Hello,
I'll try to keep this short for now and will add more details if and when needed, as this could turn into a long post!
I have a 10 year old stepson and live with his father. His biological mother has always been distant in his life, leaving him and dad when he was a few months old. As dad describes it, it's like she's been a "satellite" during his life, sometimes she's there, sometimes she's not. So they haven't got a close bond or much or a relationship. She also has a 7 year old girl from another relationship (who lives with her).
Before Christmas, our son was told that she is going to become a boy. This is something which has confused and upset him. Last weekend, he found out that she's now going by a male name, and she is insisiting that everyone around her now calls her by the male name. So to her young daughter, she is no longer 'mummy' but this male first name. My son is very uncomfortable about this and doesn't want to call her by her chosen male name. He has always called her by her female first name.
The mum is not taking hormone treatments. She is dressing as a man and legally changed her name by deed poll. She is undertaking her RLE and is due to see a member of the mental health team later next week, as part of the process.
The main issue that I have is that the mum does not seem to appreciate how this affects my lad and expects him (and everyone else) to accept these new changes. Any communication of late regarding how our boy feels, is responded by lots of statements like "I want....", "people have to understand how I feel..." etc.
Can anyone offer and help, guidance, support, similar situations, etc?
I've recently been reading a lot about transgender and have been in touch with some TG groups, but I'm interested on what others have to say about best helping our lad.
Thanks very much