18/04/2023
What do you do if your child comes out as trans? What if you don't believe gender is a spectrum or you do believe, but think this might just be a phase? What do you do?
Simple: accept & support them
What? Why?
If your child comes out as trans, first & foremost, well done at building a relationship with your child where they feel safe & trusting enough with you that they came to you with this. That level of parenting is rarer than you think and you should absolutely feel proud. So, sincerely, well done.
Second, if your child comes out as trans, understand that whether you believe it or not, they *are* feeling something. Whatever it is, it's real and needs to be acknowledged. Right now, they believe it's that they're trans.
If they're truly trans, they need your love and support. Be by their side as they navigate this life. No matter what, they'll grow up knowing you'll always be there from them, knowing they can always put they're trust in you.
If they're not trans and this is just a phase, they need your love and support. Allow them the freedom to explore who they are. Trust that they'll eventually figure it out and they will discover what they're feeling actually means. Whatever that feeling actually is, they'll know that they have loving parents they can go to to help them through it.
If you reject them as trans, what will happen?
If they're truly trans, you've forced them to live a lie. They'll most likely spiral into depression. Their grades well be effected, their relationships, everything. They'll never feel they can come to you with any of it, because you've already rejected who they are. Best case scenario, the second they turn 18, they begin the difficult transition alone and with the baggage of childhood trauma. Worst case scenario, death by su***de.
If they're not trans and this is just a phase, you've denied them the ability to discover that. They'll grow up, believing the reason they feel the way they do is because they're trans and can't live their truth. They'll most likely spiral into depression. Their grades well be effected, their relationships, everything. They'll never feel they can come to you with any of it, because you've already rejected who they are. The second they turn 18, they'll begin the difficult transition alone and suffering from childhood trauma. They'll believe that once they transition, they'll finally be happy. They'll transition, change they're whole life, and when they discover they now only feel worse, since this isn't who they truly are and now they don't understand why they've always felt the way they have. They won't be able to come to you, the parents that rejected them. Most likely scenario, death by su***de.
When it comes to your children, ALWAYS love, accept, & support them.
