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How to Explain Bruce Jenner to Your Kids
Parenting can throw some unexpected questions our way, right? Just the other day, my friend Sarah, who has tweens, shared a little dilemma. She was driving them to school when one of them piped up, “Who’s Bruce Jenner?” In a moment of panic—probably due to her focus on merging into traffic—she simply said, “He’s an Olympic athlete,” and quickly changed the subject. Classic mom move, right?
But here’s the thing: I co-authored a children’s book called I Am Jazz, which offers a basic understanding of being transgender. So, I’ve been encouraging parents to have open, age-appropriate conversations about LGBTQ+ topics. It’s not just about personal connections; I genuinely want to raise compassionate kids who understand that the LGBTQ+ community is part of our world. With the increasing visibility of transgender individuals and the ongoing fight for marriage equality, our children will encounter openly LGBTQ+ people more frequently. Ignoring this reality doesn’t help anyone—especially our kids.
How to Tackle the Question
So how would I tackle that question? I’d say something like this (and I have with my own kids): “Bruce Jenner was a famous Olympic gold medalist, but now he’s known for a different reason. At 65, he’s finally sharing his truth: he identifies as a woman, even though he was born in a male body. Interesting, right?
When he was younger, Bruce felt confused and alone, not realizing that others shared his feelings. There’s a term for it: transgender. Nowadays, doctors understand that being transgender is simply part of who someone is. It’s like when your brain and body get different signals while you’re developing. The good news is that there are now medical options available, from hormone treatments to surgeries, that can help align one’s body with their true self. But sometimes, just changing their name or how they express themselves—like their clothes or hairstyle—is all they need to feel right.
Encouraging Kindness and Respect
You may not meet many transgender people in your life—they’re not super common—but if you do, I hope you treat them with kindness. Understand that their journey may have been tough. Show them respect by avoiding questions you wouldn’t want to answer yourself. And keep an open heart, accepting them for who they are inside, not just what they look like outside, just like we do with everyone else.”
And that’s it! Simple, straightforward, and without creating any unnecessary anxiety. I’d steer clear of topics about sex or sexual orientation since they can muddy the waters—this conversation is about gender identity, not who Bruce is romantically interested in. If we dodge these discussions, our kids will only hear about them from someone else, likely with misinformation. It’s better to keep it real and respectful, just like Bruce Jenner has done.
Additional Resources
By the way, if you’re interested in more about family planning, check out this post on home insemination. And for anyone looking for more thorough information, this resource on at-home insemination kits is a great option, while this link offers excellent insights into pregnancy and home insemination.
Conclusion
In summary, having these conversations with our kids is essential for fostering understanding and compassion in a diverse world.