It's been a genuine relief, and I'm glad I didn't have the conversation any later.
Alas aleck, it finally happened: my parents outed me when they found part of my wig's bag hanging out of the cupboard. My mother apparently noticed it when she was packing the entire house –*she is extremely thorough about this and would leave no stone unturned. The wig, in her presence, eventually flew into the garbage chute: my parents insisted on me throwing it away myself as a form of closure, and bore witness to it that I did not hide it elsewhere. (In other words, an obviously symbolic purge.)
The most fundamental outcome of the conversation was actually unsurprising –*I would always be their son regardless; the dressing, according to my father, 'was likely' a mere phase of growing up while I was still 'experimenting' with my sex and gender. What was actually surprising was the fact that they were extremely open about this, contrary to my belief that they were DADT after they silenced me with 'Don't ever -'. They, however, suggested (on impulse?) seeing a psychiatrist (not a therapist – a shrink!) if the need be.
Above all, they were most afraid of the shame I would bring if the fact that I cross-dress came to light, especially when I, their only child, was brought up to be seen as their only hope. ("Don't ruin your life, ______. You've already got a place in the university, and are on your way to a bright future. I don't want it to collapse because of this." The one statement that made my heart drop a little.) If anything, they definitely wish to see me grow out entirely of any gender non-conforming or transgender tendencies. I'm trying to love myself unconditionally, both roses and thorns... I see this part of my identity as a rose to me, but they (implicitly want me to) see it as a thorn.
I don't wish to deny this part of me, and repressing it would be even worse. I decided after that long conversation that the best I can do to move on is accept the fact that I will always and unavoidably have such tendencies, and that while I am a cross-dresser, I am certainly not beholden to it. But at the end of the day, my parents have always seen and will almost certainly continue to see me as their boy for life, for better or for worse. Similarly, I'm 'bro'/'man' to my colleagues and friends, no matter now nice 'sis' or 'girl' might ever have sounded.
I will be having another long conversation about this topic tomorrow but I'm not even sure where to begin. I asked about their feelings; they felt shocked above all, and perhaps worried judging by their tone of voice. Thoughts, anyone?