So a few weeks ago I came out to my mother via written letter, and she has spoken to me about it the next day, however I feel like she doesn't fully understand what it means to be TG, and I want to get more in-depth with the topic and help to really get to explain it to her. Any suggestions about what to do? I've been really meaning to but there's just been something inside of me stopping me before I bring up the topic, and I really need help. Any suggestions?

Hello Pasty,

I'm experiencing something similar with my husband. I know it's a different situation, but probably there are some similarities.

Are you already seeing a therapist? If not, maybe this would be a good way of bringing up the topic again - tell your mother you would like to see one and why. Hopefully, this could help opening the topic up again.

Also, have you asked her if she has questions, or given her some material to read? I like Sam Killerman's book on gender, for example (it's a free ebook). It's a gender 101 which also talks about trans extensively.

Have you thought about what it is that you want or need from your mother at the moment? Maybe you could tell her - chances are she is uncertain as to how to behave and how to support you.

Think about how long it took you to discover you were trans and then realize what that meant in detail.  At this point you may not even understand where it will ultimately lead you.  Information overload is not your friend.

Feed your mother information through a drinking straw, not a firehose.

It takes a while to absorb all that information.

Randi   

I know this takes time but, I feel like just straight up sitting her down and having a short conversation about how I'm feeling would sort of work for the time being, and answering any questions she might still be having about me and the community. Would this work?

Good start. I think a lot will depend on how your mother takes the original news.