You are not alone
As a parent or adult in a rainbow young person’s life, this stuff might all be new to you. If you’ve just recently learned about your child’s identity, it can take a while to learn and adjust to your child being different to what you expected for them.
You don’t have to figure all of this out on your own. Finding your own sense of community can help you avoid feeling isolated, and give you a sense of belonging. In turn, you will be more equipped to help rangatahi know that they are not alone, and to feel safe and good about themselves.
Some things to consider:
Connect with caregivers who are in similar situations when raising or caring for rainbow youth.
Be open minded in your experience - there are many different ways to raise/influence/care for a rainbow young person.
Be willing to learn how best to care for the rainbow youth in your life.
Watch videos and research the experiences of others who care for and raise rainbow youth
Be open and willing to be informed and affected.
Reach out if you need help - there are no wrong questions and our organisations are here to support you.
Buy and read books with rainbow themes for your children
Check out rainbow-themed shows, podcasts, YouTube channels, and books - there are bunch of great authors and creators out there that write and talk a lot about what you are going through.
Some questions to ask yourself:
Am I shutting off and not allowing my experience to be informed by helpful knowledge?
Where can I find good information that is relevant for us?
Where can I go to connect my child with community?
What groups are there for me to join as a parent?
How can I support and work with my child to connect us to rainbow communities?
Who do I know who has shared experiences?