You actually just did pinpoint why you feel like crying. You see your mother treat her animals the way you wished she would treat you, in the past and now.

My mom felt that way when she saw how my father would have the dog on his lap and scratch it and rub it's belly and give it so much affection, she was jealous of how he was more loving to the dog than he was with her.

I think that some parents and people in general are confused about those who are transgender. For the most part they don't understand it. People can be very simple minded when we wish they could have more to them than they really have.