Member-only story
Very few transgender women or trans men have the benefit of an approving Mother. I can’t imagine my Mom ever providing me the fashion or the help to become the girl I strongly wanted to become.
My parents were members of the “greatest generation” who went through the great depression and WWII. Both of those major events certainly shaped them into individuals who were strong on providing for a family and weak on emotional support. Which was exactly what I needed. My Dad’s family was very male dominated and my brother and I were expected to follow in his footsteps. Wanting to be feminine at all did not fit in to the advance family plans my parents had for their eldest son. I was expected to grow up, go to college and marry into my social class or higher. Quickly I was discovering, I had different ideas.
Even though I was busy playing sports and working on other male activities. I can’t say I excelled at any of them but I tried my best. One thing is for sure, I was on my own because there was no way I could ever bring up my true gender feelings to my parents. Especially my Mom, who often took the lead in raising my brother and I. So, I was solidly hidden away in my dark lonely closet until I could break out much later in life.
Through it all, I still sought out my parents approval. My Dad was very difficult to out due because he was very much the stereotypical…
