So much good advice in the comments already given. There’s a difference between feeling like you’re in the wrong body, or just feeling like you don’t align with the current version of gender norms. Eg traditionally the wife would cook all the meals at home, but professional cooks were men. So does cooking make you feminine or masculine? Obviously neither, it’s just a task that has had historical divisions applied to it based on status. The point being; hobbies, interests, clothing preferences (men used to wear frills and lace, dresses, bright colours at various times in history), career interests, liking sports etc etc do not make someone male or female. Miniest is gonna have a lot of things to figure out, and as they grow older it might be they figure out they just don’t like the 2025 version of ‘girly’, or it might be something deeper.
You’re doing an awesome job already thinking through possibilities and having conversations, and being ready with assurances of love. You got this, whatever path it goes down.
I like your historical perspective (wigs, gents?) and the difference between feeling like you’re either in the wrong body or not aligned with society’s version of gender. I feel like that part is really important and something everyone has to explore for themselves, as Miniest will.
So much good advice in the comments already given. There’s a difference between feeling like you’re in the wrong body, or just feeling like you don’t align with the current version of gender norms. Eg traditionally the wife would cook all the meals at home, but professional cooks were men. So does cooking make you feminine or masculine? Obviously neither, it’s just a task that has had historical divisions applied to it based on status. The point being; hobbies, interests, clothing preferences (men used to wear frills and lace, dresses, bright colours at various times in history), career interests, liking sports etc etc do not make someone male or female. Miniest is gonna have a lot of things to figure out, and as they grow older it might be they figure out they just don’t like the 2025 version of ‘girly’, or it might be something deeper.
You’re doing an awesome job already thinking through possibilities and having conversations, and being ready with assurances of love. You got this, whatever path it goes down.
I like your historical perspective (wigs, gents?) and the difference between feeling like you’re either in the wrong body or not aligned with society’s version of gender. I feel like that part is really important and something everyone has to explore for themselves, as Miniest will.