transgender community demanding funding for their drugs

[Lilith7]

While I don't know a lot about transgender people, I strongly doubt that its in any way a 'lifestyle choice' & I can recall some referring to gay people  using that term in earlier times as  a means of diminishing them & pretending it was something they'd deliberately chosen rather than having been born attracted to the same gender, exactly as the rest of us are born attracted to the opposite gender.

I can also understand that surgery would be something transgender people would require at some point; but the huge problems we're having with our health system now isn't something likely to be overcome quickly so for those like your son are fortunate to be able to afford it themselves, Tink and Tiff.

One of the hardest parts of being a parent is having to see our children suffer through something which we want to fix & can't.

Oh, it is soooo not a "lifestyle choice", believe me. I too remember the days when being gay was something that had to be hidden.
Why would anyone choose to put themselves through the trauma, outward signs of hatred from some in society that are uneducated on the subject, derision and outright discrimination that many transgender people are shown? 

We are not wealthy people. But he worked so hard and saved so hard to be able to have the necessary surgery, and I helped out with some money I had aside for retirement. He has always known he is very much loved, regardless of his gender identity, and whilst I didn't think he would ever hurt himself. ...but given our shocking youth suicide rates,  why risk it by not supporting him in his decision. I am so glad we did, as he is truly flying and destined for great things.

That is exactly the point - no one in their right mind would 'choose' to be gay given the way in which gay people were treated then, & its really sad to see transgender people being subjected to the same ugly stuff.

And as to the nonsense that 'women should fear transgender people' - I'm not buying that, but I do think women may have something to fear from some men who might pretend to be transgender in order to gain access to women's spaces. There are after all, some very devious blokes out there as we've been reminded very recently here.

Good luck to your son - he has excellent parents, which no doubt has made all the difference. 

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You sound like great parents to me. We are very lucky with our kids, and while they may have put us through hell at times,  often under circumstances beyond all control, I am certainly glad I had mine and I'm sure few of us really regret an instant of it.

But, the hell is real when you are neck deep in it, wading through it to the other side takes enormous strength and resilience and we need to remember the fact that we did that and take comfort from it.

We did, and continue to do the best we could. Parent and child alike.

Indeed; its always harder while you're in it & trying to cope with whatever situation the little sweetie darlings have presented us with this time. But somehow you get out the other side & take a breath - just in time for the next hurdle.

 Because somehow, the ingenious little sods always find something else with which to torture their rapidly ageing parent/s!