H.S. grad Hedwig & me in front of Milwaukee’s Oriental Theater, 2008

My son wears heels. He has since he was four. Today he’s twenty-three and continues to walk inches off the ground way more confidently than I do. Over the past two decades, I’ve been known to trip in basic pumps and in parenting.

Before my son was born, I feared a genetic stain of bad mothering. Sounds crazy, right? But I own up now to past beliefs. According to some experts back then, bad parents could make their kids gay. (Without naming names, there are some child psychologists today, like Ken Zucker in Toronto, who still believe that.)

I’ve learned a lot along the way. Mostly from my son. And there are wonderful new experts on the children’s gender-spectrum scene, like Dr. Diane Ehrensaft, author of Gender Born, Gender Made. I’m proud to say I went from a worrying, clueless mother to a self-accepting, kickass mom experienced in parenting a gender creative child.

The lessons and journey continue. Sometimes I have to think a moment before explaining terms like cisgender or pansexual. But that’s what I’m aiming for. Growth at all levels, with or without stilettos.

So sit back, put your feet up and follow along as I share my exciting life and times as a woman whose son wears heels.