Have you had those moments with your kid that have left you feeling totally confused about what the right next step is?

Parenting can feel stressful and downright overwhelming. Confusing, traumatizing, joyous, disappointing, and like the best thing we’ve ever done all in a matter of moments.

All those emotions have messages and they often conflict with each other.

If we don’t sort through these emotions, or parts of ourselves that are showing up in this chapter of parenthood, we are sure to misstep and blow it somehow.

This is why one of the most helpful things we can do as parents when we’re working hard to support our trans kiddos is to get clear on what it is we’re experiencing, and what we really need to do with it.

As a society, we’ve done a pretty poor job of accurately learning and teaching each other how to integrate and embody our emotions with intention and understanding.

Personally, I love emotions, and feelings and that’s because I’ve made a career out of it, and have learned so much about myself in the process. I’m made up of all kinds of different parts. I’m complex, just like you.

And just like my guest today, Delena Meyer.

Delena Meyer wears a lot of hats. She is a mom, partner, and founder of Deviant Compassion Consulting, where her team helps people bring more compassionate humanity to their work.

Today, Delena is going to talk with us about her youngest child, Oliver, and all the parts that came up or got activated as she and Oliver charted the path of transition.

Check out the full episode to hear about:

• How part of Delena attached to a trauma narrative that made it difficult to process her son’s coming out
• How therapy for both Delena and Oliver helped them both delineate whose parts were being activated
• How they both use humor to soften sharp edges and confront hard things about themselves and each other

Find out more about Delena Meyer:

• Deviant Compassion Consulting

Find out more about Mackenzie Dunham:

• Wildheartsociety.org
• wildheartsociety.org/downloads
• Wild Heart Society on Facebook
• Wild Heart Society on Instagram

Resources:

• Triple Point
• CDC: Adverse Childhood Experiences
• No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model, Richard Schwartz
• You Are The One You've Been Waiting For, Richard Schwartz