I didn't get so lucky as to be knocked out......I got back up bruised a good bit and sore but I pretty much walked it off.

If I were to have awaken to a nurse I woulda totally had a WarnerBros. Moment.
Helllllllllloooooooooooooooooooo Nurse!

Nicole,
Yours is a delicate issue. There are almost as many responses to your question as probably the people you would ask.

I come from the unique view of having known closely what is a pretty good number of people over the years from children to adults that live with this circumstance.

As a Woman and a Mother and a even a helping professional I continue to come back to the concept that you are and always will be some of everything you are past, present, and future. In your case that is to have been blessed with a rare perspective that allows you to have perceptions that will make you a richer more developed person and anyone who can not give the totality of who you are acceptance and understanding is missing a gift from God.

But as all gifts, true treasures, there is a time and a place to bestow such gifts. Not unlike any other person who has private experiences in their sexuality I think it is a wise course to not put it out there before you are known as a Person first.

It may take some effort to not lead into the world by gender. There certainly is a tremendous pressure to do so on so many levels but if you become a person to people first I think you may lesson the degree of rejection you have experienced. I am not saying it is an easy task or that it is really possible even completely desirable to not have a gender identity I think with time and practice you will find it easier.

That said I think to thine own self be true. You are a woman and bringing that empathy, kindness, gentleness, nurturing feminine side into the presentation that you are more than you might seem is not only wise but being honest and the true ownership of being not just female but a woman. You don't have to put every detail on the table to anyone who is not intimately involved in your life but I would be lying to you that perception is what most often is a lie of omission and still a lie that hurts others and I believe it is wrong.

You can not spend your life educating everyone and even with education you are going to still run into people who just can't wrap their head around anything out of their sometime limited experiences and indoctrinations. I find in my nearly 60 years of being the exception to so many rules that it would make you dizzy the more truthful you are the less exhausting rejection and abandonment you subject yourself too and the fuller your life will be. I don't believe in wasting energy where it won't make a difference. I don't think anyone can be on duty all the time as an advocate no matter how noble the cause so pick your battles.

I learned a long time ago some habitat's are more hospitable than others. That you can thrive better and longer if you at least have an oasis where you are accepted and welcomed. That is not being cowardly or betraying what you have worked so hard to become either. It just means you chose not to make every moment of life a battle. Contrary to popular belief the only definition of being a woman or a person in general is not to be a warrior.

I don't know your experience but mine is the transgender community is growing and families an friends are opening horizons that did not exist even a short time ago so please do not close yourself in any corners just because sometimes it is comfortable to have that security but there is nothing wrong with nurturing yourself with people who bring accepting others into your life.

I would gently remind you that there are many people on Mingle that have a variety of gender identifications. Many are not just based on their physical bodies but not exclusive of that either. Since I doubt many people are really so childish in todays world to assume much and I hope you won't either because you might be cheating yourself out a great person in your life.

Since you are still mid transition physically, something that is often an prohibitively expensive and lengthy process I doubt you will find yourself all that unique if you get in any urban area but I think it might be worth researching.

That you identify as a woman is no surprise to me since it sounds like that was your core regardless of how you were born. I just kind of wonder how it is making you less if you do for the rest of your life identify as a trans-woman. It certainly isn't less of a woman on any score card I have.

For the heck of pondering it flip the script; would a woman be any less of a woman because she was born only a woman? Since I personally think we all have an element of both genders in conception and in our thinking I sincerely doubt it. Maybe some yahoo has decided that brain is gender assigned but I am not buying it. I have been accused of thinking like a man and I assure you as perfect as some women I have seen are they sure don't do it for me.

I will say I have met a couple Trans Men and until I was told I could not have told a difference. Nor would I have cared.

One thing about ageing especially much further than I am and I am no spring chicken gender identity will fade and all this drama you are going through figuring it all out will probably be almost humorous to you.

And I think in whatever is past this world there is no gender identification. In fact I kind of think gender is pretty much some kind of cosmic joke that we have not quite mastered in evolving past. Maybe it is actually to make us ponder something irrelevant ooccasionally just so we wont take it all so serious.

Well that is my two cents worth. Hope it is food for thought. Remember you are what you are and it's AOK.

Ok how come when I come on to Leigh then all you
guys just seem to come out of the woodwork and
flatter her.
It just goes to show you that it must be true
"boys only play with other boys toys"

but then again "boys like woman that other
boys complaint". Hmmm I'm caught in a catch 22
Hey..I could become a man Naaaah
bad idea. not a this juncture.
Mg have you ever met a female with your friend
and when your leaving the first thing that comes
out of one of your mouths is "she's mine" "oh no no no she's mine! I saw her first".."oh BS, I did and
you know it"?......oh do tell

but the flowers are not for you
they are for Muh Gurl JenNEY.. (Leigh)
Hey mg

Couldn't get over here fast enough!! ...Kisses all over the body! ...I'm thinking every kiss in every place carries its own special message and the only thing each message has in common is that it makes you feel good, very good...

True, some men are pigs, but don't let that discourage you. A good way to use Mingle is to join in the forums that interest you and just have fun (you may find it is addictive)! Getting to know people this way and letting them get to know you by your opinions, humor, and wit ... is a safe way to weed out most of the weirdos. You will find it fun I'm sure.

i lost a husband two days before i gave birth...life went on...i lost my last my last man 11 yrs ago and he wasnt really mine but he died too and left me wth my youngest child...life still going on...i abandoned my first husband who was irresponsible and d laziest and took my baby child wth me...life never stopped for me....but love...dunno.