tiefling ,

My perspective is slightly different since I'm a trans woman (have been for 10yr), but I was also raised by just my dad.

The main things I learned from him that have actually been useful are things like how to use a variety of tools and do basic handyman type jobs around my living space. I learned a lot of hard skills from him, but not so much soft skills. I can comfortably fix a toilet, patch a wall, or mount a TV. I also picked up the basics of firearms and engines from him, though I haven't had to use that knowledge yet. The things that have been useful that I had to learn on my own were how to cook, how to sew, and how to clean.

I wish he had let me explore my emotions a bit more. I learned to repress my feelings and now struggle with that a bit in adulthood.

The best advice I can give is to be open and give her space to talk about what's troubling her. Be an active listener, and don't shrug her off when she's sad or angry. Encourage her to learn hard skills that may be useful in the future, but also don't be hesitant to learn soft skills alongside her. Let her practice styling your hair or painting your nails if she wants to. Gender norms are outdated anyways. More than anything, love, respect, and trust her.

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