Comments on: Responding to Michael McGough’s, Psychiatrists, ‘Sissies,’ and the Schoolyard http://www.acceptingdad.com/2010/02/24/responding-to-michael-mcgoughs-psychiatrists-sissies-and-the-schoolyard/ A Father's Journey to Acceptance of his Gender-Nonconforming Son Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:44:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Alana http://www.acceptingdad.com/2010/02/24/responding-to-michael-mcgoughs-psychiatrists-sissies-and-the-schoolyard/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Alana Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:12:32 +0000 http://www.acceptingdad.com/?p=324#comment-139 'Yeah, a kid who hasn’t been taught to hate himself might get beat up, because he hasn’t internalized that he is less human than a normal boy; he might also not end up swinging from the rafters.' This, to me is the main reason why I let my little pinkboy wear his pink, and fairy wings. Tomorrow I need to buy him new shoes and he's insisting that they be sparkly. The practical parent is resisting silly shoes but I know I'll probably cave. His biological father liked women but he also used to sleep with men. A bit before our son was conceived he decided to be straight because it was easier. We lost him two years ago. I refuse to lose my child like that. You can't save them from the rest of the world but you can make darn sure that home is a loving and accepting place. ‘Yeah, a kid who hasn’t been taught to hate himself might get beat up, because he hasn’t internalized that he is less human than a normal boy; he might also not end up swinging from the rafters.’

This, to me is the main reason why I let my little pinkboy wear his pink, and fairy wings. Tomorrow I need to buy him new shoes and he’s insisting that they be sparkly. The practical parent is resisting silly shoes but I know I’ll probably cave.
His biological father liked women but he also used to sleep with men. A bit before our son was conceived he decided to be straight because it was easier. We lost him two years ago.

I refuse to lose my child like that. You can’t save them from the rest of the world but you can make darn sure that home is a loving and accepting place.

]]> By: Michael McGough http://www.acceptingdad.com/2010/02/24/responding-to-michael-mcgoughs-psychiatrists-sissies-and-the-schoolyard/comment-page-1/#comment-123 Michael McGough Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:23:40 +0000 http://www.acceptingdad.com/?p=324#comment-123 Bedford: Your post about my post reminded me of that line "I'm just a fool whose intentions are good/Oh Lord please don't let me be misunderstood." I did not find the pamphlet amusing, and I don't think parents should "rein in" their children's identities at all. I thought the post made clear that I thought the program was an admirable one. In fact, I sent the post to the director of the CNMC program and I didn't get the impression that he thought I was being critical. I don't think supportive parenting of gender-variant kids is wrong or even futile, just that it's harder to change children's attitudes than adults'. I also know that some anti-bullying programs have had success. My musings were not meant as an argument that kids should sublimate their personalities. Anyway, I have a continuing journalistic interest in this subject and would be happy to talk to you about it sometime. Feel free to conatct me. Mike McGough Bedford: Your post about my post reminded me of that line “I’m just a fool whose intentions are good/Oh Lord please don’t let me be misunderstood.” I did not find the pamphlet amusing, and I don’t think parents should “rein in” their children’s identities at all. I thought the post made clear that I thought the program was an admirable one. In fact, I sent the post to the director of the CNMC program and I didn’t get the impression that he thought I was being critical. I don’t think supportive parenting of gender-variant kids is wrong or even futile, just that it’s harder to change children’s attitudes than adults’. I also know that some anti-bullying programs have had success. My musings were not meant as an argument that kids should sublimate their personalities. Anyway, I have a continuing journalistic interest in this subject and would be happy to talk to you about it sometime. Feel free to conatct me. Mike McGough

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