Nonbinary

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An inclusive place for members of all stripes that don't fit into our culture's binary categories of gender.

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Resources for parenting a nonbinary teen? (slrpnk.net)

submitted 3 days ago by Nemo@slrpnk.net to c/nonbinary@lemmy.blahaj.zone

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My teen has been leaning nonbinary through adolescence and recently came out explicitly to my spouse and I. We've always been allies and queer-affirming, but my spouse seems to be struggling with having a child who is not cis — not opposed, just lost. And I have to acknowledge that I am probably ignorant of the issues a young nonbinary person might face.

I don't want to just be "good enough". I want to be supportive to my child. Are there any good resources for parents in this situation? Places to read about the struggles and experiences they are going to face?

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[–] Triumph@fedia.io 7 points 3 days ago

I have a trans son who went from gay to non-binary to trans. Like you, we as parents love him just the same, wholly support him, have always - but yeah, it's a hell of a roller coaster. We weren't raised to understand that this is one of the possibilities when you have a kid, so it's totally normal to feel lost.

Explain that to your kid. Let them know you're going to support and love them always, but you're human and the product of your generation, and you're going to make mistakes. Hell, I recently almost deadnamed my son because I'd just woken up and there was some minor crisis going on. I caught myself but I was certain he'd noticed, so after I got my coffee in me I made a point to apologize and explain. That was the right thing to do.

Be honest about yourself to your kid. Own your mistakes. Keep trying. Ask for their help. You're in this together.