Kathryn Martin
11-17-2010, 07:11 PM
I have one living parent, my father, two sisters and four children and my parents in law.
This past weekend I began coming out to them beginning with my older sister. My sister is a good person but sometimes difficult especially when it comes to "secrets" being kept from family members. We have had a secret of similar weight in the past and she did not handle it well.
Since my Dad and my sisters are across the Atlantic I had to do so over the telephone. It is both frustrating and painful in itself. You cannot look into the eyes of your listener and all you have to convey your message is words. And sometimes words are too light.
Since Sunday, she has written me two emails. The first was somewhat skeptical, the second showed her reflections on this revelation and finally yesterday she left a message on my phone telling me that she loved me very much and that she will support me fully. She offered to help with others in my family when the time has come.
I will be coming out to my children before Christmas. I am worried about the boys (32 and 26) especially. It is hard if you have modeled yourself as a man on your father to find out that maybe he was more feminine than masculine. They both are wonderful husbands and the older is a good father. I hope that this will not unsettle how they see themselves.
Does anyone have advice on how to tackle this?
This past weekend I began coming out to them beginning with my older sister. My sister is a good person but sometimes difficult especially when it comes to "secrets" being kept from family members. We have had a secret of similar weight in the past and she did not handle it well.
Since my Dad and my sisters are across the Atlantic I had to do so over the telephone. It is both frustrating and painful in itself. You cannot look into the eyes of your listener and all you have to convey your message is words. And sometimes words are too light.
Since Sunday, she has written me two emails. The first was somewhat skeptical, the second showed her reflections on this revelation and finally yesterday she left a message on my phone telling me that she loved me very much and that she will support me fully. She offered to help with others in my family when the time has come.
I will be coming out to my children before Christmas. I am worried about the boys (32 and 26) especially. It is hard if you have modeled yourself as a man on your father to find out that maybe he was more feminine than masculine. They both are wonderful husbands and the older is a good father. I hope that this will not unsettle how they see themselves.
Does anyone have advice on how to tackle this?