There was a time that I had my child enrolled in martial arts for years. He loved it. Then, we moved to a different state. Naturally, I enrolled h
Credit: @5uffragette
There was a time that I had my child enrolled in martial arts for years. He loved it.
Then, we moved to a different state.
Naturally, I enrolled him in a new martial arts program. But, I took him to one or two classes before he decided that he was not interested anymore. I was stunned. But okay. Boundaries up.
In the new state he was busy making new friends, had new interests, and was excited about the new activities and surroundings. He needed time and space to adjust. And now that he mentioned it, I could feel myself moving fast, maybe too fast for him, to get him acclimated. He just wanted to slow down and adapt to this new chapter.
But this was about ME doggone it. LOL. (joking)
During my parenting season there was a huge push against child obesity. My child was never obese but his generation struggled with it. Therefore every regular doctor visit I felt like I was on the criminal witness stand when I was asked “Which physical activities he is involved in”. (They write it down)
And none of this social pressure ever comes with enough financial support. Just commentary, judgment, pressure, and strange looks but nothing you can take to the bank.
And it does not sound like conditions have improved for today’s parents.
Without revealing too much private health information about my now adult son, I will say that we are quite familiar with making unique medical decisions that will have a life-time impact. Any family raising children with illnesses, injuries, and conditions does. We get the seriousness.
Children are beautiful, ever-evolving beings.
They can be wildly confident about something one week and completely change their minds the next.
It’s not inconsistency—it’s growth. It’s how they explore who they are and what matters to them.
They try on identities like they try on favorite colors, favorite foods, or who they trust with their secrets.
Some of these things stick for life.
Others fade and get replaced with new truths that feel even better.
And that’s why I’m concerned.
There’s a bill under consideration in Colorado—HB25-1312—that would allow the government to treat a parent’s disagreement with a child’s gender identity (even a temporary one) as a form of coercive control during child custody battles.
What happens if a parent is simply confused?
Or rightfully cautious?
Or believes their child might benefit from time, space, and loving support before jumping to irreversible conclusions?
What if they love their child enough to allow space for changing minds?
I do not pretend to have all the answers.
But I am troubled when the law gets this deep, this extreme, and this quick to remove objectivity in decisions about children—who need safety, flexibility, and patience from the adults in their lives.
I’m especially troubled when the result may be long-term consequences in already tense, painful custody disputes. That’s when children are most vulnerable to being pulled in all directions.
We must protect all children from medical exploitation and other forms of child abuse.
That’s non-negotiable.
But can we do that without silencing parents, weaponizing misunderstanding, or rushing into irreversible decisions?
Families need room and space to grow, connect, and get to know one another organically.
Children need safety.
They also need the nurturance of time just like every other beautiful thing in nature that blooms.
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