Beautifully written piece. It brought tears to my eyes, reflecting about my childhood and how I wished you could have had the some of the same experiences.

My childhood was bittersweet. I was physically abused by my father and sexually by another relative. I developed a type of gender dysphoria due to dissociation disorder because of trauma. After the trauma I had a lot of self hate, I didn’t want to be a girl. I grew up as a Tomboy. I felt safe and comforted as my boy self. I wore boy clothes, played army guys in the mud with my neighbors who were boys. Boys did not look at me as something to be desired, and I felt safe.

The part that I wished you could have experienced was how easy it was to do. No one batted an eye when I preferred boy clothes over the frills of girl clothes. No one cared that I ran around dirty and unkempt. I could indulge in my wish at the time, to be a boy, without barriers. The only teasing I had to endure was by my own family; They coined the nickname “Andy no Peter” for me. It was only slightly annoying.

Now, fast forward to the present, I have a Trans daughter. She is the most wonderful caring person. Even though the world is more accepting of Transgender individuals, it is a struggle. I fear for her safety, I’m afraid of depression setting in, and I worry about her self esteem. It is a journey, and I hope I can accomplish being her support every step of the way.

Thank you for sharing you experiences.