Very powerful... I felt your pain. Stolen like a thief in the night, I am sad for your loss. Unfortunately, your son is being groomed for doom. I hate this cult and its lies! So many families are being torn apart and the authorities who should be the parent's allies are suddenly the parent's worst nightmare. This is so wrong. And unfair. God help us as our world is upside down. Innocent lives are being manipulated into living a horrific lie that they were born in the wrong body and that drugs and operations can change them into the opposite sex. Worse than a sci-fi movie. People are playing "god" and using our children as lab mice. I hope your son will return to you unharmed. Never give up hope.
My heart breaks for you and the other families who have lost their young child.
At least mine was in college, so I believe she will be safe physically.
I’m thinking maybe this has something to do with why most people are completely unaware of what is happening. Because it’s just too hard to believe.
I remember when 9/11 happened, I walked in the door and my husband had the news on, as they were showing the second plane hit the towers, and I said “that’s not real.” I dismissed it as a hoax at first glance.
It just wasn’t possible in my mind.
Most people feel as though our concerns are overblown. That the painful stories from parents and detransitioners are a rare anomaly.
Because this just can’t really be happening!
The parents, detransitioners, and others who fight and pray alongside us, are warriors, many gravely wounded but not giving up the fight for hope, and the fight to protect others.
This nightmare will end.
I pray for healing for you and your child and all of our children.🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
I'm so sad for you. Only fifteen. At least my son was eighteen when he disappeared from my life, and at least I knew he was in a safe place for the first year. It's two now, and I've no idea where he is . All we can do is pray that they eventually see the light before too much damage has been done.
I was never able to come up with a time frame of escaping the cult depending on what age you fell in their pit. I know it's not what you wanna hear and not helpful one bit. It more depends on how involved you are in it. At times, older trans who manage to get (and keep) a job, become glitter "folks" to younger transsexuals. Then it's harder to see the light become your life mission is to be a facilitator to others' transitions so you need to believe and rehearse your shit real deep to be convincing. It's easier if you're an older trans who lives on the margins of the trans community. Yes, you're still hanging on to it but the day to day crap of life is taking its toll on you. It's more likely you'll eventually get out. Hard to tell. I have seen so many scenarios. I have also heard trans leaders quit and get their mentees out with them. In a crazy world, logical and expected outcomes are in short supply :( but not unheard of :)
You are so kind to respond. I think it will be decades before we see any real patterns to this madness and chaos. I know you don't have all the answers, but I appreciate your insight so much. Peace and blessings to you, always.
How heartbreaking for you, your daughter and us as a society. It's a cult. Why the state is triangulating parents in this one situation is evil. Peace and strength to you.
I needed to read this today. I am so sorry you are going through this. My 18 yo has announced she is going to medically transition (we have only a few levers left to pull to try and stop her) and we have decided to take a pretty firm stand that we will not have a hand in supporting this, so I fear that we are about to be estranged. Our kids are pawns in a political and financial game and they don't even know it.
Hi - I am in the exact same place. My 18 year old just announced the same. We don't have any more levers to stop this, and I am trying to figure out a response. She knows we do not support this, but it's been so difficult to have any conversations with content as the defensiveness kicks in and communication impossible. She knows we love her, and we are doing our best to make sure that she knows we will always love her, no matter what. You nail it with "our kids are pawns in a political and financial game". They don't know it, and the ones wielding the power have no skin in the game.
To the author - my heart breaks for you. I am in CA, a "sanctuary state", courtesy of a legislator who is not a parent. Pitting children against their parents like this is doing enormous damage.
i hope you are aware of the protectkidsca.com initiative to try to end this sanctuary state status. Anyone in the USA can donate. California registered voters can sign and gather signatures.
Whose insurance? She likely can't give informed consent and wpath requires other possible causes of gender incongruence to be identified and ruled out????
My child is just 18. Informed consent FTW. It's how the clinics sidestep any liability. No insurance needed at many clinics (looking at you, Planned Parenthood), no background check, no follow up care. The age for this "care" with no parental involvement is 16 in CA. At 18, she can do what she wants anywhere the medicalization is an option. The more bans the far right put into effect, the easier the left makes it to medically transition in response. The kids are the footballs.
Goodness, I’m so sorry for you, doesn’t make it any easier that you know what’s coming. But as much pain as I have been through over the past three years, I would not be able to live with myself had I condoned it. It’s been weirdly sacrificial
"How can a mother embrace a false narrative when the truth is clear to me?" Don't embrace it I've seen kids psychologically abused used as pawns in family court but it's seems the state is going straight for the kids, pitting the child against the parent or parents.
