So fail the best laid plans (also known as how I came out to my wife).
TRIGGER WARNING
I had made plans to come out my wife tonight. I had plans on top of plans. I knew that once I told her how I was feeling that any other plans were out the window and it would all be reactions, explosions, and likely recriminations. So I decided to cook up a nice meal, ensure any tasks that needed doing would be done so that we wouldn’t have to worry about them later and ensure that phones were off, devices down and total attentions could be given. And then I was going to talk to her after dinner, because I was sure that after the talk no one would feel like cooking.
Well as best laid plans are given to do, this one failed, miserably. First my wife was out all afternoon. So by the time she got home our bed was covered with laundry to be folded, clean sheets to put back on the bed, the tuna steaks were in an infusion waiting to go on the grill, salad in the fridge, table partially cleaned off. And that is as far as we got. My wife was folding clothes and could tell I had something on my mind. She asked me what I was thinking. I told her that I would talk about it later. She asked why not now? When I said it is because she might be upset later, she insisted on having the talk then.
I started talking about how my gender dysphoria has been steadily getting worse and worse for years now, and that i have been struggling to keep it in check. I talked about how I had used nail polish and hair removal to keep it under control, but that I had been resorting to dressing in feminine undergarments, including bras and undies. She asked what bras, to which I told her “mine”. I said, that I have an appointment with a gender therapist to help me come to terms with all of this and that I would like to explore my gender identity.
Her response was about what I expected it to be. Tears, questions, her fears (that I would choose to transition) - I told her that my desire was to live as a woman, more tears and questions about how I could one day stand before God and tell Him that I think He made a mistake when He made me. (We are evangelical Christians). She then told me that as much as she loves me, if I went down this road towards transitioning, that she could not support me or see herself staying with me.
As expected, the tuna is in the fridge, as is the salad. The bed is not made. And even though I am out, I know that any attempts by me to conform to my chosen gender identity will be met with disapproval. I had hoped that I could at least start dressing more feminine at home, perhaps even going so far as to get a nightie to wear to bed. But that is unlikely now. I doubt I will ever have her support and any hopes of her supporting me starting HRT are out the window as she would likely see that as transitioning.
I wish I had never opened my mouth. I wish I had never taken oestrogen last year. I wish I could put the rabbit back in the box.