My son came to me at age 11 and said she felt like she might be a girl. At the time I felt a number of emotions but a big one was fear and anxiety for her future. When I read some of the recent letters in the Herald, I feel that same sense of fear and anxiety. I wonder if perhaps at the heart of some of the letters is fear too. Fear of the unknown; of something outside their experience and therefore their understanding.
I would like to think that the writers of those letters are good, kind people who when given the opportunity to understand what the life of someone who is transgender, and their family, looks like they may feel a little reassured.
My daughter has always been kind and gentle. She would rescue bees that had flown into puddles and build them shelters and bring them honey on teaspoons. She has always brought home exemplary report cards with comments about what an awesome kid she is. She has friends who care about her, and family who love her. She loves butterflies and baking and often cooks the family meal. And she is funny. So awesomely funny.
She is a teenager now and continues to be the same wonderful, kind human being. Our lives look remarkably the same. We sit at the dinner table and discuss her and her siblings’ days, what is going on at school, and in the world. They disagree over who is going to do the dishes and grumble if they have to tidy their rooms.
As parents we worry about our children. As a mum of a transgender child there is an extra layer of worry and fear. The world is not a kind place at the moment. But I wish for those people who have written those letters the same things I wish for my child. People who love them, a place to call home and things that bring them joy.