Image via Heather Lundberg Green

This is how every coming out should look for kids and parents alike

The most we can hope for as parents are that our kids grow up to be happy, healthy, well-adjusted kids. When your child comes to you to tell you they are transgender, many parents feel a combination of many emotions. One way to show your child that no matter what, you accept them for exactly who they are? Throw them a kick-ass party.

Heather Lundberg Green’s son, Adrian, came out as transgender to his mom and so, on his 20th birthday, she decided to have a photo shoot in his honor — for his bravery, courage, and to tell the world how proud she is to be his mom.

“When your child comes out as trans, the best thing to do is create a photoshoot to celebrate the fact that he silently and bravely stepped out of the race that he never wanted to be in, found his own lane and proceeded to win,” she writes on her Facebook page.

“HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY, Adrian! You are without a doubt the most fascinating human I know and I will always be your biggest fan! I love you, I honor who you are and I respect your courage to be unapologetically you!! Let’s celebrate!!”

“As parents, we are supposed to make the world a better place for our children and I intend to do that one celebration at a time!” Green tells Scary Mommy.

And that she did! Posing with balloons, “It’s a boy” signs, blue glitter, and hugs all around from Adrian’s mom and older brother, it’s clear by the pictures just how loved and accepted he is.

It’s critical, now more than ever, to remind our kids that they will be respected, no matter what. With Trump banning transgender troops in the military, rolling back Obama bathroom legislation, and continuously ostracizing the LGBTQIA community, our kids need to know we are behind them and there are so many people out there who love them.

“There is a huge and ever-growing community of people who care,” Lea Grover writes for Scary Mommy. “Maybe right now you don’t know how to find them. Maybe right now they don’t know how to find you. But the truth is, they’re out there, and they’re looking for you.”

The more moms like Green to step up and publically share their child’s experience with all the joy and enthusiasm all parents do when it comes to celebrating milestones, grades, vacations, and more, the better we’ll all be.