Let's talk about grief

Published about 22 hours ago • 2 min read

Grief is a tough topic for lots of parents of trans kids (possibly you).

They might even think or say things like “I feel like I’ve lost my son [or daughter].” And that feeling of loss is REAL.

It’s important to remember that you’re grieving the loss of your expectations for your child, not the loss of your child.

Your kid is still the same kid!

It’s normal and necessary to give yourself the space and grace to grieve those expectations, but it’s important to do that grieving, questioning, and processing away from your child.

Your kiddo needs the freedom to explore their identity and discover themselves and grow without carrying the burden of your processing.

Because if your child sees that grieving, it can hurt. Of course you don’t mean to hurt them, but to your child, that grieving can feel like rejection.

It can be really helpful to talk to other parents of trans kids and young adults and find a community for that safe space to process your feelings.

There’s a difference between allowing yourself to feel these really hard emotions, dealing with them appropriately, and making an effort to move on versus staying in that grief and refusing to move on.

And you can’t get stuck in that grief! You gotta get through that grief so you can get to the joy.

And there is so much joy and hope on the other side.

If you're feeling stuck in grief, I'd like to talk about it.

You can schedule a quick call with me on Zoom, and if there’s a way for Parents of Trans Youth to help you, I’ll share that.

But sometimes another organization or resource can help you better, and I’ll point you in their direction.

Just click the button below to schedule a call.

Schedule a chat with me!

Mandy Giles (she/her)
Founder and CEO
Parents of Trans Youth

p.s. Click here to receive additional emails specific to Texas news and events.

p.s.s. But wait! There's more! Click here to get on the Houston-area email list.

Parents of Trans Youth provides learning, support, and community to parents and caregivers of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive kids.

DONATE NOW

2808 Caroline St. #103-G, Houston, TX 77004
Unsubscribe · Preferences

❓Always ask permission

If you’re a parent of a trans kid and want to expand your allyship outside the home, no matter what age your kid is, you need their permission to share ANYTHING about them.This includes identifying yourself as the parent of a trans child.Why?1️⃣ It’s not your story to tell - it’s their story!2️⃣ If you say you’re the parent of trans kid, you’ve just outed them with that description.3️⃣ Depending on where you live (and the context), it may not be safe for your family to share publicly that...

5 days ago • 1 min read

💼🧺 We are all laborers

It’s Labor Day in the U.S. - a day to honor the American labor movement and to recognize the contributions of workers. The labor movement brought us “the right to organize in the workplace, the eight-hour workday, the five day work week, workman’s compensation, the abolishment of night work without compensation, equal pay for equal work, and the abolishment of child labor … Labor may be physical, use brain power, or be a labor of love—volunteer work.” (from the Smithsonian website) So we are...

9 days ago • 1 min read

✍️ 🖥️ Accepting applications for online community

What's inside? 💜 Positive, solution-based vibesChat spaces to ask questions and share resources 24/7 with people you can trust. No ads, no randos. 🔒Peace of mindSecurity measures: vetted members, invite-only private link, independent community platform, robust community guidelines, moderated discussions, encrypted data. 🧑🎓Guest expert talksLearn directly from high-caliber experts in an intimate setting - everything from medical care to college admissions to neurodiversity. Almost all invited...

15 days ago • 1 min read