What To Do About Unsupportive People
When your child comes out as transgender, you will find yourself having to make a choice about the unsupportive people in your life. Keep them or walk away.
Author: justplainbeth
You Can Grieve and Support Your Child
For example, I might say, “I’m grieving the hopes and dreams I had of having a daughter.” Or, “I’m grieving the fact that I had expectations, and they’ve changed.” This way, I own my feelings and experience them. I still support my child by not saying, “I’m grieving the loss of my daughter.”
When Parenting Your Child is Confusing
When my son first came out as being transgender, there was a lot I didn’t know and understand. I mistakenly thought gender and sexuality were the same things, and so the whole idea of being transgender was confusing to me. It took me a long time to come to the understanding that much like how… Continue reading When Parenting Your Child is Confusing
Coming Out As An Ally
Merriam-Webster defines choose, a verb, as: “to select freely and after careful consideration.” The third definition is decide, “to make a final choice or judgment about.” I didn’t choose to be the parent of two LGBTQ+ sons. My oldest son is gay, and my youngest son is transgender, and I am their mother; because these… Continue reading Coming Out As An Ally
Back to School Resources
The first few weeks of back to school season can be very overwhelming for students, parents, and educators. Children are trying to sort out new schedules, new friends, and new expectations. Parents are trying to juggle before and after school activities, navigate emotional rollercoasters (their children’s and their own). Educators are working to ensure that… Continue reading Back to School Resources
Review: George by Alex Gino
Alex Gino’s George is a compelling and tender story about the strength it takes to live as a gender you don’t identify with, and the courage it takes to reveal to the world your real identity. This middle-grade fiction novel features George, a ten-year-old fourth-grader who loves reading, video games, and chocolate milk, and has… Continue reading Review: George by Alex Gino
How to Respond When Others Ask About Your Child
It was March of 2016, and I was at our town’s community center to vote. A woman I had known since I had moved to town was checking me in. As usual, she was asking how my children were. Our children grew up together. Her oldest son was in the same grade as my oldest,… Continue reading How to Respond When Others Ask About Your Child
Review: Trans Like Me by CN Lester
Trans Like Me is a powerful blend of biography and cultural exploration into the broad experience of being transgender and how that term encompasses a vast range of gender-diverse people. The reader is introduced to concepts such as dysphoria and gender non-conforming youth, in addition to exploring how the use of gender binaries creates the… Continue reading Review: Trans Like Me by CN Lester
Pride Month and Stonewall – Fifty Years Later I’m Still Afraid for My Sons
Until the last year or two, I didn’t notice that during June, every corporation, it seems, comes out with an item plastered in rainbow colors and promotes their ‘Pride Line’ and encourages the LGBTQ+ community to be ‘loud and proud.’ Shoe stores are selling rainbow laces and water bottles, and every other ad on Facebook… Continue reading Pride Month and Stonewall – Fifty Years Later I’m Still Afraid for My Sons
Yes, You Belong at Pride
Last June, I attended my first Pride event at Fenway Park, which you can read about here. When I first heard about the event, my first thoughts were about how it was someplace local, someplace familiar, and someplace we would all enjoy. I bought the tickets, reserved the date, and was excited to both spend… Continue reading Yes, You Belong at Pride