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View Full Version : I lost my family (sort of, not completely, but in many ways)



Michelle789
08-09-2015, 09:27 PM
I spoke with my mom and brother today, and I have come to a very, very sad conclusion. That I have lost my father. This is obvious - he and I simply aren't talking, and I intend to keep it that way. After he antagonized me in May about hormones being responsible for making me sick, I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER talk to him again. As far as I'm concerned, he is no longer my father. Even though he hasn't officially disowned me, I am effectively disowning him. I will never have a relationship with him again.

I also realized that my mom may never fully transition along with me. While she still talks with me, she also has serious memory problems that are preventing her from properly re-gendering me. But today I have come to the saddest of realizations. That my younger brother will never fully transition along with me as long as my father is alive.

My older brother is seriously disabled - he can't walk or talk or do anything, really, and he is being taken care of by my father, mother, and younger brother. He had a reaction to a vaccine as a baby that left him like this. (If my younger brother ever stumbles upon this thread, he'll know for sure it's me hahaha). My father has been on kidney dialysis for a year now. My father has no ability whatsoever to keep a schedule. He stays up until 3-4 am and wakes up at 11am to noon, sometimes later. He never was great at keeping schedules, but has been horrible since he retired 15 years ago. When I spoke to my father a year ago, he told me that he was going to do his kidney dialysis at home, and that he would have to maintain a regular schedule, going to bed by 10pm to midnight, and waking up at 6-8 am.

Well, guess what? I spoke with my brother and mom today. My brother told me that my dad is still not on a schedule, and that they're all up to 3-4 am taking care of my older brother. I was completely flabbergasted. I was in a complete state of utter shock. I asked my brother how my dad managed to find a way to go to bed late every night. And he said that my father simply starts and ends dialysis late. Ughhhh. Only my father could find a way to cheat the system and stay up until 3-4 am even on dialysis. He never quits.

My brother said that he wanted to see a gender specialist to talk with them about my gender dysphoria feelings and transition. I thought this would be a good move because it may be a step in the right direction to really help my brother to accept me, and to start the process of re-gendering me as his sister. Well, I asked him if he was going to see the gender specialist any time soon. He told me no, that he gets up late every morning, and is busy taking care of my older brother. My mom also got into an accident and totaled her car. My father won't let her drive another car. Now my brother is responsible for doing all the family grocery shopping and running errands. Because my mom can't drive, and my dad refuses to ever leave the house.

My brother told me that he doesn't have time to see the gender specialist, and that his gym is more important than the gender specialist. It hit me today, that my family will never be able to fully accept me, and will never be able to re-gender me as Michelle, as their daughter, and sister. I realized at my very best, I have no realistic chance of being re-gendered by anyone as long as my father is still alive. He will never be able to keep a schedule, and his tyranny is screwing up everybody's lives.

Sometimes I feel like my brother is just making excuses to not want to re-gender me. I mean, after all, why can't he sacrifice a gym session or two. I mean how often does he go to the gym, realistically? 3 times a week, 4 times, every single day? If he goes even 3 times a week, and he went to see a gender specialist once or twice, is he really going to gain 50 pounds? Even if he went to see a specialist once every two weeks for a few months, and maybe once a month for the next year, in order to transition along with me, is he really going to gain 50 pounds? You do the math. This part of me feels like he is just making up excuses to not go see the specialist. Why? Because if he goes to see the specialist, he might very well be convinced that this whole transition thing is for real, and that he needs to start re-gendering me.

So now my father will never accept me, period. My mom is being blocked by her memory problems. My brother is at best being blocked by my father, and possibly by his own inability to make time into a busy schedule.

I honestly, at this point, I honestly do not feel comfortable ever addressing them by my male name ever again. I refuse to ever answer a phone, or leave a message, and use my birth name. I would like to leave messages as, or answer the phone as, and say this is Michelle. But I feel like my brother is going to give me a strange reaction, and that my mom, with her memory problems, is literally going to wonder "who is Michelle?" or say "I don't know anyone named Michelle." I haven't spoken with them much lately, because I feel so uncomfortable talking with them. I don't feel like I can share my life with them either. I would love to talk about my life with Cody, or with MCC, or with trans group, or AA, or doing girl stuff, but I feel like I simply can't talk about anything going on in my life.

I only call them once every week or so. In fact, today was the first time in nearly three weeks that I spoke with them. I don't feel comfortable using my male name, and I'm afraid to assert my authentic name. I also don't really have anything other than the weather or general stuff to talk about. I feel like when talking on the phone they're just not receptive to anything.

