Very interesting thread here. I too was a square peg in a round hole in one regard. I was a teenager, 42 years ago, when I was forced into relinquishing my firstborn daughter to adoption. I was a mother, but I wasn't. Society treated me and my ilk like pariahs...I mean really...what kind of mother would give her child away?? Not even a dog would let you take her puppies...such and much more in that vein was overheard in conversations. "Real" mothers who had lost their babies to stillbirth, miscarriage or neonatal death were supported. Cards of condolence, flowers, visits and companionship were and are common. However for relinquishing mothers of past generations there was nothing. No support of any kind, just vicious condemnation. We never know who is in the room and what hats they wear and thus how our conversations may affect others. I suspect there may even be some transgender folks sitting on the sidelines of this group, If not now, possibly in the future. My DIL has a sibling who is transgender (female to male) who has many friends in the trans world. I worry for them about all the hormones both camps take and the possible future ramifications to them as far as cancer goes. I did pull Lee's leg when he returned from Thailand after having both breasts removed, that he could have put them in a Jiffy Bag and brought them home for me. It was quite strange really, I'd lost my breasts unhappily, and Lee was so delighted and relieved to have the body (upper at least) which fitted. All about perspective.