I am so very sorry for what you are going through. We at least were able to protect our daughter until age eighteen because of the laws in our state. It’s a small comfort, but still a comfort. She at least got the benefits of puberty. I feel sure, knowing how stubborn and single minded she is, that it is not going to end well. But the laws where you are seem to be designed to prevent a child desisting. I have a couple friends here whose daughters did desist and that would not have happened if they had been spirited away to glitter families and put into the hands of gender “doctors.” It is kidnapping by the state.
Kidnapping by the state is what I witnessed in the UK. It was done very secretly, so as to appear that the state was doing good protecting my child from a transphobe (me, the mother!).
“I feel sure, knowing how stubborn and single minded she is that it is not going to end well.” I could have written that too. Holding onto hope is too difficult sometimes. I may be a little on the autistic spectrum so expressing the emotional toll is difficult. I appreciate other people being able to share their feelings. Then I recognise I have those feelings too.
I am so sorry. I struggle too. My emotions are all over the place. Reading other parents words is helpful to me too. I am trying to hang on to hope too.
You know, we tried to do the right thing, being parents who stand firm and know right from wrong. Love our children as they are. It used to be that the right thing to do was to let them go and make mistakes, try the drink at the party, stay out past curfew, let them learn the repercussions of it. But now, if we parents stand firm, we’re considered villainous. If we let them go experiment on their own, other adults gleefully step in and destroy our child physically (looking at you, gender clinics and planned parenthood). It’s a completely topsy turvy world.
I am so sorry. I read your other posts on your substack, too. The people luring your daughter away from you are reprehensible. The systems we are living with are insane. You are speaking the truth and living in reality, but it's little comfort. Like some other commenters, I also believe this will end and your daughter will return. I am thinking of both of you.
They know we love them. They know. They know. I believe they will all come home eventually -- usually damaged, unfortunately.
Very powerful... I felt your pain. Stolen like a thief in the night, I am sad for your loss. Unfortunately, your son is being groomed for doom. I hate this cult and its lies! So many families are being torn apart and the authorities who should be the parent's allies are suddenly the parent's worst nightmare. This is so wrong. And unfair. God help us as our world is upside down. Innocent lives are being manipulated into living a horrific lie that they were born in the wrong body and that drugs and operations can change them into the opposite sex. Worse than a sci-fi movie. People are playing "god" and using our children as lab mice. I hope your son will return to you unharmed. Never give up hope.
Where is this nightmare happening? What state would allow a child to be stolen from them by a school? God help us!
many Blue states have laws that allow this. Sickening.
What a horrific nightmare. I’m so sorry.
My heart breaks for you and the other families who have lost their young child.
At least mine was in college, so I believe she will be safe physically.
I’m thinking maybe this has something to do with why most people are completely unaware of what is happening. Because it’s just too hard to believe.
I remember when 9/11 happened, I walked in the door and my husband had the news on, as they were showing the second plane hit the towers, and I said “that’s not real.” I dismissed it as a hoax at first glance.
It just wasn’t possible in my mind.
Most people feel as though our concerns are overblown. That the painful stories from parents and detransitioners are a rare anomaly.
Because this just can’t really be happening!
The parents, detransitioners, and others who fight and pray alongside us, are warriors, many gravely wounded but not giving up the fight for hope, and the fight to protect others.
This nightmare will end.
I pray for healing for you and your child and all of our children.🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
I'm so sorry. Sending you love and the strength to go on.
I'm so sad for you. Only fifteen. At least my son was eighteen when he disappeared from my life, and at least I knew he was in a safe place for the first year. It's two now, and I've no idea where he is . All we can do is pray that they eventually see the light before too much damage has been done.
This comment was a reply to Sadmom2.
Not sure how it ended up here ...
Not necessary.
It depends on so many factors.
I was never able to come up with a time frame of escaping the cult depending on what age you fell in their pit. I know it's not what you wanna hear and not helpful one bit. It more depends on how involved you are in it. At times, older trans who manage to get (and keep) a job, become glitter "folks" to younger transsexuals. Then it's harder to see the light become your life mission is to be a facilitator to others' transitions so you need to believe and rehearse your shit real deep to be convincing. It's easier if you're an older trans who lives on the margins of the trans community. Yes, you're still hanging on to it but the day to day crap of life is taking its toll on you. It's more likely you'll eventually get out. Hard to tell. I have seen so many scenarios. I have also heard trans leaders quit and get their mentees out with them. In a crazy world, logical and expected outcomes are in short supply :( but not unheard of :)
You are so kind to respond. I think it will be decades before we see any real patterns to this madness and chaos. I know you don't have all the answers, but I appreciate your insight so much. Peace and blessings to you, always.