I am really, really saddened by this. This is not really such a big surprise tbh. But I realized today that no one in my family will re-gender me as long as my father is still alive, and there is a good chance that my family will never see me as Michelle. I am really, really sad by this. Part of me wants to never talk to them again. I really hate that they call me by my birth name. I hate that I can't assert my identity. I hate that I can't talk with them about anything of substance or importance to me. I really feel like as of today, I have no family.

And I really, really believe that my father only had me and my younger brother so that he could have two slaves to take care of my older brother when my father dies. He has done everything in his power to take away any outside support systems from my brother and mom. He forbid us to be part of any religion, especially Christianity. He forbid us to drink alcohol. Why? Because religion and drinking are both social activities. He always warns us about how everything is a path to self destruction. He is the only person in the whole wide world who if his own child was having a drinking problem, he would tell them not to go to AA. Because AA is a bunch of alcoholics that are inevitably going to drink again. He is the only person that forbids drinking and religion. He successfully cut my family off from having any kind of social life, or ties with the outside world. My brother has never had any friends in his life. My mom has suffered through many failed friendships. To my father, everyone is bad company. Everyone is a bad influence on his family. He trusts nobody. My father only ever talks about what is wrong with the world, and finds fault with everybody and everything. He has successfully ruined my mom's and younger brother's life. Now he won't let my mom ever drive again. They live out in the freakin' suburbs, and there is no public transportation in their small little redneck town. Oh, and did I mention that he does not like that I am transitioning? And that he blames the hormones for causing me to have bronchitis a few months ago?

I feel like he has successfully bred my younger brother to be that caretaker for my older brother. He has certainly tried with me, but I got away from him, and started living life, and started seeing that the world is not the bleak, dangerous place, that my father paints it to be. My father should have never been allowed to be a father. He is clearly the most unfit man on the face of this planet to be a father. He clearly has abused all of us and created this dysfunctional mess that he calls a family. He is a man that makes religious fundamentalists seem sane and liberal compared to him.

My father negatively programmed me too. That I would never be good at anything other than math and computer programming. Certainly, to some extent, he did this to reinforce maleness. He hated any sign of femininity that he saw in me. I am only starting to discover that I have many other talents and abilities that are non math or computer programming, yet sometimes I feel like I will only ever be good at math, logic, and programming. I think HRT and living authentically is helping drastically with this.

Now I have come to the conclusion that my social problems in life have two causes. Gender dysphoria, and I may very well need FFS to fully function. And my father. In spite of the fact that I moved away from my family 17 years ago, and to L.A. 13 years ago, I still remain influenced by my father. I still retain his negative programming to some degree. I probably lack confidence both because of him and because of GD. Oh, and my father certainly hated it when he saw any signs of femininity in me, and he hated when I voiced to him and mom that I'm a girl at the age of 5. God only knows what went through his mind, but he certainly wasn't happy.

Anyways, enough ranting about my exceptionally dysfunctional family.

Thankfully, my family lives 3000 miles away on the East Coast, so I don't have to deal with them in person.

Jorja
08-09-2015, 10:30 PM
I am so sorry to hear this. However, that does happen all too often. I know you are upset with your father but his disapproval isn't all of his own fault. It has taken several generations to form and shape his opinion.

I had the same thing with my father. It took proving to him that my transition was truly best for me. As much as he hated me being transgender he followed each and every little step I took. He had to see me excel in life as well as in business. He and I had not spoke in years. One day out of the blue, he walked in to my place of business, gave me a big hug and told me how proud he was to be my father. We became great friends and both enjoyed each others company until he passed a few years ago.

I am not saying the same thing will happen to you but give it some time and see what happens. Your actions and success can make all the difference in the world.

Persephone
08-10-2015, 02:50 AM
Michelle,

We've gotten together on a number of occassions and you are a wonderful woman who has made tremendous strides in overcoming a horribly difficult background.

I know how difficult it must be to realize the difficulties your family has caused but you have a beautiful life in front of you if you keep moving forward with a positive attitude. You have a fantastic SO and together you are a family.

Hugs,
Persephone.

jaleecd
08-10-2015, 03:00 AM
I would suggest that no one can make you feel anything unless you let them. AA teaches us to take responsibitie for our own selves. God don't make junk, and despite your fathers opinion, you are not a mistake or defective. some times you have to virtually bury those who are toxic influences in your life, until you are strong in who you are, and that the sick life view of your inlaws doesn't matter.

