Jump to content
  • Welcome to the TransPulse Forums!

    We offer a safe, inclusive community for transgender and gender non-conforming folks, as well as their loved ones, to find support and information.  Join today!

BIG update


Guest Amanda Whyte

Recommended Posts

Guest Amanda Whyte

Wow, I dont even know where to start.

I got kicked out of the house yesterday. Before I left, I had to tell the children about being transgender because my wife was if I didnt. I gave them a brief explanation. I asked if they had any questions but at that time they didnt. Now I am a nervouse wreck. I almost cant type this my hands are shaking so bad. I dont know what to do. I am trying to decide to contact my wife and ask to see the kids, call the kids, or give it another day.

My dad also called, which means my wife called my sister. He gave me the "The devil has you" speach and said they are going to meet their preacher to talk about it.

I am almost physically sick right now.

Mandy

Link to comment
Guest Shari

Mandy,

I am so sorry for you. I know this isn't what you wanted to happen.

You can't predict when it will get better, but it will. Now is not the time to be making any big decisions about anything. Don't worry, time is on your side and you can use as much as you need to sort out all your feelings.

Have you called your therapist? When my wife left me, my therapist really helped me understand it all.

Hang in there sweetie.

Hugs,

Shari

Link to comment
Guest Holly S

Hang in there girl - hopefully this'll straighten itself out.

Maybe some of the more experienced members here can give you some advice, because I'm drawing a blank.

Hugs and good luck,

Holly

Link to comment
Guest Amanda Whyte

Shari, I left a message for my therapist this morning, she hasnt called me back yet though. I just want to make sure I handle it right with my kids. My daughter and I have already been texting this morning but I havent heard anything from my son. I sent him a text but he isnt a big phone person anyway and most of the time doesnt have it on him or it is out of battery.

As far as my familly I just will have to judge how much lecturing I want to hear. I will keep my interations with them according to their interactions with me.

Link to comment

Hi Mandy,

I am sorry this happened, although the reactions were, unfortunately, predictable. This is a shock to the entire family and it is hard to know the ultimate results. I hope this doesn't reach the point where you are going to need legal representation, especially when it comes to seeing your children.

May the healing process start soon.

Love,

Jenny

Link to comment
Guest Amanda Whyte

My daughter has already texted me just to say I love you. We had a little conversation but she still didnt have any questions. Basically she talked about the 5k that she is doing today. She also said my son is doing good. I sent him a text as well but he hasnt answered yet. Oh, I pray, that this is how it goes with them and cant wait for the next time to be face to face with them. I hope they have questions which means they are thinking about it.

With the kids being 15 and 16 and my daughter being her own person very strongly, legal intervention for visitation is not that big of a worry for me but we will have to see.

Link to comment

You should probably consult a lawyer ASAP. You may not be worried about visitation, but your wife could take the kids' phones, who knows what she could throw at you legally as far as accusations and excuses to keep you from having any visitation rights, and child support could shortly be an issue.

I hope you can get a hold of your therapist soon. Hang in there!

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

Mandy,

I have been thinking of you since I read this. There are so many facets. One is that the dread is over-it is done and even if it turmed out worst case it is better than hanging over your head I think you will find. You are now free to move on with your life.

That whole religious thing always makes me angry. Read all the threads here about it-there was one recently about what to say and it is all so true. The only thing in the bible that remotely condemns transgender is that passage in Leviticus and if they trot that out then have them read that whole section and tell you how many of those laws they follow. We seldom marry our brother's wife when he dies or stone our neighbors for working on Sunday. Nor do we take multiple wives as men. Yet that one vague reference we are supposed to accept. I said and will say till my dying day that the Good Lord had no trouble saying what was sinful and if being gay or transgender was he would have said so. There is however an injunction about divorce that can make people very uncomfortable when in a discussion about the bible and sin. (Matthew 19:9). That being said reacting to an attack by anger or attacking back is always counter-productive.Satisfying-extremely sometimes-but the psychological truth is that the one who stays calm and in control wins. All kids know this-it's why they push our buttons till we go off. :)

Being trans is hard for people to handle and accept. Harder still to understand. I accept that, but using God to justify your own discomfort and negativity is sinful in my book. Jesus was about love and not condemnation of what made you uncomfortable. Just the opposite. Didn't he say that anyone could love those who loved them but a Christian was expected to love his/her enemies? Love doesn't condemn or harm.

