Ok so I’m 35, 1 3/4 years on T, and I am wondering if I should expect a sudden change; like when boys shoot up over the summer in high school. My voice has been a baritone since month two (personal euphoria) and I’m relatively hairy. Should I see a sudden massive change? Did y’all?
The world is burning but I wanted to share something I’ve discovered recently that brings a little sunshine to my days.
I have passed since my first month on T almost two years ago (I’m 35, I was a fish to water) and was mostly excited for my voice changes. I register at a baritone level in my chest now, while also maintaining the ability to ‘head-voice’ convincingly female. It’s wild! I have a whole new range of male voices that I can convincingly convey. The best part is that I don’t get dysphoric with feminine characters because it’s a role I’m playing, not a mask I’m glued into.
I recently became a step dad and it’s been an adjustment with big moves and stressful situations but the moment I ‘code-switch’ (as the kids call it) it lights their little faces like I’ve never seen. It’s such a hit they have started naming the characters I jump to most frequently. I can even use certain voices to make them feel more at ease and comfortable to open up, which makes me feel like a better parent.
I’m so busy I’m rarely the one who puts them to bed but when I do they get me books to read them with as many different voices they can and I love it. Their mom will play a video game with only text while I’m reading next to them and they will stop and stare at me until I do the voices. Every. Single. Time.
Not to mention the rare D&D sessions are killer as the forever DM 😭
The down side is when I do it in public, purely out of habit, and see a very noticeable change in body language from whomever I’m speaking to. I’m seen as this bigger dude with a deep country accent in the PNW until I forget and pop a hip and snap to make a point. It’s either received well or off putting but that tells me all I need to know about that person right away.
I guess what I’m getting at is: The world is on fire, so we need hope and joy wherever we can find it. If you can’t find it, make it. We have trans-joy, and we need to share it with the ones we love to give them hope. Yes, the world is burning. So I’m going to cozy up to that fire with my kids, put on some silly voices, and revel in their love of my joy.