ReineD
08-10-2015, 03:30 AM
How far away is your family? Would it be possible for you to show up to lend a helping hand? It sounds as if they need it.

You might need to give them time to get used to the real you. Can you show up at your house and help (take your mom to do groceries, help to take care of your older brother, help with the housework, etc) while presenting as who you are? I honestly think that your parents and brother might become more used to gendering you properly, if they build up experiences seeing you as a woman. I hope you'll take this the right way, but if you've only come out to them in the past year, that's a relatively short time with this new knowledge compared to the sum total of years they thought of you as a male. It takes time to get used to big changes. If you live far away and they've hardly seen you as a woman, it's pretty hard for them to think of you as anything other than the person they have known all their lives?

They need to build new memories (actually interacting with you a lot as Michelle), and with that, the ability to mentally switch what they call you will occur as a matter of course. I hope I haven't said anything offensive. I'm wanting to point out that many TSs struggle for years before they accept they are TS before they begin to take steps to change their lives, and families need an equal amount of time as well. But this doesn't mean that it will never happen.

PaulaQ
08-10-2015, 04:24 AM
1. You don't need FFS to fully function. It might improve your quality of life, or ease dysphoria, but it isn't a mandatory thing for you. Get it if you feel it's right for you, but it's not a requirement - you are working, you have a relationship and friends. Your life is working out pretty well so far. Just something to keep in mind.

2. Give them time. Correct them when they get it wrong. It can take a long time - years - for some people to come around.

becky77
08-10-2015, 08:44 AM
Just playing Devil's advocate here.
You moved 3000 miles away from them, they sound like they have plenty of problems that you are unable to help with.

I'm sure you had your reasons for moving, but they may feel you are not a big enough part of their lives to invest too much emotional energy into.

Also I feel from your posts the resentment you feel and most likely they feel this too, perhaps there is too much bad feelings and too many miles for this to be repaired by the odd phone call.

If your Dad is as bad as you say then he is most likely incapable of changing.

You finish by saying "Thankfully, my family lives 3000 miles away on the East Coast, so I don't have to deal with them in person."
Perhaps they also think that way?

Kaitlyn Michele
08-10-2015, 08:49 AM
I'm really sorry about your situation. It sounds like your family is going through a lot of tough issues and some dysfunction.

Michelle this is about YOU. You are doing this for yourself. We both hope your family comes around but there is a lot of issues before that can happen. There is good advice above if you are ready to push ahead ...

Just be you, ignore the misgendering. Thrive as the woman that you are. Help them if you can, be there if they will let you. Let them get used to it.. It takes time.

For what its worth I got wonderful support from my family but am still sometimes misgendered by my dad and brother. they don't mean anything by it... if they knew how I felt they would never do it, but they are cisgender and can never understand

anyway, I am rooting for you.

Momarie
08-10-2015, 09:36 AM
I am amazed that you seem to be only concerned for yourself.

It sounds like your brother could really use some help, along with the rest of your family.
Have you ever taken over for a few days so he and your Mom could have a break?
Going to the gym probably keeps him sane with such a responsibility and workload.
You expect a lot from them but seem unwilling to give anything back.

Bria
08-10-2015, 09:59 AM
Michelle, I'm sorry that you feel that you have lost your family, to feel alone in the world is not a comfortable feeling. You don't say how old your Mom is, but if she is having memory problems it is probably best that she not drive. One of my employees had a wife (now deceased) that started to have memory problems and would get lost when out in the car. I've also read about elderly parents that get lost and end but hundreds of miles away.

I would hope that you may have some good memories of your family to focus on, and try to let go of the bad feelings. Your self esteem is important, work on that, you mention that you are finding new talents and interests, build on those and you may find a new self confidence to replace the negative feelings.

I wouldn't bet on it at this point, but it sure would be nice if you could have the same experience that Jorja had with her father. Sometimes us old foogies can learn and grow to accept modern society!

Hugs, Bria

Rianna Humble
08-10-2015, 03:53 PM
I am amazed that you seem to be only concerned for yourself.

You expect a lot from them but seem unwilling to give anything back.

Momarie, I can understand why you might feel like this if you are basing your comments on the early part of the opening post, but that doesn't take any account of the history and why Michelle felt the need to move 3000 miles away. The very fact that her father engaged in negative comment about her abilities before Michelle gave in to the Gender Dysphoria suggests strongly to me that she was in an extremely unhealthy situation whilst living in the family home.

