As a dad now with a trans son I so get it. I’m blessed in I know who and what I am. I will never “get” what’s going on in his head or understand what trans is or any of that shit. But I love him, I want him happy and I will defend whatever he decides to be until the ends of the world.
Note to everyone and self I use he/him because in my simple brain he has a dick he’s a boy. Like me he doesn’t give a shit because we joke about the old meme “I identify as an attack helicopter” and I tell people my pronouns are “dumb/ass” or if I’m being a dick “she/him”
Digressions aside. If it doesn’t hurt anyone, and it makes someone happy, just let them be happy.
I don’t know your kid or your relationship with them or anything, so I’m just speaking in generalities, but most trans people I know really appreciate being called by their preferred name and pronouns. If your kid is using certain pronouns with new people or with their friends that they are out to, it might be nice to give them a try. Maybe not, again I don’t know you both, but just because someone is willing to joke about pronouns doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t actually care about them. Seems like you really care for your kid and I’m sure that if they wanted to be referred to with new pronouns that you’d be able to figure it out. Wishing you both the best.
The most grounded response and thank you. I commented elsewhere but ultimately I’m big on providing the space to do what you feel is comfortable so in that I’m more of a watch and wait.
Yeah man you should really be using the pronouns your child wants you to use. I imagine that they have accepted that this is the best relationship they can have with you. They’re still your child and your unwavering support is important to building their self confidence regardless of whether they’re cisgender or transgender.
How much effort does it take to not use he/him though? Are you sure they’re just saying they don’t care so you don’t feel bad about it?
I dunno, obviously I don’t know you or your kid and you seem to be handling it much better than many would… It just seems weird to be so ambivalent to something so fundamental about your child.
I’ve had a good number of trans people in my classes over the years. I’ve frankly been shocked by the number of people who do not care if you guess their gender correctly. Obviously it isn’t the norm, but they are out there.
I can’t speak for everyone, but in my experience I’ll not express anything externally when property/improperly gendered, but I’ll still feel happy/sad when it happens.
Stories like these warm my heart so much
As a dad now with a trans son I so get it. I’m blessed in I know who and what I am. I will never “get” what’s going on in his head or understand what trans is or any of that shit. But I love him, I want him happy and I will defend whatever he decides to be until the ends of the world.
Note to everyone and self I use he/him because in my simple brain he has a dick he’s a boy. Like me he doesn’t give a shit because we joke about the old meme “I identify as an attack helicopter” and I tell people my pronouns are “dumb/ass” or if I’m being a dick “she/him”
Digressions aside. If it doesn’t hurt anyone, and it makes someone happy, just let them be happy.
I don’t know your kid or your relationship with them or anything, so I’m just speaking in generalities, but most trans people I know really appreciate being called by their preferred name and pronouns. If your kid is using certain pronouns with new people or with their friends that they are out to, it might be nice to give them a try. Maybe not, again I don’t know you both, but just because someone is willing to joke about pronouns doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t actually care about them. Seems like you really care for your kid and I’m sure that if they wanted to be referred to with new pronouns that you’d be able to figure it out. Wishing you both the best.
The most grounded response and thank you. I commented elsewhere but ultimately I’m big on providing the space to do what you feel is comfortable so in that I’m more of a watch and wait.
Yeah man you should really be using the pronouns your child wants you to use. I imagine that they have accepted that this is the best relationship they can have with you. They’re still your child and your unwavering support is important to building their self confidence regardless of whether they’re cisgender or transgender.
How much effort does it take to not use he/him though? Are you sure they’re just saying they don’t care so you don’t feel bad about it?
I dunno, obviously I don’t know you or your kid and you seem to be handling it much better than many would… It just seems weird to be so ambivalent to something so fundamental about your child.
I’ve had a good number of trans people in my classes over the years. I’ve frankly been shocked by the number of people who do not care if you guess their gender correctly. Obviously it isn’t the norm, but they are out there.
Also worth noting especially with younger people they can’t disassociate online with offline.
I can’t speak for everyone, but in my experience I’ll not express anything externally when property/improperly gendered, but I’ll still feel happy/sad when it happens.
Fair enough! I personally try to stick to preferred names and pronouns, but to err is human and I do make mistakes pretty often.
Yeah, and I don’t think any reasonable person will hold a grudge against a mistake.
You claim apathy, but you put more effort defending yourself then just being better toward you child.
I wont claim to know if it bothers your child to ‘joke’ about it. But have you ever asked?