After I told him to imagine it as his own child he did change his tune. I said "your dad tried to force school and education and being the best on you and how did that work out?". He hates school and never thinks what he does is good enough. I think he started to see how his own dad did those same things but with a different subject.

My parents never enforced any of the typical girlie stuff on me. I played baseball and did a lot of sports. Never wore make-up or fingernail polish or anything. For a little bit I know my dad was concerned I was a lesbian. But even then he didn't try to force anything on me. I asked him what he would do if I were a lesbian and his words were "I wouldn't disown you or anything but you wouldn't be bringin' your girlfriend over for dinner." I know a lot of people would say "if you would have come out I'm sure he would be more understanding" but no.....he wouldn't. I'm pretty confident of that.

I'm not a lesbian or even bi and I don't feel that I'm in the wrong body or anything. But it is a little disheartening to know that, yeah, if I (or my brother or sister) were to be in that situation, he might actually stop talking to us.

But you know that saying that a woman becomes a mom when she gets pregnant (or even before) but a man becomes a father when he sees his child. Just like the guys who may very well be womanizers change their tune once they have a daughter.

I totally agree that no matter how you raise your child, they will be what they are. And you can either raise them to be resentful of that or accepting. And I would much rather have my child not be afraid to come and talk to me about anything and to feel good in their own skin. mgran - I'm so glad your son is such a respectful person. He sounds like an awesome kid!