1. Accepts [and participates to a certain degree, but is nervous about the wrong people finding out (certain family members, coworkers, etc)].
She did not know before we were married. In those days I thought the dressing was a surrogate for having a woman in my life and that it would go away once I was with someone steady. When it came back, I kept it hidden for many years. I went to counseling and was able to get a better understanding and acceptance of myself, but my therapist actually advised me not to run home and tell my wife. We met in 1986, got married in 1987, and I went for counseling in 1990. I didn't finally tell her until 2001. She was surprised but didn't freak out. Less than a year after I told her, though, we went through a difficult period in our relationship due to other reasons, and I my desire to dress evaporated. Because of that, she got the impression that the dressing was not a very serious thing with me, just an odd, occasional fetish. When it came back again in late 2009 she was surprised by how far I suddenly wanted to take it--dressing up completely, full body shaving, wanting to go out, etc. There was a period of adjustment, but we seem to be pretty solid now. (Knock on wood.) She helps me pick out clothes, gives me her hand-me-downs, alters/sews things for me, and has been out with me a few times. I haven't yet convinced her that Sophie's clothes should be part of the clothes budget, rather than the playthings budget, but we're doing very well on the whole.