Basically I'm saying don't let the rhetoric get to you. It is baseless and in my mind sinful itself.

You will find your way through this. Many, many have. And in the end they overwhelmingly say that they are happier than they have ever been. It is hard to let it go and move into a new life. Scary. But sometimes it is ultimately the only choice we have if we want to live and find any real joy or peace.

My heart and thoughts are with you

Hugs

Johnny

Link to comment
Guest Amanda Whyte

Ravin, thank you very much. I am thinking of all my options and that is one. I will look into local resources and see if there is one especially skilled.

Rikki, I appreciate the support.

Johnny, I do feel a sense of relief that everything is out with the most important people in my life. I also feel a sense of freedom to be able to finally do what I need to. I dont mean I am going to start living full time today or anything (I have a local friend who said she will kill me if I go out wearing the only wig I own). The religious thing didnt bother me really, I just am not looking forward to it being the center of our conversation for days to come. He did make me feel bad about my son though. My daughter says he is doing good but I dont know. I am so worried about him right now. I guess I worry about the typical is it right to put my happiness before my families? I just try to make sure that everything I do isnt just to make me happy. I do what i do because I have to.

DJ, what $20?

Luv'yall

Mandy

Link to comment

Hey Mandy,

I am so sorry that you are having to go through all of this also, so many here have shared this part of the journey as well but as they will all tell you - it does get better.

I am sorry that I missed the phone call but I am here for you anytime.

DJ charges everybody $20 to talk to her - I am going broke because she charges again if you leave the room and come back in.

Best of luck to you and your kids will probably help you a great deal - they have a greater capacity of open mindedness that seems to leave a lot of adults.

Love ya,

Sally

Link to comment
Guest Amanda Whyte

Thands Sally.

So I have now texted with both of my children. My son sent me a text explaining his phone was out of battery and said he loved me and one saying Good Morning, this morning. My daughter has continued to text me.

My wife and I got into a text fight but I refused to tell her I am making the choice. I just keep saying that it is her that is choosing.

My dad called and talked again and tried to tell me I should find a different couselor. He also tried to bring the Bible into it. I told him that anyone can choose which part of the Bible to believe. He told me he believes and lives by the whole Bible. I asked him then if a person should be stoned if they cheat. He quickly decided to not get in a religous debate with me.

My mom called and just pleaded with me to change my mind. Asked me to go see a minister and we prayed together.

Both my parents continue to stay civil and tell me that they love me and want to keep communicating with me.

My therapist called this morning and we had a good talk too.

Things are OK for me right now.

As always, thanx for all the support.

Mandy

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

Good update. Sounds like things are progressing. Having contact with and the support of your children is just super good.

Glad to hear you are feeling okay. Many times these are among the hardest days we face. Perhaps the time we spend dreading this time is worse for many but from here it just gets better.

Hugs

Johnny

Link to comment

I'm sorry that you were kicked out of your home. Have you a place to live? It's wonderful that your children are communicating with you. You seem to have a positive outlook on things and that's good. All you can do is pray for your wife and folks.

Link to comment
Guest Amanda Whyte

Yall are awsome! I am living at an old Navy buddy's and he is great for having me. He said dont worry about money we will work that out later. I couldnt ask for a better buddy then him.

My wife and I have now had a couple of good talks. I told her what it is I will have to have/do, she told me what it is she thinks she can live with and they almost match. Just a couple of sticking points we are working out. She also asked to go with me to my new therapist something like once a month to have questions answered. I know she had problems with my old therapist but I think she will like my new one. I still am not going to switch again no matter what.

