My child keeps saying she hates being a girl. What can I do?
Hello,
Im not sure in which subreddit to ask this. Please bear with me, I feel a bit lost as a parent.
My child is 6. Since age 3, she started telling me she wants to be a boy. She enjoyed playing with boys and all things considered "boyish". Has also always asked to have very short hair.
I thought it was a phase. When I asked why does she not want to be a girl, she told me is because she found boys cooler, funnier, faster, etc. I've been trying to do my best to show her women are great, and that is beautiful to be a girl, and can also be strong, and fast - and that boys can have long hair and girls, short.
This idea has never past. She will keep asking "when can I become a boy", or "I would like to have a boy body". Things like this. Today she told me she hated herself. I got worried, and sat down to talk. She told me is because she is not a boy.
I feel really sad because this is new to me and I don't know how to best support her? Can anyone share with me their story? How did you feel supported as a kid? I feel like Im failing her and I just don't know exactly how to discuss this with her. Maybe there is also books I could read to her?
Thank you for reading.