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To tell my dad or not?

Started by gwencook, March 20, 2018, 04:32:01 PM

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gwencook

Hey all,
So a few months ago my dad came back into my life after leaving 23 years ago (no hate on him as I fully understand the circumstances). After a week he asked me to come and stay with him and his family (step mom, step brother and half sister) in another country to which I've said yes and I can't wait to go and get to know them all more.
My only concern however is due to my gender. I'm not going to lie about this but I'm about 98% sure that I am female and so I'm not sure if I should tell my dad about this or hide it while I get to know them more due to that little bit of doubt.
What do you guys think I should do?
Much live xox
  •  

PurpleWolf

Are you already presenting as female sometimes? On HRT? Planning on transitioning? If you already are in the process of transitioning or about to start to, just honestly telling about it as soon as they get to know you might be a good approach.

On the other hand, if you don't want your gender to be the no 1 discussion on your holiday, you can at first get to know them a little better - and share the info once you're ready (the same way you'd 'come out' to any new person in your life).

If you are still fully presenting male and are okay with it, you could also wait until you know them a little better and feel more comfortable doing so.

But since you stated that 98%... It seems that you in your heart know you are a woman - but are a little scared to utter that aloud! If your only reason not to tell anything is because you are afraid 'you might later on change your mind' or something, that's a silly excuse for not being open about it, if you actually do want to tell.

Introducing yourself to your new family as yourself might make you feel much more comfortable in their presence! If you suffer from dysphoria or hate to be misgendererd for example, that might hinder your ability to develop a genuine relationship with your dad. If you are having a constant feeling of 'you don't really know how I actually am', that's a sucky feeling. Having a total fresh start with your dad (as you are having now) is also a good starting point to be open about your gender from the beginning. If, for whatever reason, your family members weren't accepting, I'm afraid that's a risk you must be willing to take. You must mentally prepare for a bad/not so good outcome, especially if you are having high expectations regards to your new relationship with him/them. If you are not prepared to risk it no matter what - you can just go there, get to know them as people first - and then later on tell more stuff about yourself.

I'd say follow your gut feeling! If you are feeling you'd actually like to tell, but are a little scared, just do it. If, while there, you don't feel it's the right time for it after all, don't. Or then you can make a decision in advance: you are going to tell them no matter what and that's the foundation for your new relationship with them. Or: I'm going to tell them only if I feel comfortable doing so while there.

If the only thing holding you back is the doubt, then I'd say just do it!!! You don't need to be 1000% sure on anything to say that aloud!!! You have the right to say 'I feel this way'. That's your reality as of now.
!!!REBIRTH=legal name change on Feb 16th 2018!!!
This is where life begins for me. It's a miracle I finally got it done.


My body is the home of my soul; not the other way around.

I'm more than anything an individual; I'm too complex to be put in any box.

- A social butterfly not living in social isolation anymore  ;D -
(Highly approachable but difficult to grasp)


The past is overrated - why stick with it when you are able to recreate yourself every day
  •  

Cassi

Quote from: gwencook on March 20, 2018, 04:32:01 PM
Hey all,
So a few months ago my dad came back into my life after leaving 23 years ago (no hate on him as I fully understand the circumstances). After a week he asked me to come and stay with him and his family (step mom, step brother and half sister) in another country to which I've said yes and I can't wait to go and get to know them all more.
My only concern however is due to my gender. I'm not going to lie about this but I'm about 98% sure that I am female and so I'm not sure if I should tell my dad about this or hide it while I get to know them more due to that little bit of doubt.
What do you guys think I should do?
Much live xox

If it's the US of A, sure but we talk funny.
HRT since 1/04/2018
  •  

Julia1996

Quote from: Cassi on March 23, 2018, 03:34:26 PM
If it's the US of A, sure but we talk funny.

Speak for yourself. I got learned to talk real good.
Julia


Born 1998
Started hrt 2015
SRS done 5/21/2018
  •  

Cassi

Quote from: Julia1996 on March 23, 2018, 04:00:07 PM
Speak for yourself. I got learned to talk real good.

Coloradoians have an accent all to thar own - :)
HRT since 1/04/2018
  •  

Julia1996

Quote from: Cassi on March 23, 2018, 04:16:05 PM
Coloradoians have an accent all to thar own - :)

No we don't.  Its the rest of the country that has a weird accent.
Julia


Born 1998
Started hrt 2015
SRS done 5/21/2018
  •  

gwencook

I'm not currently transitioning yet. I know I want to. I know that each time I accept myself for me I instantly feel happier and more elated. Yet I'm still held back.
You are right in suggesting that the little percentile not there is die to me worrying that I may be wrong. I talked to some friends who know the truth and they essentially said that since I've been waiting so long to meet and know my dad that I should delay telling him as I've already hidden away all these years and not started transition yet.
So I'm thinking more and more of waiting until I know my family more and then at least they'll know the kind of person i am and hopefully it will matter less to them.
  •  

PurpleWolf

Quote from: gwencook on March 27, 2018, 02:37:31 PM
I'm not currently transitioning yet. I know I want to. I know that each time I accept myself for me I instantly feel happier and more elated. Yet I'm still held back.
You are right in suggesting that the little percentile not there is die to me worrying that I may be wrong. I talked to some friends who know the truth and they essentially said that since I've been waiting so long to meet and know my dad that I should delay telling him as I've already hidden away all these years and not started transition yet.
So I'm thinking more and more of waiting until I know my family more and then at least they'll know the kind of person i am and hopefully it will matter less to them.

You should definitely follow that gender euphoria!

Maybe these can help:

How did you finally realize/accept you are transgender?
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,233601.msg2083757.html#msg2083757

What was the necessary push you needed to start transitioning?
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,233118.msg2077011.html#msg2077011

Getting rid of shame
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,232122.msg2065626.html#msg2065626

Words of encouragement to your pre-transition self
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,231252.msg2056470.html#msg2056470

The happiness/peace you felt after transition?
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,231826.msg2062137.html#msg2062137

What was the thing that held you back the most?
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,231654.0.html

Did you ever think you weren't trans enough?
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,232037.msg2064617.html#msg2064617

Do you wish you had transitioned earlier?
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,235048.msg2102574.html#msg2102574

Would you push that button?
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,231886.msg2062839.html#msg2062839

How did you feel the first time you came out as trans?
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,232783.msg2072191.html#msg2072191

Hardest part in transitioning?
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,232785.msg2072224.html#msg2072224

Were you nervous/scared to start HRT?
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,232034.msg2064610.html#msg2064610

There are other topics as well! If you click on my profile -> Show posts -> Topics, you can check them out! Feel free to participate in any of them!
!!!REBIRTH=legal name change on Feb 16th 2018!!!
This is where life begins for me. It's a miracle I finally got it done.


My body is the home of my soul; not the other way around.

I'm more than anything an individual; I'm too complex to be put in any box.

- A social butterfly not living in social isolation anymore  ;D -
(Highly approachable but difficult to grasp)


The past is overrated - why stick with it when you are able to recreate yourself every day
  •