Reviews from

God Doesn't Make Mistakes

One mom's journey from denial to acceptance.

15 total reviews 
Comment from Olivanne Marsh
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Wow, I am so impressed. You took a difficult subject and made it understandable, humanized it and addressed the difficulties of it with kindness and compassion and you did it all using dialogue. Good job. I would like to hear more with exchanges between the transgender teen and the experts, but really, you could do at least two dialogues on the issue, the Mom was a good choice for getting information.

 Comment Written 04-Apr-2022


reply by the author on 04-Apr-2022
    Thank you for saying all of that! I'm grateful for your kind words and your review. Hmmm... A dialogue between the Teenager and the professionals? That's definitely something to consider. Thanks again. Hugs.
Comment from royowen
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I must admit Leann, because I've never encountered it, so I can't comment, but it doesn't mean I'm not willing to learn, I've been given, what I would term. normal males and females, but it's not something I would grasp, but I do love them, not because of sexual orientation, but because they're my children/grands. But I don't want wholesale pronoun changes for the minority, beautifully written, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 03-Apr-2022


reply by the author on 03-Apr-2022
    Thank you, Roy, for reading and reviewing. I'm glad to hear that you are open minded and willing to learn. Hugs and blessings to you.
reply by royowen on 03-Apr-2022
    A pleasure
reply by the author on 04-Apr-2022
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

One of the reasons I love this site is the many ideas, perspectives, and stories that are told here. This is a beautiful dialogue story, set up over a course of years, that follows the changes of both the child and the mother. I wish more people could read this, understand it, and respect it. And I love the ending - Becca/Tucker finally gets the penis! Thanks for your courage in writing and posting this.
On a technical note, go back and edit again - little things like open quotes and not capitalizing where you should may weigh into contest judging.
Best of luck with your entry.

 Comment Written 03-Apr-2022


reply by the author on 03-Apr-2022
    Thank you for saying all of that! Your encouragement is appreciated.

    I am totally blind, and miss a lot of those issues, and homonyms are dreaded! I will try to figure out where these open quotes and lowercase letters R so I can fix them. I appreciate your letting me know about them. Hugs and blessings.
Comment from Simon L Parker
Good
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

A well-thought-out piece that provides knowledge into the family life of a parent with a transgender child. The statistics mentioned bring to life just how seriously things can go terribly wrong without the proper support when it comes to this decision.

The one thing I don't buy, however, is the following line by the mother:

"Transgender? What does that mean, and how can we fix it?"

I'm having a hard time believing that she doesn't have the slightest clue as to what the word 'transgender' means at all. Her child was bullied in school because of it and I'm sure a close acquaintance or two would have eventually asked her, after 15 years of her daughter dressing and acting like a boy, whether her or not her daughter was trans. Maybe perhaps instead of being completely unaware of what the term means, she curses the thought at first, then through the years comes to terms with it in a way that wasn't detrimental to Becca's mental health throughout her transitional journey? I feel that this would make her epilogue to God at the end seem even more spiritual and profound in context.

I think also an exclamation point being used instead of a period would be a classic touch for when 2-year-old Becca asks Santa for a penis for Christmas.

This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 02-Apr-2022


reply by the author on 02-Apr-2022
    Good thoughts! I'm going to reread and consider your advice.

    Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate your well thought out suggestions. Hugs.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2022
    Good thoughts! I'm going to reread and consider your advice.

    Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate your well thought out suggestions. Hugs.
Comment from Liz O'Neill
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

There are some very poignant child transgender you tubes.
Rebecca is the name I gave to her in remembrance of my grandmother, and it is very special to me. I don't think I can do this." What parents don't realize is, 'it's not about you, it's about your child.'
Mrs Wilson eventually becomes with great pain, an example of an open-minded, loving mom. Thank the universe this is fading: " "No, you are a girl. Boys have a penis; girls have a vagina. You have a vagina, so you are a girl." Good statistics and what about the ones thrown out of their home: "transgender, the suicide rate among transgender males, that is people who were born female biologically but feel male, is 53% for those who are unsupported by their families. The suicide rate has shown to drop drastically for those who have support at home."
This is well done. It should be shared or publicized somewhere. It is very well done. I have no more 6's but this is a definite A+

 Comment Written 01-Apr-2022


reply by the author on 01-Apr-2022
    Thank you so much. This is a topic close to my heart, and I wish all of society put understand this issue a bit more. I do understand how hard it is to wrap your head around some thing for which you know nothing about, but still, I wish? Thank you again for your kind and generous review. Hugs.
reply by Liz O'Neill on 01-Apr-2022
    Have you watched any you tube stories. I have a few that are my favorites. I had such a crush on one of the Social Workers where I worked. I would just gaze as she walked down the hallway. She was beautiful. I'm retired & I guess she's working somewhere else. She had a beautiful name too.
    Imogin It makes me think of Imagine
reply by the author on 01-Apr-2022
    yes, I have, over the years, Watched oodles of YouTube stories! Did you ever see the TV show "I am Jazz"? Jazz's mother is a friend of mine through Facebook. We became acquainted when jazz was around five years old. There are a lot of wonderful and loving people out there in the world!
Comment from oliver818
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This is very well written and it's great to see something on this topic written here. The first lines were a bit of a shock but once I realized what you were trying to do with this I really got into it. Thanks for sharing

 Comment Written 31-Mar-2022


reply by the author on 01-Apr-2022
    Sorry for the shock! Lol that part actually came from a true story? I bet it shocked mom, too! :-)

    Thank you so much for your generous six stars and for reading and reviewing. Hugs and blessings to you.
Comment from giraffmang
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hi there,

You're brave putting this u on this website! There's a lot of bigotry here about this sort of thing but good for you. This pans out well. I think you're right that many folk have a lot of misconceptions about it and how thorough the process is.

