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One morning last year as a mom was driving home from the gym, her child called and told her some news that would change their lives, their relationship, and reverberate through their extended family for months (perhaps years) to come: they'd made the decision to transition into a female. 

In this raw, revealing interview, this mom discusses:

• How her child shared the news (01:33)
• Her husband's reaction--which was (and remains) far different from her own (04:41)
• The process of transitioning (16:40)
• Her view on how parents can best support kids going through the process of transitioning (18:31)
• Gender expectations we put on kids (23:47)
• Her feelings about her child undergoing surgery (31:15)
• Thoughts on transitioning pre-puberty vs. as an older person (32:53)
• How this experience has changed her fundamentally as a parent and as a person (39:10)
• The continuing challenges--but since her child had suicidal thoughts, "not having my child alive is not an option" (41:11)

This is a story of unconditional love for a child; of a mother voicing her needs and establishing her own boundaries; of discovery--not just about someone else but about yourself.


Want to know more about families experiencing transition?

• Check out this website: https://www.genderspectrum.org/
• The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, and the Human Rights Campaign's guide for families of transgender children: Supporting & Caring for Transgender Children
• Central Toronto Youth Services' guide for families of trans youth: Families in TRANSition

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