😢😭
How heartbreaking for you, your daughter and us as a society. It's a cult. Why the state is triangulating parents in this one situation is evil. Peace and strength to you.
I needed to read this today. I am so sorry you are going through this. My 18 yo has announced she is going to medically transition (we have only a few levers left to pull to try and stop her) and we have decided to take a pretty firm stand that we will not have a hand in supporting this, so I fear that we are about to be estranged. Our kids are pawns in a political and financial game and they don't even know it.
Hi - I am in the exact same place. My 18 year old just announced the same. We don't have any more levers to stop this, and I am trying to figure out a response. She knows we do not support this, but it's been so difficult to have any conversations with content as the defensiveness kicks in and communication impossible. She knows we love her, and we are doing our best to make sure that she knows we will always love her, no matter what. You nail it with "our kids are pawns in a political and financial game". They don't know it, and the ones wielding the power have no skin in the game.
To the author - my heart breaks for you. I am in CA, a "sanctuary state", courtesy of a legislator who is not a parent. Pitting children against their parents like this is doing enormous damage.
i hope you are aware of the protectkidsca.com initiative to try to end this sanctuary state status. Anyone in the USA can donate. California registered voters can sign and gather signatures.
Whose insurance? She likely can't give informed consent and wpath requires other possible causes of gender incongruence to be identified and ruled out????
My child is just 18. Informed consent FTW. It's how the clinics sidestep any liability. No insurance needed at many clinics (looking at you, Planned Parenthood), no background check, no follow up care. The age for this "care" with no parental involvement is 16 in CA. At 18, she can do what she wants anywhere the medicalization is an option. The more bans the far right put into effect, the easier the left makes it to medically transition in response. The kids are the footballs.
Goodness, I’m so sorry for you, doesn’t make it any easier that you know what’s coming. But as much pain as I have been through over the past three years, I would not be able to live with myself had I condoned it. It’s been weirdly sacrificial
"How can a mother embrace a false narrative when the truth is clear to me?" Don't embrace it I've seen kids psychologically abused used as pawns in family court but it's seems the state is going straight for the kids, pitting the child against the parent or parents.
You’ve captured all the ugliness-- beautifully, mama. Oxymoron intended. 🌹
Although my story has different particulars, this could have been written by me, especially the emotional toll. Thank you for sharing
I am so very sorry for what you are going through. We at least were able to protect our daughter until age eighteen because of the laws in our state. It’s a small comfort, but still a comfort. She at least got the benefits of puberty. I feel sure, knowing how stubborn and single minded she is, that it is not going to end well. But the laws where you are seem to be designed to prevent a child desisting. I have a couple friends here whose daughters did desist and that would not have happened if they had been spirited away to glitter families and put into the hands of gender “doctors.” It is kidnapping by the state.
Kidnapping by the state is what I witnessed in the UK. It was done very secretly, so as to appear that the state was doing good protecting my child from a transphobe (me, the mother!).
“I feel sure, knowing how stubborn and single minded she is that it is not going to end well.” I could have written that too. Holding onto hope is too difficult sometimes. I may be a little on the autistic spectrum so expressing the emotional toll is difficult. I appreciate other people being able to share their feelings. Then I recognise I have those feelings too.
I am so sorry. I struggle too. My emotions are all over the place. Reading other parents words is helpful to me too. I am trying to hang on to hope too.
You know, we tried to do the right thing, being parents who stand firm and know right from wrong. Love our children as they are. It used to be that the right thing to do was to let them go and make mistakes, try the drink at the party, stay out past curfew, let them learn the repercussions of it. But now, if we parents stand firm, we’re considered villainous. If we let them go experiment on their own, other adults gleefully step in and destroy our child physically (looking at you, gender clinics and planned parenthood). It’s a completely topsy turvy world.
Exactly
I am so sorry. I read your other posts on your substack, too. The people luring your daughter away from you are reprehensible. The systems we are living with are insane. You are speaking the truth and living in reality, but it's little comfort. Like some other commenters, I also believe this will end and your daughter will return. I am thinking of both of you.