I’m so incredibly proud of and inspired by my sweet girl. Yesterday she announced to her 8th grade class that she is transgender and asked everyone to start using her chosen name, Nadia. She had tons of support from her teachers and she said most of her classmates responded really well! She went in nervous but came home smiling and said it was amazing to have everyone using her real name.

There was one kid who shot some really awful side comments at her, but she didn’t seem too affected by it. She told me she’s heard him use the n-word in the past, so she was expecting hate from him. She’s really good about not taking people’s hate and ignorance personally. She focused mostly on the support and love she got.

In other good news, her Dad has really turned around and is being much more supportive now. Nadia just kept telling him what she needs until he heard her. And I think the CPS call got his attention. Now he’s using her name and pronouns and seems to have stopped trying to talk or coerce her out of being who she is.

She’s spreading light and love everywhere she goes, just by being herself. I’m so lucky to be her mom.