Jump to content
Transgender Message Forum

Emily

  • entries
    16
  • comments
    36
  • views
    3,035

Counseling, COVID-19, and coming out to my kids


Emilyruns

1,708 views

This is a long one. If you don’t want to read all of it, scroll to the end. That’s where I’ve posted questions.

So far my experience with counseling has been very positive. Through a program at my wife's work I was able to get my first three sessions with a good local counselor. He was very experienced and specialized in men's issues, but not specifically transgender oriented. He offered loads of help, also outside of sessions, e.g. via e-mail and text messages. Because we had only three sessions together (they renew every 6 months through this program) we were only able to go over everything rather quickly. Though we did go deep into everything. What this psychologist taught me was what counseling will be able to do for me. It won't solve any problems by itself, but it will help me think through my own thoughts, my emotions, and my personal history. All that stuff compiled will hopefully offer me a path to go forward on. My goal for all this counseling is to make a decision. I'm pretty sure by now that I'm transgender. I'm definitely not a man. At least not you're average man. But how far do I want or need to go towards female? Or perhaps to something else in-between male and female, or outside of those to a third gender? In any case, those first three session were great. But what comes after that? I'm trying to stay within what's covered by my insurance, because counseling can be costly, so my first counselor offered to look at the (very extensive) list of psychologists that are covered by our insurance plan, and picked out the names of people he knows, has worked with, and can recommend for my situation.

During this time I was already looking on my own for a counselor to follow this first one, and I found The Center (The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center) where they offer all kinds of services to the LGBTQ+ community. So I called them, made an appointment, and went in. First was just a brief intake during which I was scheduled with a counaelor, and thereafter every week on Monday nights with this counselor. I love that all of the people there first ask what pronoun you go by. To be honest, I had no idea what to answer, so I just told them that it depends on how I wake up in the morning, which is actually true. Even the intake lady was wearing a badge with 'them/they' on it! I have now been to three counseling sessions and, although they go at a much slower pace, I’ve progressed so far that my brain is starting to grasp the concept of non-binary. So far I’ve discovered that I’m not male, as far the range of male with the societal label of ‘man’ goes. So my brain has defaulted to the binary system and concluded that if I’m not male, I must be female, and I’ve been wanting to fully transition since. The problem was that I’ve only ever know the binary system. I’ve no clue what could be other options on the spectrum, or what they might look like. Through counseling I’m am finally beginning to understand a little. This happened over the past week and I haven’t had such a good week in ages. Whether I’m having a male day or a female day, I seem to mostly feel content. I know for certain that my feminine emotions need expression, otherwise I’ll either go insane or once again sink into a depression. Now the idea was that I start attending a ‘coming out’ discussion group at The Center, where people come to discuss just this topic, and would allow me to learn a bunch.

Then COVID-19 happened. Everything closed the day I was supposed to first go to this coming out group. Counseling sessions they are trying to arrange by phone. I really hope I’ll be able to continue in this way, because these counseling sessions have really helped, and they’ve become the highlight of my week. But for now it’s still up in the air whether this will happen.

There are other repercussions of this outbreak too. I have two small children, two boys, and I’m the at-home parent for them. One is 1 year old, the other is 4 and going to preschool. All schools here have closed on the 13th, and won’t resume until at least April 6th. This means I’ll have both boys at home for a full three weeks, and basically we’ll be at home the entire time. During the preschool hours I’ve been able to dress female, and somewhat keep me content. I’ve been trying to slowly introduce my feminine side to them, especially taking it slowly with the older one. I don’t want him to go to school and start shouting ‘guess what guys!? Last night my daddy was wearing a dress!!’ Even at this age there’s already a lot of prejudice, and it might backfire badly. My one year old knows both the male and the female me, and for him it’s no problem. Although it did take him a while to get used to the wig (which I call ‘hair hat’ for him btw). My 4 year old is now used to me wearing skirts at home, and heels, and a nightgown. I was hoping to introduce the full package carefully over summer break, so that he’s used to it by the time he goes back to school, and it’s no longer a special or mention-worthy thing.

