Warning....long post ahead š±
So as I'm writing this, the struggles, the sadness, and the confusion are seeping out of my body faster than the speed of life. I've taken a little bit of a break from social media due to some things that have happened at home as well as with all the things going on in the world. I write this to share mostly the confusion I am going through now but also some of the struggles I've been going through. This will be super random as I can't even keep my thoughts straight. Again I'm not looking for pity or anything like that. I just don't really have anyone to talk to about this stuff and need a place to get it off my chest.
Ok so if your still here thank you and here goes!
I am furloughed from my job, which is ok since it means I am able to be home with my kids. The downside is I haven't hardly had any chance to be me for the last 3 months, from the physical dressing up part to even the mental part. My wife has been working from home as well, so between her being here and three kids under six, I haven't had any chance to do anything. I decided to take a break from social media as it's just really a constant reminder of who I can't be right now. I thought this would help, but it didn't.
I then decided to get Animal Crossing for my Switch. Of course I decided to make an island only Madison would love. I even have some cool trans designed things I've made and decided to try and look as much like me as I could. Well that made things worse as my wife got the same game. She doesn't know the trans flag but kept making comments about how uncomfortable my character made her, from her physical look to the outfits. Add in the fact that two of my kids asked why I was female in game. It's been a mini disaster š
So here's the confusion part! Put my life into a pie chart. The wife, kids, house, pool, family, friends, job, and any other of life's great things are in one section of the happiness pie. The other section is all things Madison. Last year this pie was about 85% the wife, kids, etc and the 15% was Madison. This year it's more 65% wife, kids, etc and 35% Madison. I am still yearning to be Madison every day, but with this break and with this time of not being me I am starting to second guess myself. Am I really transgender or some just weirdo? In my heart I know I am trans but my brain is trying to be the enemy. It's telling me why jeopardize the 65% of happiness for the other 35%. I see the writings on the wall, I know what my outcome will be and that 35% happiness will be amazing, but the 65% happiness now turned sadness is going to slowly eat away at me until it may destroy me. My brain is telling me just be happy with what you have, but my heart is telling me something different. Who's right? I've always followed my heart, and that got me my wife and kids who I love more than anything else in this world. So what's a girl to do?
I know I am not explaining this well so if your having a hard time following along I'm sorry.
The other struggle I am having is lack of friends. I have plenty of friends but only a select few that know the real me, and they aren't generally asking me how I am doing on this topic or even bringing it up. I am awful at social media, usually I am just posting selfies to try and boost my esteem. I try to like and comment on other people's posts but so many of the people I follow have no idea who I am, mostly because they have a ton of people they are following so there streams are full and maybe they aren't following me. Some of them do comment back but I just don't know where to go from there sometimes. Also I say this not to be mean or prude, but the friends I am looking for are trans girls going through the same things as me at any stage and cis female friends who can offer guidance on being a woman. A lot of the guys that follow me are either chasers or creepy old guys. Again I have a lot of male friends that aren't either of those and I hope you know who you are. But I am really looking for trans and cis female friends and can't seem to find any.
The other part of this struggle I am having is that I am pre everything and a lot of the girls I admire and follow are past that stage. Some more than others but sometimes it feels like SOME of those girls don't take the time to read a post from someone who is pre everything. I know some of that may be in my head but with everything else going on in there it makes it tough to tell the difference.
Other struggles that continue to plague me are....
Wife saying confusing things ALL THE TIME
The effects on my kids of coming out
My kids accepting me and still loving me
Financial issues of possible divorce
Financial issues of being transgender
Finding new work if needed
Another big struggle could be me being alone. I've always been someone who enjoys the company of others and being in an intimate relationship. Based on conversations with my wife, it's a pretty safe bet we'd get a divorce. She's not physically attracted to women and if I were to actually go that route that would put a big strain on any chance for the relationship. Hence me being alone. My parents are getting older and a lot of their old age problems are starting to hit both of them. They are divorced and neither of them are with anyone at the moment and they are both struggling. Based on my family history, being alone when I'm older may not be good for my health.
The biggest struggle I'm having though is the thought of hurting my best friend and soul mate. I've waited my whole life for her and I know people online have told me if she leaves she not my soulmate, but I don't believe that for one second. I've already put so much strain on our marriage and to go any further would devastate her. How can you do that to someone you love?
I dunno, I've always tried to smile and stay optimistic, but as I'm about to turn 39 that optimism is fading. I truly don't know what to do, I'm so confused and I know there isn't anyone that can make this decision for me. I know I have to make it, but I truly don't know how, or if I even can. The only thing I ask is to say a prayer for me and maybe, just maybe God will listen and help.