Supporting the Child Coming Out at Christmas

As with any holiday, family will be getting together.

For kids who have recently or just come out, owning their gender identity openly can prove to be stressful.

There may be challenges to face.

It can be helpful to discuss any concerns with your child in advance of the family gathering.

Ask your child how they are feeling.

You may also want to explore how some family members may respond to this new information.

In so doing and where concerns arise, it can be helpful to understand your child’s expectations of you in those circumstances. What will they want of you?

Being who one is, authenticity, shouldn’t be a challenge.

However, to the degree the child has unequivocal parental support, that child can be better equipped to manage any negative repercussions.

It is also important for the parent to remain calm if meeting any innapropriate reaction by family or other company. It will not serve the child to worry about their own parent’s reaction, even if in their defense.

In the end it’s about loving your child, remaining protective, while letting them be who they are.

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I am Gary Direnfeld and I am a social worker. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. I am available in person and by video conferencing.

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW

gary@yoursocialworker.com
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Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert in social work, marital and family therapy, child development, parent-child relations and custody and access matters. Gary is the host of the TV reality show, Newlywed, Nearly Dead, former parenting columnist for the Hamilton Spectator and author of Marriage Rescue: Overcoming the ten deadly sins in failing relationships. Gary maintains a private practice in Georgina Ontario, providing a range of services for people in distress. He speaks at conferences and workshops throughout North America. He consults to mental health professionals as well as to mediators and collaborative law professionals about good practice as well as building their practice.