Affirmations for YOU as you Step Into Bravery - Home for the Holidays 2025

Supporting a trans family member means being willing to stand between them and transphobia, and nowhere does this hit harder than in our families. As you find your feet in this role, remember these affirmations.

YOU ARE ENOUGH

It is really normal and expected that there will be hard moments between you and your youth, especially over the holidays when emotions are already running high! In your job as a parent, caregiver, or supportive adult, you need to make mistakes. Being a supportive adult is not about getting it right every time. It’s about having self-compassion, and a process for what to do when harm or conflict inevitably happen.  Young people often crave relationship clarity and self-awareness, and suffer from inconsistency and “fake” or “mixed” messages. Rather than shooting for perfection, trust that the holidays will likely include some hard moments, and that you have the skills to navigate wisely through that hardness, together. 

YOU CAN HANDLE DISCOMFORT

Conversations about your youth’s gender may require you to experience a kind of “second hand” transphobia, as you run interference between your youth and potential harmful comments and actions from family members. This will likely not feel good. It will likely be uncomfortable. However, our ability to withstand that discomfort and step boldly into that role communicates to our youth that we are willing to try on their shoes temporarily, and shoulder a sliver of the discrimination they may be experiencing every day. 

YOU'VE GOT THIS

You don’t have to know everything about gender, or everything about your family, to do the work of building a stronger relationship with your youth, and between you youth and the people and communities around them. Keep this goal (stronger relationships) in mind when considering how you want to navigate the holidays, and let it guide your actions. 

YOUR LOVE IS POWERFUL

Strong adult support continues to be one of the most significant contributors to positive health and mental health outcomes for trans youth. Don’t forget how powerful you are! 

Looking for more tools for the holidays? Check out tips for preparing for the holidays, and common transphobic comments, and ways to respond with love and support.