I’m blessed with some of the greatest kids on the planet! I can only imagine the pain and sense of loss that having a parent make this big of a change would be. It's almost like that parent died and someone else is trying to take their place. In fact, it's common in the trans-community to reference someone pre-transition as if they were dead.
I came out to my kids a couple years ago and some are accepting and some are not. It took me almost 50 years to come to terms with my identity and I can't expect them to suddenly be okay overnight. My hope as a parent is that they learn to respect themselves and others and know that they are loved unconditionally. I am not ignorant to the fact that it’s hard for them to face the prospect of losing their father so I’ve told them that they can always call me “dad.” We still celebrate Father’s Day and if they are ever broken down on the side of the road, I will be there just like any other father would. The only difference is that I might be wearing heels… (True story!)
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