instead of her brother, but it was still a gripping story. It was very inspiring to see how her hometown accepted her and, more importantly, how she accepted herself.

Thanks, too, for posting that article. I plan to read it now.
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." -- Joseph Campbell



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Joules

Quote from: JaneNicole2013 on December 11, 2013, 09:33:32 PM
Joules, thanks for the movie tip. I watched it last night. I wish they would have focused more on her instead of her brother, but it was still a gripping story. It was very inspiring to see how her hometown accepted her and, more importantly, how she accepted herself.

Thanks, too, for posting that article. I plan to read it now.

My pleasure, glad it helped.  I've watched it several times, the story becomes clearer after a few views.  Hope the article is helpful also.
This space for rent
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Shards

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Carlita

Quote from: Joules on December 11, 2013, 08:56:30 PM
I came across this article today:

http://www.transtherapist.com/children-in-transition/in-the-best-interest-of-the-children

The site is by Reid Vanderburgh, a well-regarded therapist, now retired, in the Portland, OR area.  Lots of other useful info there as well.

That was very helpful indeed to me in accepting the realities of my situation, and my kids' too. Thanks so much for posting the link!
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