But now I’m facing the next three weeks. There’s no way I can survive that without feminine expression, without fully dressing female. And potentially without a counselor to talk things through with. I don’t think I have a choice but to introduce both boys to my full female side in this period. And sooner would probably be better than later. I can’t deny that I’m more than a bit nervous. Scared actually. Has anyone ever come out to kids this age? How did they respond? How did social interactions go for them afterwards? Any do’s or don’ts? I haven’t been able to find resources for this scenario; anyone know of any leads?

I have a decent plan in my head to do it, and I’ll have to act quickly. But I’m terrified I’ll do damage.

4 Comments


Recommended Comments

Dear Emily,

Realize that COVID-19 has thrown a wrench into everyone's lives.

Normally, I would suggest gender support groups and gender conferences as an adjunct to professional counseling and group therapy.

Until this COVID-19 thing blows over, may I recommend you stay in touch with TGGuide and please check out this resource:

Trans Lifeline

Tel: 877-565-8860

Hope this helps.

Yours truly,

Monica

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment

Hi Emily, thanks for posting. The way to look at expressing is simply to think about it differently. It helps me a lot because I am effectively a single parent with a 12 yo son who has never met me properly. I only get to dress while he is out at school or away at his mums, neither of which will be happening for at least the next 12 weeks. It is not the clothes you wear that make you Emily. It is how you express yourself, the clothes just help with that. My reflection just now is eugh, but that doesn't stop me being me when I am here. The outside world just hasn't caught up yet.🤷‍♀️

Do not rush, everywhere will be on a go slow and will take time to catch up, but at least you are starting to know who you really are, and that is wonderful!

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 2
Link to comment

Thank you both for your thoughts and advice. It really helps me keep going and to keep my head on my shoulders.

Monica, I had heard some time ago about Trans Lifeline, but it hasn't been on my mind in a few months (which I suppose is a good thing). But last Tuesday I think I may not have been far from calling them. I'll keep it in mind from now on, especially during the coming period, just in case things go poorly. thank you!

Dee, it's so good to hear your comments about being yourself on the inside. After reading that my mind definitely stopped racing and going in circles. I'm doing much better now. I know what you mean about reflections, I'm just trying to ignore the mirror and try to finish whatever task I need to do in front of one.

Luckily, yesterday I had a chance to go for a long run. That's really helped too!

My original post was on Monday, and on Wednesday I couldn't take it anymore. I had gone through a deep dip. I decided to introduce my 4 year old to my wig. I'm trying to take notes of everything I do with my kids, and I'll try to post it here on TGGuide, just in case at some point it may be useful to someone.

I had already introduced him to me wearing a skirt. I did that about a month ago I think, and I did it by just putting on a skirt, nothing else feminine, and I went about our daily business in the house (not outside, as the neighbors don't know about Emily yet). That day he complimented me at least 4 times that he really likes my dress. Each time I thanked him for the compliment, and then moved on to a different subject. The fourth time I wore the skirt in his presence he didn't comment on it anymore. After that I tried other skirts in his presence, and he hardly commented on those. In the beginning I made sure there were at least a few days in-between the times that I wore a skirt. But now I can just do it every day. A week ago I wore my heel in his presence for the first time, and he did not comment on those at all.

So now it was time for the wig. I purposely had not shaved for a few days, so that I would be more recognizable. I was wearing a skirt, and a big bulky hoodie sweater. I told him that "I'm bald, and I don't like it. So I have a wig. It's like a hat with hair on it. And I like to wear it because then I don't look bald. It's kind of like dressing up." Then I showed him the wig, and right away he asked: "don't you want to put it on?" So I did. He looked at me for a second and then smiled, saying: "you look like a girl." Then he thought for another second, smiled bigger, and said: "And like a rock star." And then he went back to playing. Ten minutes later we were playing together and he said: "you look like a lady." And that was that. Wig accepted for the rest of the day. It felt wonderful for me, and hopefully not too disturbing for him. I'll wait until next week before I wear the wig again. But so far so good!

Thank you all again for your support. I love the community here!

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
On 3/19/2020 at 1:43 PM, ScottishDeeDee said:

 It is not the clothes you wear that make you Emily. It is how you express yourself, the clothes just help with that. 

 

Also , the clothes are not the reason your trusted and loved, it's what underneath the clothes.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...