He had been a single mother to his two teenage children. His only concern in moving forward in his transition was losing custody of his children, and losing his affiliation with the lesbian community, the only family he'd ever known. There are many answers that I do not have for my clients but there are a few things I know. I know that everyone, everyone has a right to his or her own gender expression. I know that families are important, essential to our sense of belonging and the quality of our mental health.
Family life is no less important or relevant to trans people than it is to any other person.
I know that families can not just survive transition, but they can thrive. I know that spouses are entitled to their own process, their own coming out. Give you spouse time to adjust. I know that our children can live with far more gender ambiguity that most adults. Story overhead in a local daycare.