Additional Information
Book Details
Abstract
This inspiring and moving story, told from the heart of an extraordinary family, recounts the emotional and uplifting journey of raising a transgender son.
Janna Barkin's family has come a long way since their child, Amaya, first told them he was a boy and not a girl and this captivating memoir charts the family's experiences of raising Amaya, from birth through to adulthood. With powerful chapters written by Amaya's family and friends, Janna shares personal stories of the support and discoveries her family has encountered and provides a 'care package' of advice for families facing similar issues, including a glossary of terms and a list of hand-picked support sources.
Written with warmth and humor, He's Always Been My Son reminds us to accept others for who they are and will support, educate and inspire anyone who reads it.
He's Always Been My Son does what no other book has, weaving together a mother's own reflections with inspiring words from the other key players ... capturing the essential truth that it takes a village to grow a thriving gender creative child.
Diane Ehrensaft, Ph.D., Director of Mental Health, Child and Adolescent Gender Center, UCSF, and author of Gender Born, Gender Made and The Gender Creative Child
Janna Barkin is the proud mother of a transgender son, and a passionate transgender youth rights advocate. She writes regularly for the Huffington Post and on her personal blog, He's Always Been My Son.
What I love about this book is that it is a wonderful balance between a mother's love for her son and resources available to families who are navigating a similar journey. With different family members contributing to the story, the reader can see what this transition looks like from varying viewpoints.
Roz Gould Keith, President/Founder of Stand with Trans, parent of a transgender teen, and Creator of Ally Moms
As a mom of a transgender daughter, I wish this labor of love existed when my child began her journey.
Jeanette Jennings, President and founder, Transkids Purple Rainbow Foundation, featuring with her family on the television docu-series, "I am Jazz"
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| He’s Always Been My Son: A mother’s story about raising her transgender son by Janna Barkin | 3 | ||
| Amaya’s Blessing | 11 | ||
| Introduction | 13 | ||
| What Does That Mean? A Glossary for This Book | 17 | ||
| Navigation Guide | 27 | ||
| Part 1. The Before Years | 33 | ||
| Dream Baby | 35 | ||
| She Had One Job | 36 | ||
| Amaya’s Name | 38 | ||
| To Snip or Not to Snip? by Gabriel Barkin, Amaya’s father | 41 | ||
| Notes from a Naming Ceremony | 46 | ||
| The Power of Three | 46 | ||
| Part 2. The Early Years | 49 | ||
| Amazing by Gabriel Barkin, Amaya’s father | 51 | ||
| Girls Wear Pink, Boys Wear Blue (or Not) | 52 | ||
| One of the Boys by Tracey Klapow, a very dear friend, and “Aunt Tracey” to our children | 57 | ||
| When Is a Hat Not Just a Hat? | 59 | ||
| Best Practices Evolve by Lisa Treadway, a very dear friend, and “Aunt Lisa” to our children | 63 | ||
| Walking Through Cement by Shawn Masia, Amaya’s uncle | 66 | ||
| I Wish to Be a Grampa | 69 | ||
| Spike! | 71 | ||
| One in 200 | 75 | ||
| I Found a Friend in You | 77 | ||
| Tomboy | 79 | ||
| Part 3. The Tween Years | 83 | ||
| Chick Dude | 88 | ||
| “Faggots” and “Trannies” by Gabriel Barkin, Amaya’s father | 90 | ||
| Two Moms | 94 | ||
| Heroes by Gabriel Barkin, Amaya’s father | 96 | ||
| Period Stop | 103 | ||
| Holding Together While \nFalling Apart | 105 | ||
| Halloween Scream | 116 | ||
| Watching and Waiting | 117 | ||
| Why Can’t My Child Just Make Up Their Mind? | 122 | ||
| Part 4. The Transition Years | 127 | ||
| Facebook Told Me My Daughter Was My Son | 130 | ||
| Bound in So Many Ways | 136 | ||
| The Doctor Dilemma | 141 | ||
| Finding Cristin | 150 | ||
| I’ll Go with You | 154 | ||
| High Hopes for High School | 158 | ||
| Texas | 164 | ||
| Coming Out Is a Process | 173 | ||
| A Letter to Our Family | 180 | ||
| The Girls by Gabriel Barkin, Amaya’s father | 184 | ||
| “Is He Changing His Name?” | 186 | ||
| Top Surgery | 188 | ||
| Witness by Michael Krashes, a very dear family friend | 200 | ||
| Looking for Reflections | 202 | ||
| Puberty, Again?! | 210 | ||
| Your Papers, Please! | 217 | ||
| The Lay of the Land: Current Medical Practices for Transgender Youth | 228 | ||
| Big Sister, Little Brother by Emily Barkin, Amaya’s sister, 5 years old | 238 | ||
| Part 5. Complete | 243 | ||
| The “Talk” by Gabriel Barkin, Amaya’s father | 244 | ||
| Complete, for Now: an Interview with the BBC | 245 | ||
| Rock on! by Weston Walls, a very dear family friend | 248 | ||
| There He Goes! | 251 | ||
| Who’s “She”?! | 252 | ||
| College Unbound | 254 | ||
| Reflections: \na Letter to My Beloved by Linda Masia, Amaya’s maternal grandmother | 256 | ||
| My Amaya by Elaine Barkin, Amaya’s paternal grandmother, September 2014, Valley Village, CA | 259 | ||
| Part 6. Now (and Beyond) | 271 | ||
| From Ally to Activist | 271 | ||
| A Blog Was Born | 272 | ||
| He’s So Lucky | 276 | ||
| Who’s the Lucky One? by Gabriel Barkin, Amaya’s father | 279 | ||
| Without Understanding by Travis Owen, Amaya’s brother, 11 years older | 281 | ||
| He’s Always Been a Teacher | 283 | ||
| Mistakes, I’ve Made a Few | 285 | ||
| Shifted by KB, a very dear friend, and “Aunt KB” to our children | 289 | ||
| There He Goes, for Real! | 292 | ||
| Postscript: I Am Worried, I Am Hopeful | 296 | ||
| Resources for Transgender People and Their Families | 299 | ||
| Notes | 317 | ||
| Blank Page |