Every Trans Child Deserves a Mother Like This

Jodie Patterson spoke to The Today Show about the struggles and joys of raising her trans son.

Appearing on Tuesday's Today show, author and activist Jodie Patterson offered a master class in how to parent a trans child.

Patterson is a Brooklyn mom and the author of The Bold World: A Memoir of Family and Transformation. The book chronicles her journey raising a trans son, an issue Patterson spoke passionately about on Today. Among the points of discussion were whether Patterson erred by allowing her son to self-identify as male while only a toddler.

"(Initially) I insisted that Penelope be a smart, happy girl and Penelope rejected that, refused that, cried," Patterson said. "Every night we had temper tantrums; nail biting until they were bloody. The attempt to make Penelope see himself as a girl failed miserably. He was a sad and dark child."

Patterson learned to "course correct" and accept her child, who is now happy and healthy. Watch Patterson's interview below.