I told her that I needed to:

-Not have to put on an act around people anymore. I will a little at work but that is ok. I just pretend like I am a spy or something.

-Have girl outings with friends. She is always welcome if she ever feels comfortable.

-(The big one) HRT

Her only hard rule:

-No dressing in front of her or kids

Compromises:

-I agreed to be androgenous at home since most of the time my wife and I am at home in similar clothes anyway.

-I will take stuff with me and get ready at a friends.

Sticking points:

-She isnt comfortable with my being dressed out of the house at all but is working on it.

-And the big one again: HRT; She asked me questions about HRT which I answered to the best of my ability but there will be more definate knowledgable answers before we agree we have reached a comprimise.

I am still at friends and will stay here till we do come up with that compromise.

I think it is a promissing start.

I really would like yalls input and opinions on this. If you dissagree but feel uncomfortable stating that here, just send me a pm if you feel more comfortable doing that.

Link to comment
Guest JessicaM1985

I read this and my heart broke for you hun!

I would especially re-read what JJ wrote regarding religion acting as a mask for bigotry. I myself was raised very spiritually (about the only 13 year old in my church that was expected to come up front when the pastor called for church elders) and I often encountered this same thing, but in reverse. (I was expected to tell LGBT people that what they are doing is sinful and they are possessed by satan/demons)

If you are not spiritual, then don't pay any attention to what they say at all since it is not something you even believe in to begin with, and it's just them cramming their own personal beliefs down your throat. If you are religious, then I would carefully go over whatever verses they are haphazardly throwing at you to prove their point, and you'll find that they just quick quote things taken out of context to support an otherwise failing argument. You are not possessed, you are not evil, and you are not doomed to hell just because you are transgendered. (I use TG as an umbrella term, so I didn't catch what you identify as, my apologies if I misidentify you)

As for your wife throwing you out over it, wow. Jmo, for what it's worth, there is no love shown in doing that. But I'm glad that she has collected herself enough to where she is thinking through it rationally and working out a plan that will put you both back on the right path together. I'm also super happy that your kids are pretty supportive. Kids can be pretty brutally honest, so I'm glad to see that younger generations are becoming more and more accepting of this.

Please don't stop being you, and don't let anybody deter you from doing this! Much love, hugs and support sent from me down to you! :D

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

Mandy I think it is great that you two are working out an agreement.

The HRT is the tough one but you can truthfully tell her that for most people it works slowly and subtly. Some women have had to still be seen as men on the job for months, even years, after being on HRT and managed it so this is not a case of your body will turn female overnight.

I think it sounds like she is still in denial and humoring you. To me this agreement will buy you time for her to come to terms with the reality of what you must do and who you are. But that gives you a chance for the relationship to evolve and for her acceptance and understanding to grow. I would advise to stay firm on the HRT. Otherwise what will ultimately happen is that all this pain and angst has been for nothing and I believe this will all come to a head again. Having set the rules the first time if you back down on it now I believe that the blow up later will be bigger and worse. If you stay firm on the HRT she will have to start handling this and come to terms with the reality. Which is the only real hope for your relationship. My opinion anyway.

Whatever you work out and decide my heart is with you

Hugs

Johnny

Link to comment

Dear Mandy,

As JJ said my heart is with you! This is a great first step towards compromise with the wife and even though I can't really give you advice, please don't try to give up your transition or your self to work things out with her. You know what you need to do to live and you know who you are. Compromise is fine but don't abandon Amanda.

It's great that she wants to go to Therapy with you and it's also great that she is willing to compromise and work with you. It seems you've got your foot in the door and maybe when she can actually see, over time what a positive thing this is for you and can share her concerns in therapy with you that she will be able to come more to terms, at least with the HRT part. I hope so... I really do.

*Hugs*

~Jade.

