Small joys

Published about 8 hours ago • 1 min read

A few weeks ago, I had surgery for a back issue, and the recovery has been a bit rougher than I anticipated.

In addition to feeling significant soreness and fatigue, I was not allowed to raise my arms above my shoulders or bend, lift, or twist for 30 days.

Yesterday finally marked 30 days since the surgery, and I celebrated by doing exciting things like bending over to tie my shoes, leaning over to put my breakfast dishes in the dishwasher, and reaching for office supplies on a high shelf.

I never would have thought that such small joys would bring me so much relief and gratitude.

Reader, it's been a tough news cycle, and it’s easy to feel hopeless if we let ourselves get caught up in despair and fear.

It helps me to keep an eye out for the small joys in my day:

🥴 Stretching my back for the first time in a month
🐓 Seeing a chicken cross the road (she got to the other side)
📺 Laughing out loud at a TV show
🏳️‍⚧️ Witnessing my trans kids living their best lives
📚 Sharing a resource with another parent of a trans kiddo

We’ve got to hold onto those small joys and savor them.

What’s bringing you joy right now?

Mandy Giles
Founder and CEO
Parents of Trans Youth

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

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

p.s.s. Loving these emails? Send a tiny donation to Parents of Trans Youth to say thanks! ❤️

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

Be with people who just GET IT

Reader, I know the info below won't apply to everyone. If you're not a parent of a trans kiddo, no worries. But you might know someone who is. Please consider forwarding this email their way. I want as many parents as possible to know this important resource exists. TIA! Come be with people who just GET IT. The Parents of Trans Youth Community (PTYC) is a secure, upbeat online space for parents and caregivers who affirm and support their trans kids (of any age). You’ll find like-minded folks,...

3 days ago • 1 min read

Chappin' my hide

Did you catch the President's State of the Union speech this week? Nah, I didn't either. I figured I'd catch the highlights later rather than subjecting myself to that man's voice for 107 minutes. As you can imagine, this "highlight" really chapped my hide: "No state can be allowed to rip children from their parents' arms and transition them to a new gender against the parents’ will. Who would believe that we’re even talking about this? We must ban it, and we must ban it immediately." Raise...

7 days ago • 1 min read

Support trans Girl Scouts🍪

For the past five years, journalist Erin Reed has maintained a list of transgender and nonbinary Girl Scouts selling cookies, encouraging her readers to buy from them! If you're looking to fill your Girl Scout cookie fix, consider buying from one of the kiddos on Erin's list. Click here for the Girl Scout list! Buy from Girl Scouts who have not reached their goals, and choose the “ship the cookies” option and not the “deliver the cookies” option (so some poor Girl Scout won't have to deliver...

10 days ago • 1 min read