Okay. This is the first time I join a trans-community of any kind. Just so you know.
You people are the first people I'm openly talking to about this stuff aside from my (married) partner and a couple of friends, without whom I'd most surely still be burying my internal issues under more layers of denial and excuses.

I was raised in the most gender-role free environment a single mother could have offered in the eighties. Which translates mostly to; I was raised to believe I could be whoever and whatever I wanted to be, no matter the contents of my pants, all that mattered was that I was happy.
None the less, I was called a princess when I was pretty or did good, and put in dresses for special occasions. I was raised as the biological female I was born as, but with the context of "be happy" and "do what you want".

None the less, soon as I left the safety of my own home, the outside world (school and such) had specific tasks and roles that usually were divided out based on the sex of the kid. The girls got to do shop too, but instead of building toy cars and areplanes we made butterknives and birds.
I'm shy, I was bullied due to being obscenely tall for a girl (sprouted to full 6'2'' = 187.5cm) and being athletically challenged and wearing glasses and being a bookworm with good grades, in other words a nerd, and being shy and burned by the people in my surrounding, I have spent most of my life "trying to be normal".

I decided when I was in my early teens that I wouldn't try to be normal, nor fit in, anymore. That I'd just be "me". Ofcourse I wasn't able to make that transition over night, it's be a really long walk since then.

About two and a half years ago, I told my then "new" boyfriend about my gender-confusion and issues. It was somewhat of a "going out on a limb", it was the first time I felt like I could trust someone with this, and I was pleasantly surprised to find acceptance.

I "knew" that this world, people like us, existed. I know that there is acceptance out there, and not "just" bias. I know my family just wants me to be happy. And yet, I've not yet taken any steps towards transitioning.
I have an irrational amount of fears and anxieties. I know they're irrational. But I'm working on it..

Oh yeah.. I'm 26. I have a daughter, she's 8. I know a little bit about everything. I've got fibromyalgia. I need pants.
I am a bloke, currently hidden under womanly curves.

Miniar, I welcoe you to Susan's. You've had an interesting life and I applaud for deciding to be yourself. You ae not alone. There are many of us who have gone through what you have. There are plenty of resources here if you need them.

Gennee

Hi Miniar,   

Welcome to our little family. Over 1800 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 brother.   

Janet

Hello Miniar and welcome to Susan's! 

Thanks so much for introducing yourself.  Please take a few moments to get familiar with all the boards of the site, review the site rules before posting, and take advantage of our many resources such as the wiki, chat, and the links listed at the main page.  We look forward to your future posts and participation.  Enjoy your stay! 

tink

Sup dude  hope you like it here

Welcome and, by the way, YOU LUCKY F'ER!!! 6'2" God. Most of us guys are lucky to hit five and a half feet.

SD

my height can be blamed on location (I'm Icelandic, the average height here is a couple inches taller than the rest of the world), genetics (dad's 6'7, mom 6', shortest sibling a full 5'10"), and a very good and balanced diet growing up.
I do appreciate my height and know it's a "lucky" thing.. still don't have to like hitting my head on things. There's good stuff to be found at every height. Less head-bumping should be appreciated.
(They put wooden frames around signs in a grocery store where I shop once... Wooden frames!.. Dangling from the ceiling! in perfect elevation off the ground to turn my scalp into minced meat!)

Hi bloke.

6'2"!?!?! Holy...

You lucky son of a gun. ^^

Then again, you are less lucky then most guys, aren't you?

6' 2" WOW... You're tall. The only FTM I've seen/read so far that isn't pint-sized is someone on TrueSelves. I think they were 5' 10".

Welcome Miniar!

Welcome, Miniar! 

We're so glad to have you here at Susan's Place, really!  Whether you are a biological-girl or biological-boy, it just does not matter at all here.  We all face the same transgender issues, so you're definitely accepted here.  You say you are Icelandic.  Do you actually live in Iceland?  If so, OMG!  You're hearty of soul and stout of constitution. 

I'd just die in Iceland!  I live in Metro Tampa, Florida, USA.  My idea of good weather is blistering sunshine, 95 degrees in the shade and a gentle breeze!  Well, variety is the spice of life, is it not?  Again, welcome!

Hugs!

Born, Raised, and lived here for all but 4 of my 26 years. My idea of good weather is "room temperature inside and outside" coupled with moderate amounts of sun. The best weather comes after sundown when there's no risk of blaring sunlight at all..
Not that the sun actually sets in the summer... it just sort-of sits cozy and low in the north sky..