Your child’s gender and your feelings

If your child tells you that their gender is different from their presumed gender based on their sex characteristics at birth, there’s no ‘right’ way to feel.

The news might feel sudden and unexpected to you. But your child might have been thinking about their gender and preparing to tell you for a long time. Even if you’ve wondered about your child’s gender for a while, it might still feel confronting to hear your child put it into words.

Some parents talk about feeling grief or loss at the thought of ‘losing’ the son or daughter they thought they knew or losing their expectations about their child’s future. Other parents feel guilty and wonder if it’s their fault. Many worry about supporting their child in a world that doesn’t understand gender diversity. Many also feel isolated, particularly if they don’t know any other trans or gender-diverse people. And some parents feel relieved, especially if their child has had mental health problems.

Mixed feelings are common, and all feelings are valid.

It might take time to work through your thoughts and feelings. That’s OK. There might also be challenges to navigate, including the reactions of family, friends and people in your community. As you go through this period of adjustment with your child, your love and support are very important for your child’s wellbeing.

Looking after yourself when your child is trans or gender diverse

Looking after yourself is important during this period of adjustment. Here are things you can do:

• Talk to supportive family and friends, especially if you’re finding things hard.
• Talk to your GP, who can refer you to a mental health professional. If your GP isn’t supportive, a gender clinic can recommend another GP for you.
• Get in touch with a parent support group like Transcend, Parents of Gender Diverse Children or Transforming Families. You’re not alone, and these groups can connect you with other families who’ve experienced or are experiencing challenges adapting to their child’s gender.
• Be kind to yourself, and acknowledge the effort you’re making to support your child.
• Learn more about gender diversity. For example, positive stories of trans or gender-diverse people can help you support your child and give you hope for the future.

Most children grow up thinking of themselves as a girl or a boy and don’t question their gender. But some children and teenagers in all cultures identify as a gender that’s different from their presumed gender.

Supporting siblings of trans or gender-diverse children and teenagers

Some families find that their other children are the first to support and affirm their trans or gender-diverse sibling. But siblings can feel upset and struggle to understand and adapt to the changes.

Talking with your other children about how they feel and how the situation is affecting them can help a lot. For example, you might ask, ‘How do you feel about your sibling wanting to use a new name?’ or ‘Are other children talking about it at school?’

Some children find it hard to adapt to the changes and might tease their sibling or use hurtful names. If this happens, it’s important for you to stop the name-calling and guide your other children towards more positive ways of talking.

You can also help your children understand what’s happening with their sibling. For younger children you might need to explain several times. Depending on your child’s age, you could do this using picture books, movies or TV shows. For example, try books like The gender fairy or My princess boy or TV shows like First Day, Sex Education or Umbrella Academy.

If you’re worried about your other children and how they’re coping, speaking to your GP is a good first step. The GP can refer your child to a mental health professional.

It’s important to protect and respect your trans or gender-diverse child’s privacy at all times. But if all your children agree, it might help to tell a trusted staff member at your other children’s schools what’s going on. This way, staff can offer support if they notice that your other children are having a hard time.

Handling other people’s reactions to your child’s gender identity

It’s important to respect your child’s wishes and tell other people only if your child wants you to. Some children and teenagers find it’s easier when extended family, people at school and people in the community know about their gender. Others find this makes things more difficult.

If your child is happy to share information about their gender, the way you tell people can influence their reactions and help them embrace your child.

For example, you might choose to tell family and friends face to face or you might want to write to them. And before you tell family and friends, it can help to think about what you expect from them. For example, you might like them to use your child’s new name and pronouns.

If friends or family react negatively or have questions, you could give them information about gender diversity, direct them to useful websites or tell them that you’re happy to answer questions. This can feel exhausting, but you don’t have to convince everyone to support trans or gender-diverse people. You can focus just on ensuring that people are respectful around your child.

Sometimes strangers might comment on your child’s appearance or behaviour. This might be uncomfortable or upsetting for you. Thinking in advance about what to say can help you handle your feelings about people’s comments. It can also help you express your love and support for your child in a way that feels right to you.

For example, if someone asks or comments on your trans or gender-diverse child wearing a dress, you could say, ‘I think it’s great when children can express themselves, and I’m really proud of my child’.

Gender and the law

In some states and territories in Australia, trying to change or suppress a person’s sexuality or gender is illegal. This means that it’s against the law for a parent or anyone else to send a child to a program, therapy or counselling designed to stop them from being LGBTQ+, even if the child agrees or asks to go. In some states and territories, it’s also against the law to place pressure on a child to change or hide their sexuality or gender.