But recently, I was speaking with an acupuncturist-in-training and learned that “yin” and “yang” actually refer to the light side and the dark side of a mountain—and my mind exploded. With this new analogy came a new way of thinking about something that’s been marketed as binary for so long. If we saw gender not as two opposing forces, but rather as two sides of the same mountain, how might that change the journey of self we’re all on? 

As a transgender person, I’ve had many strange conversations about gender. But none are as strange as the ones I have with and about my kids. Here’s part one in my series on gender and parenting, in which I discuss my resistance to dressing Hailey in feminine attire. Check it out!

So after much hemming and hawing, I've decided to pursue top surgery. I have so many fears about it-- taking the time off work and burdening my coworkers with my slack, healing time and the way that will impact Biff and the kids, out of pocket costs and how our budget can sustain that hit. But this is my Year of Yes.