It never hurts to ask

As most of you know there has been an NHL lockout until recently. This has meant no professional hockey for the first half of the season.
When I heard that hockey was back so close to Cory's 16th birthday I had an idea.

What if Cory could be one of those kids that gets to skate on the ice with the players at the beginning of the game?

It's usually a much younger player and I have often coo'ed at how cute the teeny goalie is standing next to the pro. I never really thought it could be Cory. I figured there was an officially process for that player to be selected, but with folks not knowing if a season would even happen.....maybe....

It never hurts to ask.

So I called the Vancouver Canucks. For those who don't know, Cory chose his name as a shoutout to his favourite player, Cory Schneider. Starting this season Cory Scneider is the starting goaltender for the Canucks. How great would that be?!?

I left a long, disjointed message with the community relations person for the Canucks. I did not mention Cory was trans. I mentioned that he had tickets to the game on his 16th birthday and that he was an East side kid that loved Cory Schneider. Rod, the poor soul, who got my rambly mom message, wrote down the info, took interest and lost the information.

The Canucks are deeply committed and connected to their fans and their community....he tracked us down by calling the school. How great is that?!? I also persisted by calling the Canucks again. The first time the protective receptionist would not put me through, as my request was not a priority. Never mess with a mom on a mission. I called back and convinced another reception staff to put me through.

Speaking with Rod I got to tell him about Cory and his transition from female to male, from girls hockey to boys. There was, as there often is, a pregnant pause. Then he said "that's amazing! What a great story? So would Cory like to come on the ice on Wednesday?"

Is rain wet? Yes! Yes! Yes!
Best birthday present ever!!!

My amazing kid!!!

http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=653098

Phew

This is good news. The body scanners have made travel a stressful event for Cory and I. While kids are exempt generally, it requires having a disclosure filled conversation in front of airport staff and passengers.

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/01/18/1471481/victory-for-transgender-privacy-tsa-abandons-nude-body-scanners/

Before becoming Cory

This is Cory in one of the only school pictures we have with a more female appearance. Cory passes so completely now he carries this picture on his phone just to prove to people he was once 'female'.

A year as Cory

As some of you know, about a year ago Cory began his journey to transition to male. Over this past year I have not written much, largely out of respect for the privacy he has wished to preserve around his journey. Being a teenager is tough enough. Being a transgendered teen is even more difficult.
Over the past few months or so, Cory himself has said several times, "we should blog about this!"
The stories are funny, sad, and sometimes angering.

I am very happy to report, we are planning to begin to blog more regularly about Cory's journey, and my journey being his mom. One comment I got a while back, pointed out the I am "nothing special" being the mom of a trans-teen. To be clear, I don't claim to be a 'special' or above-average mom.
Cory would be the first to tell you, I am uniquely flawed as a mom.

Where I do not falter however, is in how much I love and admire my child. He is a brave, wonderful kid, deserving of kudos - not me. Over the past year, he has not only transitioned into a strong, confident young man, he has become a trans activist and a mentor to many other trans, gender-fluid, and gender questioning kids in our community. I can't wait to tell you all more about him and his journey.

Sanfran this year

Cory, Molly and I at the Golden Gate Bridge after the Gender Spectrum Families Conference

Back to School!

First so sorry to any regular readers for the long break. It's very hard to know what is ok and not ok to share in the life of a 15 year old transgendered boy. As the summer past however Cory often would laugh at our unique situations and say 'mom, you should blog about this."

So here we go....lots to report!

Tomorrow is the first day of school here in Vancouver. It's the first September Cory will be starting school as Cory and as a boy in the Hockey Academy near our house. He unfortunately has a concussion from taking a puck to the head last week, but luckily it's not severe.

After much adjustment last year the boys (and girls) in the Hockey Academy accept him as one of the guys. Do I still hold my breath a bit every time he goes to school?

Yes.

Do I still worry about depression, bullying, dating, hormones, and about 100 other unique things parents of gender variant kids worry about?

Yes.

What I take comfort in is what a great mature brave son I have. And then I try to breathe.