Transitions of the Heart: Stories of Love, Struggle, and Acceptance by Mothers of Transgender and Gender Variant Children

Edited by gender specialist Pepper (coauthor of The Transgender Child), this heartwarming collection features true stories of mothers of transgender children, and depicts their journey of understanding, acceptance, and love. Coming from all classes, races, and sexualities, and including adoptive, single, and stepmothers, these stories include a brief history of the mothers’ upbringing, followed by their discovery of their children’s transgender nature, and conclude with a description of the transition process (if any) and its after-effects. For Cheryl Kilodavis, her child’s gender difference became obvious at a young age; as soon as her son, Dyson, could walk and talk, he “began gravitating towards all things pink, purple, and sparkly.” Some mothers, like Michelle Schnur, must cope with their husbands’ transgender issues in addition to their child’s. Some mothers come to understand and support their children more quickly than others; one anonymous mother remembers her rudeness toward her son (now daughter’s) future partner when they visited. Many struggle to give up their feelings of having lost a son or daughter during the transition, as well as their concern about possible side effects of hormone injections. This deeply personal book should prove an invaluable, inspiring resource. (May)