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Sian Cullen and her daughter Aine. Cullen was a teenager in Dublin, Ireland when Aine was born. They now live in Seattle.The Seattle Story Project: First-person reflections published at KUOW.org. These are essays, stories told on stage, photos and zines.To submit a story – or note one you've seen that deserves more notice – contact Isolde Raftery at iraftery@kuow.org or 206.616.2035.

Mama, I Was Supposed To Be Born A Girl

Marlo Mack and her daughter. Marlo's daughter is part of a University of Washington study on the lives of trans children.
Courtesy of Marlo Mack
Marlo Mack and her daughter. Marlo's daughter is part of a University of Washington study on the lives of trans children.

My son was barely 3 years old when he informed me that … I didn’t have a son.

He looked me square in the eyes and said, “Mama, I think something went wrong when I was in your tummy, because I was supposed to be born a girl, but I was born a boy instead.” 

He begged me to put him back in the womb to right the wrong. He was sobbing.

In this animation, my child and I tell our story:

How to Be a Girl from gendermom on Vimeo. Audio + illustration by Marlo Mack. 

Marlo Mack blogs about raising her transgender daughter at www.gendermom.com. With her daughter’s help, she produces “How to Be a Girl” (www.howtobeagirlpodcast.com), an audio podcast about their lives together. Marlo Mack is a pseudonym.

The Seattle Story Project: First-person reflections published at KUOW.org. These are essays, stories told on stage, photos and zines. To submit a story - or note one you've seen that deserves more notice - contact Isolde Raftery at iraftery@kuow.org or 206-616-2035.

Originally published 1/29/2015.