Hey guys

I was just wondering - has anyone ever had any particular experiences coming out to a grandparent? I'm fairly close to my grandmother, although she does live interstate (I'm going to see her in January) and I've only just started T, but I figured that my changes could possibly start to be obvious by that time. I can't hide it forever, as I see her every January, so if it's not obvious by the start of next year, there's no way I'd be able to hide it by 2013 (not to mention, my voice on the phone throughout the year!)

Does anyone have some advice or suggestions on how I could sit her down and talk to her about it? With my facial piercings, it was one of those "I don't understand it, but if that's what you want to do, go for it" sorta things.. but obviously this is quite different.

I'm a little nervous about it all ..

FYI - My grandmother is quite an old European woman.. (German, and in her 80's) and she's not conservative so much as old fashioned perhaps? If that makes sense.

If you can approach it as a medical problem that has lots of evidence like brain scans nowadays, you will probably get a better hearing.  That is what my son who is FtM did when he came out to his grandparents who he was very close to. 

Karen.

Funny enough, my grandmother sort of called me on it, though I plan to sit down with her over the holidays when I go to visit and talk it out with her. She's in her late 60's, and is very much a southern belle in a lot of ways. She also went to baptist churches when she was younger, but the last pastor ticked her off when he went on his 'what will send you to hell' rant. My grandmother has the motto of 'nothing surprises me anymore, which is good because you learn something new every day'. I am really close with her, as she and my grandfather raised me when I was younger for a few years.

My best advice is to sit down, explain calmly and answer any questions as honestly as possible. I will be taking a lot of info down with me so she can read over it in her own time. I told her that I wasn't comfortable with my physical body and that I have never felt like a girl (after she pressed) and the worst response I got from her was "Are you sure? Not just a tomboy? Oh, okay then. I always wondered why you liked all boy things and destroyed those dresses."

Actually, I was less afraid of telling Gramma than I am of telling my Dad. You know your grandmother best, but I can honestly say mine surprised me. She really is an unconditional love sort of woman.