Equally, something that is outside of the direct experience of all cis people is the fact that every time someone knowingly misgenders a trans person they are effectively saying to that person "You do not exist and you have no right to even the slightest consideration from me". Occasionally, when family members do this repeatedly, the only viable option is to sever ties.

PaulaQ
08-10-2015, 05:00 PM
I terminated any contact with my father long before my gender issues became unstoppable. He'd never have approved anyway. I didn't speak to him once for the ten years before he died. He was a chronic alcoholic, and after spending a month with him through rehab, he was drinking again within the week he was released.

I was finished, at that point. I'd done more for him by that time than he'd ever done for me. (To describe him as an absentee father would be generous.)

Some relationships can't be salvaged.

However, you could consider simply not visiting them, and not calling them often until they are more accepting - they don't misgender you, or otherwise give you hell. Tell them this is what you are doing - especially your mother. Perhaps they'll desire to be with their kid enough to change. Tell them it will go on like this until it no longer happens when you communicate with them.

Otherwise, you can do as I did, and make your peace with the situation and simply go on with your life, with no contact with them. I hope you get a better outcome than that - I didn't shed a tear they day my father died. In fact it was a relief, I was almost happy about it. Those were not wonderful feelings to have, but the way he was, he was a threat to my own sobriety. There was no other option for me.

@Momarie - don't be so quick to judge the situation of others. Most of us DO NOT want to lose our families, in fact quite the opposite. I believe Michelle would most likely have died had she not transitioned. She had no choice. She hit the wall. That her family refuses to acknowledge her is awful. I know you are bitter about your own situation, but not all circumstances are like our own. From things she's written about her family before, I believe there were terrible problems between Michelle and her family long before gender was an open issue. I'd also point out that, in general, most people do not react to the news that someone is trans by considering the trans person at all. In general, it's all about their feelings, not the suffering of the trans person, or often much real concern for them at all.

Michelle789
08-10-2015, 10:19 PM
Thank you Paula and Lucy!!!

I personally know a transwomen who lives only part time. She spends 3-4 days a week in male mode taking care of her parents. She feels that her responsibility to her parents is more important than being authentic. Another transwoman in my group agrees, and although she is full-time, she would consider going back to male mode if her family's health was an issue. Easy for her to say - both her parents are dead. Maybe she feels the loss of her parents before she ever got a chance to come out to them.

The girl who is currently taking care of her parents (in male mode) is also not at a point where it's transition or die. She can emotionally afford to take care of her parents in male mode. She probably has a better relationship with her family too. In my case, I was on the verge of suicide two years ago. A year ago just before going full-time, there literally was no freakin' way I could tolerate another day in male mode. Each of us has our own set of circumstances. For some of us, the dysphoria isn't so extreme and we have good relations with our families, so it makes sense to take care of them in male mode. In my case the dysphoria was extreme and my relationship with my family is poor. There is just no way I could ever go back to male mode, and I just can't tolerate being called by my male name. Nor can I tolerate keeping everything in my life a big secret. Just the fact that I feel awkward talking about transgender stuff, church, and I'm not even yet out about Cody, smacks of the relationship issues I have with my family.

Some of us might literally face the dilemma of where they are no longer comfortable presenting as male, but feel compelled to visit or take care of family members who request to see them in male mode. This is truly a dilemma for some of us. I always believe if I don't take care of myself, than I can be of no good use to others. If I had to present as male or go off hormones, than I will be completely non-functional. For me, I need the feminizing effects of hormones, physically and emotionally, as well as the need to present as female 100% of the time, to be functional. And while we're at it, I wouldn't be able to function dressing androgynously either. For me, it's femme or nothing. And that means calling me by the correct name and pronouns, or at least making an effort to do so.

Some of my friends still mistakenly mis-gender me, but almost all of them make an effort to correct themselves when they do. If I have to correct them myself, they usually accept the correction. Others have firmly gendered me as female. In AA we have a tradition of celebrating each year of sobriety by singing "happy birthday" and the "birthday" girl (or boy) gets a 1-2 minute speech in front of the room. When I went to the meeting secretary to tell her I was celebrating 8 years, I asked her to please use "she" and "her." She then asked "why would I call you he?" She had a very puzzled look on her face. I explained to her that sometimes people who knew me before I transitioned still mistakenly call me "he". And sometimes I get mis-gendered by complete strangers too. She obviously cannot understand why anyone would mis-gender me. Kudos to her - she takes me as 100% female!!! But not everyone does sadly. Either because they read me, or because they knew me as a man, some people don't fully see me as a woman, or they just see a dude in a dress.