Last night my daughter came out to me that she was Pansexual. Actually I kind of gently drew it out of her. I stumbled upon an email she had written seeking advice from someone that she was Pansexual and did not know how to 'come out' to her parents. So I arranged for some one on one time with her and started the conversation assuring her that I loved her more than anything in the whole world, unconditionally. I told her about the email, asked her if it were true or was she just goofing on the internet. She confided that it was true. I told her I loved her and supported her. I want to take it seriously, Because I feel like I am holding a bomb that could go off with the slightest wrong movement. . . . . She is 13, has engaged in no relationships what so ever as of yet. So how she has defined herself in this way I think is a whole issue. we live in a sleepy little town in the Midwest. Yet somehow she feels she is attracted to transgenders? I am trying to figure out how to best handle this. If I am not careful it could become a big mess in a couple directions. If I take any action towards it it is going to push her away. But I know she is walking down a very narrow dangerous path as well. She is going to be starting high school in the fall and they have this whole club for these things. I worry that association with such will draw her bullying, and I also know that most of the other kids involved are just messed up little campers trying to be different and raise their parents stress levels. I also know that substance abuse and suicide runs rampant in those circles. She is very easily influenced. I've long worried about that. I worry that setting her free to follow her feelings is also exposing her to bad influences. Sad thing is I know she is getting all this from her internet obsessions. Part of me thinks its a phase that will come and go like her love for Dora, One Direction other similar things she no longer cares about. But part of me worries that it may lead her to a deeper darker obsession (Like drugs, alcohol, depression.) Ya always look at parents with train wrecks of kids and you wonder, 'Why didn't they see the signs? Why didn't they prevent the problem before it got to where it did. I feel like I am at one of those check points where I need to do SOMETHING. Accepting/supporting and trusting her sister to be eyes and ears is one option. I feel like she EXPECTS me to try to stand in her way and she is prepared to rebel. Trying to figure out how to best handle this. At this point all I've done is tell her I loved her unconditionally and accept who she feels she is. She seems relieved. I'm hoping that with that the novelty might wear off (She doesn't have an I came out and my parents are a mess sob story to share with the others online. I love my daughter deeply and could easily accept the idea if it is legit. I just worry that she is playing a role for attention (I gotta be different, just like everyone else) that will lead her to bad places. Worried that it could be a gateway to worse and worse influence. ... View more