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It was great growing up in the generation of both IRL stranger-danger and “the internet is a dangerous place for kids”. Like, great, who am I supposed to talk to exactly? The American fantasy of raising kids in the country is actually straight poisen for mental health
In hindsight it does seem like I was getting gaslighted but I don’t think that’s what they were trying to do. I think they were just ignorant at the time. They try to be aware of pronouns now but I don’t know if and when I’ll be comfortable telling them how I really am and feel. In college one my siblings expressed some pretty transphobic opinions to me which just made me bury myself more
My parents were not prepared or willing to deal with me pushing gender boundaries when I was growing up. They just kind of ignored it and made the fem clothes I managed to get disappear. I think they wanted me to think it was phase and without any close friends to talk to about what I was feeling it kinda worked. At least, that part of me got buried under a mountain of shame and confusion for 20 years