Home   >   Feature   >   A Mother’s Journey Through Parenthood and Acceptance

A Mother's Journey Through Parenthood and Acceptance

By on May 11, 2024
motherhood

By Ellen Irvine

Hey everyone! So, Mother’s Day is coming up, and it’s a time to show your moms some extra love. I’ve been thinking a lot about the special bond between moms and their kids. 

I became a mom for the first time when I was 18. It was a wild ride—I was excited, scared, and everything in between. But as soon as I heard my baby boy cry, I knew I would do anything for him. 

Being a single mom wasn’t easy. I had to grow up fast and take care of my little one all by myself. But he was my everything, and I knew we could get through anything together. 

Over the years, I tried to find a new father for my son and someone to take care of me too. But no one seemed to be the right fit. Eventually, I became pregnant again and our little family became—me, my two boys, and a whole lot of love. 

Being a single working mom was really hard. I had to leave my kids every day to go to work, but I did it for them. I wanted to give them the best life I could. 

Then, I met this guy at work. He was younger than me, but he was kind and treated my kids like his own. We got married, but it didn’t last. When we split up, my oldest son decided to stay with his stepfather. That was tough, but I knew I had to respect his decision. 

As time went on, my oldest son and I just didn’t get along. His stepdad didn’t make things any better, and I was bitter that he was trying to take my place in my son’s life. Then, out of the blue, my son ran off to Hong Kong with some girl and got married without telling anyone. Before we knew it, he had a son of his own. Things didn’t get any better between us, but I still loved him, no matter what. I could tell from the few times we talked that things weren’t going well for him, but he wouldn’t open up to me about it. Eventually, he and his wife split up, and he only got to see his son every now and then. It broke my heart to see him like that because I knew exactly how he felt. 

So, a few years passed by, and we still didn’t really talk much. Then, one day, he contacted me. He was super hesitant to tell me what was up, and he asked me not to get mad or judgmental. I was like, “You’re an adult now, you’re 47, I have no room to judge, sure, I’ll listen.” And then he drops this bomb on me: he tells me he now identifies as a female and has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria. She has sought out medical treatments such as hormone replacement therapy, gender-affirming surgery, and psychotherapy. She told me that her estrogen levels were multiple times higher than a male and that her chromosomes were xxy. She believes that this has been part of her emotional problems all her life, she has always felt different and she just couldn’t identify it or express it until now. 

I was like, totally shocked and floored! I was speechless for a moment, but then I said the only thing that felt right—that I was not angry and she shouldn’t ever be afraid to tell me anything. Because I love her and support her, I’m her mom, and that’ll never change. She broke down crying. She never dreamed that I would give her the love and support that she needed. We have been in contact constantly since then. I have chatted on Facebook throughout her transformation and her several readjustment surgeries. I am thankful that she has survived through this and our bond is stronger today than ever.  

Being a mom is the best job in the world. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. I’m so grateful for my kids, and I love them more than anything. 

*******

Ellen Irvine

Ellen Irvine, A Woman Empowering Women – a remarkable woman who has dedicated her life to empowering women. 

Ellen is a student of the Simply Women’s Accredited Training (S.W.A.T.) Institute, a graduate of the Master Empowerment Coaching Certificate (MECC) program at the age of 68. 

As a single mother, she understands the struggles and fears associated with providing for her two children. Having married at a young age, she had her first child at 18, divorced by twenty-one, and welcomed her second child at 22. 

These early responsibilities forced her to mature quickly and take on various roles. Through her work life, Ellen became deeply involved in the women’s movement, participating in rallies and teaching other women about women’s concerns and rights.  

Empowering women holds a special place in Ellen’s heart. She has honed her skills in coaching and finds great joy and honor in helping women achieve their own empowerment. Her personal journey and experiences have shaped her into a compassionate and understanding advocate for women’s rights. 

I hope this brief summary provides you with a glimpse into Ellen’s inspiring story. If you have any further questions or would like to connect with Ellen, please feel free to reach out.  

Facebook 

Instagram 

https://thecronescounsel.com 

 

About simply...woman!

We encourage spreading the message of knowledge and wisdom. We appreciate and thank our featured partners for their articles. All information provided on Simply…Woman online magazine is for reference only; the content is based on the authors’ experiences and therefore is not intended as a substitute to the services of a fully qualified professional. Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, Simply…Woman makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information.