Supporting your child’s gender exploration is not about imposing a preconceived outcome. Instead, it is about providing unwavering support for your child, irrespective of the path your child ultimately takes. By embracing this mindset, parents can foster a relationship built on trust, understanding, and love, ensuring that gender exploration does not become a source of division or estrangement within the family.
And that is the goal of North Star Parenting – to maintain positive relationships with your children. Too many people have lost their families over gender or sexuality. This shouldn’t happen any longer. This person is your child, no matter what their gender identity is. You are their parent, and it’s your responsibility to be there for them.
North Star Parenting helps get you there, by helping you to understand just how important you are in their life, and on this journey. Parents, you’re also allies, working alongside your child as you navigate through uncharted territories.
Often, our first response to our child’s gender exploration can be one of dismissal or a negative reaction.
Sometimes we respond this way out of fear of the unknown. It can be scary at times, the uncertainty gender exploration can bring. Sometimes it’s down to not knowing enough about to gender to take it seriously. And sometimes parents disagree on the concept of gender entirely.
But dismissiveness or negativity are not what our children need. By shutting them down here, you’re also shutting down future communications with them. Over time, they will learn to not trust you, that you’re not someone they can rely on, that you’re not someone who has their best interests at heart.
Children need a strong foundation to grow from. This isn’t just giving them food and shelter – children need nurturing, love, and stability. Knowing that their parents support them gives children that strong foundation they need.
Together, you are stronger. You’re helping your child grow into a thriving individual by providing them a foundation of support and love. Happy and healthy will come to them because they know you’re there, in their corner. That’s what children need. And that’s what parents do for their children.
North Star Parenting is here to help you be there for your children, wherever life may take them. You should be there with them, supporting them and loving them.