Link to comment
Guest Shari

Hi Mandy,

You've been on my mind and in my heart for days. I ran into a little trouble in my marriage because I wasn't able to express what my wife should do. Our conversations were always about what I could do and what I couldn't do. We never got around to discussing her role. Do you want your wife to be your lover, confidant, helper, partner, best friend, supporter or to be a bystander setting the rules? When you started, were you counting on her to help you through the rough spots or was she already Mandy's enemy in your private thoughts?

All I'm saying is that a strong relationship requires participation on both sides. Something to think about.

Hugs,

Shari

Link to comment
Guest Amanda Whyte

I luv all of yall!!!

As far as religion goes, I need to go to church more often but I am not scared for myself in that regard. I just hate knowing my parents are in pain. Wether they are misguided or not they do think I am doing something that is horrible and taking me down the wrong path that leads down there.

I know I could be fooling myself and my wife could be a great actress but I think she never thought I would leave instead of give up. Now she knows and we are working on things. I am not going to give in to any of my conditions. I know I really cant. If I did my thoughts would always be consumed with what could have been. I know how I react to that and I would sabatoge my life, again. I also am hoping she comes to accept Mandy but will just work with her for us to find a place that we can accept each other no matter where that is. I also realise that somewhere down the road, we may find that this isnt working and split up anyway. If that happens, I hope that we would have gotten anger and resentment and seperate on friendly terms.

We are talking dayly. If anyone is reading this that is newer than I am my suggestion is:

No matter what never stop talking! My wife and I got to a point where it was the elephant in the room but never discussed it. I was waiting for her to bring it up and she was waiting for me. Dont do this. This is a major thing in a relationships and it probably should be discussed, if not every day, then every few days.

Thanx everyone,

Mandy

Link to comment
Guest angels wings

Im sorry to hear And i hope the best for u and ur family . As a wife to my partner i too went through many emotions and yes communication is the key . I also asked my partner to take it slow not because i didnt want her to be the real her but because i needed to work through all my feelings and try and make sense of it . The pain i went through was enourmous after 18 yrs of marriage it takes a strong person to work through things . See my partner had many years to know what she wanted were as i have known since the end of last year . Time does heal but so does love and understanding . Meaning i felt like i had to understand it all but no one understood my pain . Coming to Lauras has been such a massive help . Why ? Well first we have wonderful people who are in the same journey who truely understand not just my side but my partners too. Reading other peoples posts and learning more has helped me . Also the forum for partners is a great place to share ur hurts and not feel alone . Maybe ur wife could join and she will see the warmth and understanding amoungst us all and not feel she is alone . I too went to therapy with my partner and although some sessions i was a total mess after it im glad i went it wasnt abot me it was about her , through it all i learned so much and some things took a while to filter. I have joined her in her journey all the way . We too had problems the pain to communicate at times was so hard but u have to break those barriers and work togther as a team . Yes its ur journey ur transition but as wives its our journey to and we too transition with our partners. I wish u and ur wife from my heart all the best .

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Who's Online   1 Member, 0 Anonymous, 87 Guests (See full list)

    • April Marie
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      80.6k
    • Total Posts
      767.9k
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      12,014
    • Most Online
      8,356

