People I am close too try to put how they "saw" my life as the ONLY way I will be happy!! Totally not fair for me at ALL!!!!! I choose my spouse (M2F)  over a child. That day I will never ever forget!!! But we made it for a reason.... I do pretty okay with change and my spouse is the happiest I have ever seen her in the 9 years we have been together!! (she started her transition 4 - 5 months ago) I spoke with a person that saw me grow up and go through my teenage years and she totally hurt me!! She told me I would not be happy, that she saw me with a dress and a child on my hip, with a "man", etc. So stereotypical!!! I could not believe what I was hearing. I am getting to the point where I will not spend the rest of my life trying to convince others that my spouse is what I truly want. Goodness sake, I do have a brain and I can think and feel for myself..... People think that I am always going to be the gullible little girl whom people will take advantage of!!! UMMMM no not anymore!!!!!! My feelings get pretty hurt when I speak MY TRUE FEELINGS and people try to tell me otherwise!!! I feel winded after all that energy I put towards trying to explain my love for my spouse!!!! This is a HUGE learning experience for me, my whole character is going to be more independent, stronger, happier, smarter, etc. My spouses transition is as well mine, I am just using hers as my "spiritual" connection to my higher power...

People can be nasty at times.

One of the best things me and my wife did was to give ourselves permission to have a unique relationship that fits who we are!  That means we don't do everything the 'proper' way in our relationship (for instance, we keep separate checking accounts, with some bills coming from my account, some from her's, and paychecks split between them - much easier to not bounce checks!).  Relationships that are unique and suited for the people in them can be really wonderful, although it can be challenging to let go of the need to go with the crowd.

It sounds like you are navigating things just fine.

I think its normal hun, if your desires and fantasies are even a little different from the 'standard' people -especially from the past and family- will complain about it, thinking its not right

I have this issue aswell, in that I fear the reactions from people from the past, and sometimes I even spoke to some, who just have this image of me that makes me feel like "Ok...great that you voiced your opinion, could you leave me alone now? -.-"  I care about what they think but also needs to say it's not their life and they are better off either accepting how it is now or just leaving me alone, because if I only care about what they think stress only builds up more and more. At 27 I already feel my body is coping with way too muich stress just by caring and wondering what people think about me...so if I dont change that and surround myself with a nicer environment and people I like there's nothing left of me to transition, nothing to be loved

You could ask them if they are truly happy with everything in their life, and if they let their friends make their decisions for them?   If theirs isn't perfect then they are in no position to comment on yours.

Karen.

Thank you everyone for the kind responses. This too will make me stronger in my life journey and my spouse and I will truly see the benefits down the road, this I am sure of.