This conversation is part of a special series in which I talk with other moms determined to find healthy ways of navigating gender ideology in their homes. Moms whose stories and strategies may inspire you.
Such a fun conversation with Christine! We begin with her describing how she became more comfortable putting herself out there in conversations, desensitizing to feelings of disappointment, so she could be open in her social circles about her experience with her TI son. What struck me about this conversation is Christine’s ability to experiment, get feedback about what works (and what doesn’t,) and use that information to adjust her approach. She talks about how her son’s 18th birthday created a shift for her. When she discovered his visit to Planned Parenthood, she had to acknowledge that she could no longer control his experience; she was forced to let that approach go and try something different. I loved her description that “this is bigger than me” and being able to let herself off the hook. With a new focus on self-awareness and working with her own triggers, she’s making progress on other important relationships in her life. She’s recognizing how she’s limited herself and is motivated to “reducing barriers” to her son’s sense of connection with his family.
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A bonus clip in which Christine explains a current dynamic with her son and I make a suggestion for her to test out with him:
Shifting away from fighting a losing battle -with Christine