More progression

[Samantha51]

Hi. Sorry if I'm posting too much but perhaps it's normal in the early days.

So, I came out to my wife a month or two ago.

1. The other week she freely offered to paint my nails. That was amazing acceptance.
2. I then painted my nails, and apart from a hasty Dr's appointment and a few shops with strangers it has been private.
3. This week I painted my nails (black) and she encouraged me to keep it on saying nobody cares in 2023.
4. We went for a meal yesterday before I sang at a service.

At the meal: I was habituated enough from earlier outings that I wasn't even very nervous in front of our friends. Some light mickey taking, some interest, some questions why, etc. I just said I was having some fun, mixing things up, tired of not doing what I want for fear of social pressure.

I was also wearing a new (man's) shirt that is really quite pretty, flowing and soft and could easily be mistaken for a blouse. Nice: I like the mystery. Plenty of joking comments from the choir men that such a shirt shouldn't be shown in public. All good fun!

At church similar sort of reaction. After the service with mulled wine people were coming up to ask to see and asking why, etc. Similar sort of responses. To one lady friend I said that I'd bought a sarong earlier and gave an arch smile and "you never know" when being asked if I'd wear a skirt, etc. She mentioned a close friends son who is probably trans and the difficulties he's having - this validates that it's good to be open - people need to talk.

Then, as usual after evening choral services, off to the local pub with choir and my wife and more of the same banter.

Some amusement, maybe some concern and confusion but no ridicule from anyone, and I was ready for it anyway. Job done!

All in all a good weekend, with my wife giving me another bra and "demanding" that I try it on - another barrier weakened. My wife is an absolute star and I love her more every day. I think she was enjoying the fun of it all yesterday as well. Other than the nails I was completely man mode - for her sake not mine as I'd have preferred to be underdressed (not that she asked).

My best friend (also in the choir) is the only one who knows about the CD was concerned because we do share mental health concerns. He thinks it was a blip as I've only had one heart-to-heart with him - he didn't understand.

[Crissy 107]

Samantha, More good progress! Thanks for the update but also use caution as you go forward. There are many here who took some acceptance to mean everything is good to go only to find out their acceptance was totally gone.

[ValerieL]

Your wife sounds like a great support!! I agree with her, no one really cares anymore. I started painting my nails years ago, way before I started crossdressing. Sometimes I get weird looks from the more conservative people at work, but in general I get compliments!

[Samantha51]

Samantha, More good progress! Thanks for the update but also use caution as you go forward. There are many here who took some acceptance to mean everything is good to go only to find out their acceptance was totally gone.
Thanks Crissy. It's my biggest anxiety, that my wife loves me so much that she'd rather I was true to myself even if it means she can't be with me. She said this at the beginning, but we understand each other better day-by-day. I do not want to go there. I do, however, think we're well right now as man and wife: she came home from visiting her mother in hospital with a beautiful bunch of flowers for me - for looking after her recently. I loved them and arranged them. That's a good sign and very much appreciated!

ValerieL - thank you! I'll be off to the gym tomorrow morning with them painted. A different crowd to acclimatise to, but I'm nearly beyond caring now. Really, only my family to see them. Mother, mother-in-law, brother and my sons. Then old friends.

[alwayshave]

Samantha, Sounds like you are making significant progress. That's great.

[Samantha51]

Thanks Jamie! I think so too. I'm especially pleased that my wife thanked me with the flowers - unusual, unexpected and unnecessary, but very nice!

The gym was a non event regarding the nails. It was the more mature crowd at that time of day: more conservative perhaps but not rowdy. The evening crowd is more testosterone filled and rowdy so that's another visit, but it won't be an issue now.

I was still annoyingly coy about using my feminine "Rose" deodorant. But I did.

As soon as I was home I underdressed. It's wise that I don't put the bra and panties on in the locker room (let alone the thigh highs!), however much I'd like too! Balance between expressing myself and wisely fitting in.