As father of a non-conforming child of 14, I'm trying my best to put aside what I feel, and listen to what she's feeling. In her case, she doesn't want to change pronouns or her name. She does, however want us to stop using, "girl" and opt for "kid," or "kiddo" as in, "my kid" The key for me, is to let her know she's 100% heard and loved, regardless of label. However, it is equally important that she defends her decisions. If she chooses to use "they/them" then she has to be prepared to answer, why, from family and friends. That kind of accountability takes some maturity, at 14, she isn't mature enough, mentally, emotionally or physically to make a concrete statement and live by it. And that's where I believe that being too quick to give in to these circumstances is risky. One day, she's adamant about pursing hormone therapy when she's of age, the next day she's talking about having children of her own. Imagine the betrayal a child would grow up with if a parent agreed to transition at 14.

This is all new and we have responsibility to protect our children, first and foremost, because they are children and they cannot know what they think they know, just yet.