Late Sunday afternoon I was attempting to head out to do the week's grocery shopping with my youngest daughter.
I let her go outside ahead of me while I searched for my wallet, car keys and the list I just made. By the time I got outside she was deep in conversation with our neighbour. It seems his gas powered generator would not start. She had already volunteered my services to fix it, well I checked fuel delivery spark, choke but nothing seemed a miss. As he and I discussed possible problems and searched in vain for the manual she volunteered that "daddy" (that's me by the way) wanted to become a girl and was becoming a girl and that I had lots of girl outfits.
Great Caesar's ghost, I am sure I froze for a second, it was like watching a train wreck. Then she went to explain how at the father of a school friend had died as the result of being bitten by a snake, I believe this has less validity than her earlier statement. Laughing off her revelations I said I doubted anyone at school had suffered a snake related fatality. The neighbour seemed nonplussed remarking that it was understandable living in a house with three daughters.
Really I should not be surprised and expected this moment for some time. Perhaps she has already spilled the beans to her teacher, friends parents and the Sunday school class. On the whole I was more amused than horrified.
I did not correct her or swear her to secrecy, as there is nothing morally wrong with being transsexual/transgendered and I am not going to stigmatize it at home. I am hoping that going full time is not far off and then the point will be mute. In the meantime we will have to have a talk about when and to whom it is right to share such information.
Had to pick up all three from school today, driving home in the Electra we had Sam & Dave, Hold On I'm Coming playing, the two in the back providing an impromptu chorus of nonsense words….I could not help but be happy and grin like a fool…such a ray of sunshine on a cold grey day.
Hugs,
April
Photos are from my Saturday adventure
Loved your story. "From the mouths of babes" indeed. I can also imagine your ride home with the girls. I often get the same silly grin (when I'm not singing along) listening to Sam and Dave.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you look lovely.
Then they'll come a time when you're in a store looking like a tall woman and one of your kids will say, "hey dad check this out"!
ReplyDeleteYou have to love the innocence of kids.
What a lovely time, raising up your children. Been there, and hopefully; I've done Ok by my kids too.
ReplyDeleteGirl, you're into those cars way too much, but it's OK; a girl can have grease under her fingenails-just don't break one.
Hugs, Elly