How would you respond when your kid comes out as transgender after pizza night?
This happened to me.
Would you be surprised to know that 6 months before he came out, I had a kid who would barely talk to me and a relationship that was hanging by a thread?
Parenting is hard!
When the voices both inside and outside your head are telling you that you should know what to do, reaching out for help can feel like an admission of failure.
The worry that assumptions about your lifestyle or identity might be tied directly to your child or teen's problems can stop you from getting help – no matter how overwhelmed you feel.
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You are welcome here without judgment no matter what your non-traditional family looks like.
I use non-traditional as an umbrella to include the following:
- LGBTQ+ parents & caregivers
- Parents & caregivers with an LGBTQ+ kid
- Parents & caregivers with Poly and/or Kinky lifestyles
- Single or divorced parents & caregivers.
- Something else that makes you feel like you don’t fit a typical family
You'll find my work is based on the understanding that your child’s behavior is communication.
I believe this can change everything about how you respond to your kid. Then, solutions can emerge for your family, as we work together to build parenting skills that promote peace at home.
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It’s not personal!
With the right support, I came to understand that my kid’s oppositional and withdrawn behavior was his best attempt to communicate his own stress, anxiety and overwhelm.
With new understanding, I began to repair and rebuild the relationship with my kid.
Six months later outside our front door after pizza, he said, This is hard to tell you, but I know you’d want to know. And he came out to me.
Knowing he felt safe to include me in his process felt overwhelmingly beautiful! That was 15 years ago.
Our relationship has just grown better since then and he still includes me in important moments of his life.
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For over 13 years, I’ve helped hundreds of parents and caregivers to feel calmer and more confident about their parenting, through one-on-one coaching, workshops and webinars.
I offer a variety of 1-on-1 coaching to match your needs.
Find out about my services here: https://www.parentingbeyondwords.com/services