    Quillian
    Newest Member
    Quillian
    Joined
  • Today's Birthdays

    1. l.demiurge
      l.demiurge
  • Posts

    • Carolyn Marie
      https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-health-and-wellness/scotland-pauses-prescriptions-puberty-blockers-transgender-minors-rcna148366     Carolyn Marie
    • Carolyn Marie
      https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-second-trump-presidency-would-be-a-nightmare-scenario-for-transgender-people_n_661ff9a9e4b07db21fd5d59b     Carolyn Marie
    • awkward-yet-sweet
      Well, HIPAA is basically useless for keeping government out of your medical stuff.  It doesn't seem to prevent employers from making workplace medical demands either.  About the only thing it seems to do is keep somebody's sister or spouse from having the tools necessary to help you when you're in trouble.  As usual, government made things worse and added unhelpful red tape.  I really doubt HIPAA will be any use in the area of trans rights either.    Honestly, I don't see anything good will come of this no matter how it goes.  If some state AG's win on this, it will cause issues for trans folks.  If the Feds win on this, it'll be a precedent to stomp on states' rights even more than has already been done.  And I'm not sure which way things go will make a difference when it comes to officials from one state trying to do nasty things to people who have left that state and gone elsewhere.    What a crap sandwich... and no matter which plate it gets served on, "We The People" get to eat it. 
    • awkward-yet-sweet
      At least you tried!  Something equivalent or better may come up, and the waiting could be worth it.  Just keep trying and you'll eventually get what you need and want.      For me, having somebody to love was the most important.  Everything else follows after that.  I waited a long time to find somebody...and she ended up leading me to more than I ever thought possible.    Actually, I'm feeling pretty good right now.  I have something work-like outside of my home responsibilities to do for the first time in about 18 months.  Nobody seems to mind the real me.  And this evening, my husband said something that just really made me feel special.  He was rubbing my back, shoulders, and chest while we talked, helping me relax.  He told me that he thought I was really cute in my girl form, but that he thinks my boy form might even be cuter.  And that he's proud of his "smart little Pocket Fox."    For me, the combination of those sweet words and the physical affection was exactly what I needed. 
    • Abigail Genevieve
      Hi!   That was probably hard to write and then read and say, did I really write that?  Been there.   I'm glad you call it a journey.  It is.  One step at a time, and sometimes two steps forward, one back.    Abby
    • April Marie
      Welcome to the forums, Violet! We glad you found us! No one here will judge you. Each of us is unique yet we all share some similarities. And many of us are in the relative early stages of self-discovery.   Take time to wander the sections of the forums. You’ll find lots of information and ideas.   Ask questions if you feel comfortable. You will find lots of people willing to share their experiences.   Is it possible for you to possibly work with a gender therapist? Many of us have found that to be extremely helpful in finding our identity and out true selves.   Just jump in. We don’t bite! We’ve all been in some version of where you are.
    • April Marie
      Literally. 
    • Abigail Genevieve
      Shameless plug for my "Taylor" story down in Stories You Write.  I am not Taylor and the experiences she goes through are not what has happened to me, but there is an emotional expression that I think is the best way to say some things that I don't know how to say otherwise.  I am not Bob, either.  But you might find out some things about me by reading it.  And I hope it is a good read and you enjoy it.  I am not done with it.  If you would like to comment on it, I would appreciate it.
    • Abigail Genevieve
      Tuesday night.  They had a quick supper together at a fast food place.  Bob went off to teach karate and Taylor locked herself inside her apartment and worked on her hiring plan.   First the web site problem.  The two guys who ran it were self-taught and knew little.  It currently had three pages, the Home page, the About page and the Contact page,  She asked them to work with Karen in terms of redesigning it and she needed three designs to show Gibbs tomorrow.  The problem was three fold: the two guys and Karen.  Millville was a small town and all three were relatives of members of the Board.  Millville, Millvale. She was doing it.  People here called it either way, sometimes in the space of a few seconds.  She thought it was Millville.  All three had complained about the work, because the two boys regarded it as done and untouchable, even though they actually had not worked on it at all for months.  Like a number of people, they showed up and collected generous pay checks and did nothing.  She had looked at a number of websites and she had been told the company wanted one both internal and external customers could log into.  Her chief difficulty at the moment there was that there was very little content.  She decided to send the three complainers out tomorrow to take numerous pictures of the thirty acres  Or was it forty?  No one seemed to care. She cared, because she needed to get it right.  