I've worked with kids for almost 30 years and have been through a lot of this kind of thing.

"Oh my God! Becca asked for a penis for Christmas! How does a 2 1/2-year-old girl even know what a penis is"- should probably have a question mark at the end here.

girl clothes anymore and I want my haircut."- in this instance it should probably be hair cut. (although this made me laugh as I'm definitely a boy and my hair is down to my butt....)

Please read the information I have provided to you- maybe use for rather than to after provide.

"are you serious? For real? Mom, that would be so great! - Are.


 Comment Written 31-Mar-2022


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2022
    Thank you so much for catching all my typos! I'm going to vote for you as a reviewer, because a lot of people reviewed this and nobody told me about those typos so far. So thank you again! And thanks for reading and reviewing.

    I'm hoping that people will be mature enough to read for quality instead of the topic. I figured I would be taking a risk, but I'm tired of caring what people think of me. Lol I guess I'm getting old. :-)
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2022
    Sorry. I tried to nominate you as a reviewer, but apparently, I already did earlier. I'll try to get you when my previous nomination runs out. Thanks again!
Comment from karenina
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

A profound write. You've managed, in the "Dialogue Only" style, to track the evolution of awareness, denial, acceptance, and assimilation to transgender.

I know that you have visual issues... Yet you unmask the blindness so many adopt when judging others!

Haters will hate... Ah, but you are so right!
God does not make mistakes...

Tucker was meant to be Tucker...

At last there is a path forward, loving families, skilled surgeons...

No child would so consistently self identify as the opposite gender from preschool through puberty... The journey is painful.

There are so many sadder outcomes than this!

So many lives taken for lack of a supportive parent!

You have shown the best possible outcome.

Isn't that what we all want for our children?

Thank you for shining light on a hot button topic!

A courageous and beautiful bit of writing here!

Karenina




 Comment Written 31-Mar-2022


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2022
    Thank you so much. I was hoping to do everything that you said I managed to do. That alone, makes me feel tremendously grateful and fortunate. I realize that people are usually on one side or the other on this issue, but I hope that at least one person can read this and hop the fence to the other side.

    There is nothing more important to a child than unconditional love and support from a parent. In any situation, it can make or break a person.

    Thank you so very much for the six star rating and your awesome and supportive comments. Hugs and blessings to you.
reply by karenina on 31-Mar-2022
    I loved your work. I could feel the intentions of your heart. The world needs more compassion and less hatred and apathy!
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This is incredibly well done. You have covered a very difficult subject and you did it as dialogue only. I have a friend from my church transitioning to female with his wife's ok. His two little girls seem to think he is Mom. The problem is, his 8-year-old son and the son's best friend, my great grandson. It is hard for them, but they love him. I was not certain this transitioning made sense, but now I see it as something better in the teen years than later. So glad you wrote about this topic.

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2022


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2022
    Thank you so very much for sharing your experience with me, and of course, for reading and reviewing. I also really appreciate the six stars.

    If you would like to speak further about this issue, or you think it would benefit your church friends to speak with someone, please feel free to email or to pass on my email to others. I have a lot of knowledge and experience on this topic.

    My email is:
    leann1234@comcast.net

    Thank you again, and hugs and blessings to you!
Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

God Doesn't Make Mistakes
by Leann DS

Hello, LeAnn,

Excellent entry for the Dialogue Only Writing Contest. It's very informative and you kept a neutral point of view for the most part. I think this is fiction but you did your research. My daughter is gay and has being all her life. I always accepted her the way she is and never thought there was something wrong with her. Transgender people don't decide to be transgender... it's a physical condition. I'm glad the mother was mostly open-minded and came to accept Tucker and help him get the surgery he wanted since he was 3. I think you have a great chance to win in the contest. Good luck!

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2022


reply by the author on 30-Mar-2022
    Thank you for saying all of that. I'm an LGBTQ Ally and have been since before it was cool. One of my best friends was gay. He passed away several years ago at the age of 42 due to a hereditary heart issue. I miss him so much.


    I personally know a couple of families who have gone through the transgender journey. They don't all turn out like the family in the story, but I believe that this is the happiest outcome.

    Thank you for reading and reviewing, and I am humbly grateful for the six star rating. Hugs.
reply by Gypsy Blue Rose on 31-Mar-2022
    Your welcome, you did a great job. It's a hard subject in fanstory... A lot of narrow minded people, but the majority I know well are good people.