I’m not a cryer. And yet twice during the last few weeks, I’ve suddenly found myself sobbing on the couch in front of the TV. Both times, teenagers were involved. Not my teens, mind. Or, at least, not directly. As they get older and I get further from the day-to-day momming trenches, which are full of hours of tedium punctuated by moments of crisis and seconds of pure joy, I’m moving to a place that isn’t nostalgic, exactly, but one that is fully aware of how tender and fraught the whole growing up thing is — and how hard it is to watch it from the outside.
My adult offspring was a girly-dressed kid who is now transitioning from nonbinary to masc and lost what was apparently a lifetime of anxiety over something fundamental that I had only the occasional puzzled glimpse about. Trying to decide if I suck as a mother for not having different conversations
Well now I am going to watch both things you mentioned because I trust your taste implicitly.
I’d like to send you a hug over the internet as a parent who is going through the awakening of discovering you have a child who is trans. I know nothing of your story, but I have a 17 year old who is 5 years into living fully and authentically as a non-binary person. It’s a lot to learn and unlearn as a parent. We want to protect our children from hurt but I, at least, felt so inadequate when it came to walking with them through this new chapter. Bottom line, though: I love my kid and I just want them to be ok. I’m in awe of how they know themselves when I feel like at 45 I’m still getting familiar with myself. So big hugs to you and your family on this walk. ❤️
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I enjoy reading your work. I can start an essay thinking it has nothing to do with anything I am engaged with and I end up with a nugget of truth and/or a sweet pearl of wisdom. So thank you for doing what you do and for sharing part of your soul with us.
My adult offspring was a girly-dressed kid who is now transitioning from nonbinary to masc and lost what was apparently a lifetime of anxiety over something fundamental that I had only the occasional puzzled glimpse about. Trying to decide if I suck as a mother for not having different conversations
Well now I am going to watch both things you mentioned because I trust your taste implicitly.
I’d like to send you a hug over the internet as a parent who is going through the awakening of discovering you have a child who is trans. I know nothing of your story, but I have a 17 year old who is 5 years into living fully and authentically as a non-binary person. It’s a lot to learn and unlearn as a parent. We want to protect our children from hurt but I, at least, felt so inadequate when it came to walking with them through this new chapter. Bottom line, though: I love my kid and I just want them to be ok. I’m in awe of how they know themselves when I feel like at 45 I’m still getting familiar with myself. So big hugs to you and your family on this walk. ❤️
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I enjoy reading your work. I can start an essay thinking it has nothing to do with anything I am engaged with and I end up with a nugget of truth and/or a sweet pearl of wisdom. So thank you for doing what you do and for sharing part of your soul with us.