She debated outsourcing the website to a company, but first she needed something to outsource, and before then she needed to decide whether to keep these people.  She didn't need to mess with them.  So she decided to recommend they hire an experienced website developer with management skills. Would such a person come to Millville?  The schools were good, because the company had poured money into them, and the streets were well paved.  The company had bought all the abandoned houses and maintained them, hoping someday they would be filled again. Millville was crime-free.  People did not lock their doors. Neighborly. Very conservative, but in a good way.  Hard working, ethical, honest. Maybe the Chinese money was corrupting the town?  Not sure.  So she thought they would hire someone, even if it were a remote position.  She would rather have them here, but she would take what she would get.  That would move the website out of her hair. Secondly, she needed an effective presenter.  She could not do all these presentations herself.  She had natural talent but a lot could be passed on. She needed another Mary and another Brenda, or their understudies, effective hardworking people.   Bob. Was he okay with this?  He said she was Management.  Was that a problem?  And she was now earning a ridiculous salary, which she put down to company dysfunction more than anything she had done.  Was that a problem? She was not sure.  He was highly competitive and he had that male ego.  She did not.  A feeling of guilt rose.   Her therapist had brought up her feelings of guilt about not making Dad's expectations, never being the man Dad wanted her to be.  She never could, and this physical evidence backed that up.  What would the doctor say?  She thought about it, and that her therapist said she needed to find a sexual assault survivor's group more than a transgender group right now. Was there one here?  She thought about serving in a women's shelter.  There was one here, oddly enough connected to the church they had visited.  That F on her drivers' license would help.  She was waiting until after she talked to the doctor again to move on that stuff.   Was Bob really buying 160 acres near the old air strip on speculation?  Much of the land around Millville had been for sale for a long time.  That land was being offered at a dollar an acre, the owners having inherited it and now living out of state. Common knowledge.  They would take the first offer, and it had been for sale since the airstrip closed twenty years ago. Airstrip.  That would help.  Not tonight. Focus, girl, she told herself, and read over her notes to do so, which were making less sense the further down she went. It was eleven, and she gave up and went to bed.
    • violet r
      .my name is violet. I'm new here and thus is my first try at forums. I'm 45 and just recently having came to terms of who I really am. Thought a lot of self discovery since I stopped drinking. Drinking was my coping mechanism to hide a lot of thing. There were plenty of signs though the years. As I look back. That i hid inside. Now really sure what made all of this bubble to the surface at this time in my life.  Mabye it was waiting for me to be open minded and ready to accept that I am trans. I have a very unhealthy environment at home that is anti trans. I really don't know what else to say but hi. I hope everyone here will be accepting of me and me work through my journey of finding the real me. I know that since I accepted it I have been much happier than I can remember. Being to real me makes me happy. I hate having to hide this all the the time at home. I work retail management and have no idea if I could even stay in this business if I am to fully come out. Wow that was scary saying all that. It's a first for me
    • Ivy
      It is a lifesaver for a lot of us.
    • Abigail Genevieve
      Thanks.  What I do as a man is what a woman would do if she were a man.  There is just something feminine about the way I act as a man.  It's not that being a woman is actually better, or something to aspire to, but it is just that I am one, while not being one.   If beating my head bloody to get rid off this stupid dysphoria would fix it I would find the nearest wall, but I know that if I did that, when I woke up, it would still be there.   If I did not have this struggle I would be someone else and I would be less of a person than I am.  They say an oak tree growing in an open field is far stronger than one in a forest.  The storms come and go and I stand.   This forum is the first time I have interacted with other people struggling with the same struggle and parallel struggles. It helps.
    • Ashley0616
      I'm sorry! :( Hopefully something better will come up
    • Ashley0616
      Thank you! Did great with the kids
    • Sally Stone
      That's me too, Mae.  I don't think it's me as much as it is the camera (that's my story anyway).  Cameras hate me.  I never met one that liked me.  I often wish I was photogenic; sadly, not so much.   However, you look terrific in that selfie! 
  • Upcoming Events

Contact TransPulse

TransPulse can be contacted in the following ways:

Email: Click Here.

To report an error on this page.

Legal

Your use of this site is subject to the following rules and policies, whether you have read them or not.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
Community Rules

Hosting

Upstream hosting for TransPulse provided by QnEZ.

Sponsorship

Special consideration for TransPulse is kindly provided by The Breast Form Store.
×
×
  • Create New...