I simply have to believe that my daughter would be open. Not necessarily to this particular theory, but to anything that nourishes her in her thirst for self-discovery that does strike a chord. I believe a deep craving to understand herself and the world must be at the root of this whole thing, both the autism thing and the gender thing.
I simply have to believe that my daughter would be open. Not necessarily to this particular theory, but to anything that nourishes her in her thirst for self-discovery that does strike a chord. I believe a deep craving to understand herself and the world must be at the root of this whole thing, both the autism thing and the gender thing.
I had it too as a teenager. Did you? My "thing" manifested as a belief that my small town was too small for me, filled with people who cannot understand me, and I must travel the world. Ultimately this did not lead me to find myself, but it did broaden my perspective. My daughter's quest is manifesting as a belief in gender and having autism. I don't believe this broadens her perspective or brings her closer to herself.
In any case. I do believe that her brain must be primed to soak up anything that lights that spark. It could be Dabrowski, it might also not be, but we're still at the stage where she does pay attention to things I say and books and other things I recommend, so long as they don't touch on gender.
I'll check Living with Intensity out. We should compile a book list for ourselves and our children!
This is beautiful, Frankie--and full of hopefulness. It sounds like you've got a strong, healthy attachment with your daughter. She'll benefit from you looking at her with this level of faith.
In my case, I've recognized the best I can do is give my daughter a model of resilience and delight in the rich human experience. And then have faith that she'll prefer and choose that when she realizes that membership in the church of oppression doesn't work to meet her need for self-determination.
There's a thread for this book list in the forum. ;) It's in its infant stages.
Even last week I would have said entirely different things (along the lines of doom and gloom). It is a work in progress. I think we probably need to let go of the fear and dread to be able to find a better place, but I'm sure it will creep back in. It IS scary, after all.
We are all "works in progress." ;) And I don't want to diminish the fear; however, I do encourage not letting it drive the bus! You may appreciate my older pieces, Communicating with your Archetypal FTM, parts 1 and 2. I'd also encourage listening to the conversation between Patrick Ryan and Lisa Marchiano that is linked in both those pieces, I believe.
It's a cultural phenomenon that I think makes perfect sense for them to opt into--in whatever way possible, be it mental health diagnoses or a trans identity. It's what works these days.
I simply have to believe that my daughter would be open. Not necessarily to this particular theory, but to anything that nourishes her in her thirst for self-discovery that does strike a chord. I believe a deep craving to understand herself and the world must be at the root of this whole thing, both the autism thing and the gender thing.
I had it too as a teenager. Did you? My "thing" manifested as a belief that my small town was too small for me, filled with people who cannot understand me, and I must travel the world. Ultimately this did not lead me to find myself, but it did broaden my perspective. My daughter's quest is manifesting as a belief in gender and having autism. I don't believe this broadens her perspective or brings her closer to herself.
In any case. I do believe that her brain must be primed to soak up anything that lights that spark. It could be Dabrowski, it might also not be, but we're still at the stage where she does pay attention to things I say and books and other things I recommend, so long as they don't touch on gender.
I'll check Living with Intensity out. We should compile a book list for ourselves and our children!
This is beautiful, Frankie--and full of hopefulness. It sounds like you've got a strong, healthy attachment with your daughter. She'll benefit from you looking at her with this level of faith.
In my case, I've recognized the best I can do is give my daughter a model of resilience and delight in the rich human experience. And then have faith that she'll prefer and choose that when she realizes that membership in the church of oppression doesn't work to meet her need for self-determination.
There's a thread for this book list in the forum. ;) It's in its infant stages.
Even last week I would have said entirely different things (along the lines of doom and gloom). It is a work in progress. I think we probably need to let go of the fear and dread to be able to find a better place, but I'm sure it will creep back in. It IS scary, after all.
We are all "works in progress." ;) And I don't want to diminish the fear; however, I do encourage not letting it drive the bus! You may appreciate my older pieces, Communicating with your Archetypal FTM, parts 1 and 2. I'd also encourage listening to the conversation between Patrick Ryan and Lisa Marchiano that is linked in both those pieces, I believe.
Love that "church or oppression". Being part of the VMF (vulnerable, Margelizied and Fragile) group, really has captured these kids.
It's a cultural phenomenon that I think makes perfect sense for them to opt into--in whatever way possible, be it mental health diagnoses or a trans identity. It's what works these days.