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Trust, Grief, and Loving Your Child Through Big Identity Changes

Trust, Grief, and Loving Your Child Through Big Identity Changes

Author: Katie Taylor, Certified Child Life Specialist March 4, 2026 Duration: 34:08
Inside the Children's Hospital
KidsKids & FamilyFamilyFitnessHealthHealth & FitnessMedicineParenting

What happens when your child shares something that shifts the future you thought you understood?

 

In this episode of Inside the Children's Hospital, Katie sits down with Kelly Kemp — certified child life specialist of more than 30 years and mom of three — to talk about navigating trust, grief, advocacy, and love after her child was diagnosed with gender dysphoria and came out as transgender.

 

Kelly shares:

  • The phone call that changed everything

  • Navigating substance use and mental health concerns

  • Grieving privately while choosing love publicly

  • Rebuilding trust with her child

  • Supporting siblings during a major transition

  • Setting boundaries with extended family

  • Finding affirming medical and mental health care

  • Holding faith and parenting together during uncertainty

This conversation is not about politics. It is about parenting inside a medical diagnosis. It is about trust. It is about grief that doesn't mean rejection. And it is about the steady, protective love that children need — especially when the world feels loud.

Whether your child is navigating a medical diagnosis, identity development, or a season you didn't anticipate, this episode will remind you:

Grief and love can coexist.

Trust is foundational.

And your child still needs you.

Resources & Crisis Support:

 

  • The Trevor Project: Providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people.

    • Call: 1-866-488-7386

    • Text: START to 678-678

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: For mental health crises in the US.

  • Free Mom Hugs

  • WPath (World Professional Association for Transgender Health)

  • The Trans Family Alliance

  • Please note: Some organizations have private social media groups. For more information on those, you are welcome to private message Kelly Kemp.

 

Connect & Support from Child Life On Call:

Medical information provided is not a substitute for professional advice—please consult your care team.

 


Hosted by Katie Taylor, a Certified Child Life Specialist, Inside the Children's Hospital is a quiet space for the often unspoken journey of pediatric illness. This podcast moves beyond the clinical to explore the human heart of the hospital, offering conversations that feel more like a shared cup of coffee in a waiting room than a formal interview. You'll hear directly from parents and caregivers who articulate the complex mix of fear, resilience, and love they experience, while pediatric nurses, doctors, and therapists provide their unique professional perspectives on fostering healing and normalcy. The discussions naturally delve into the practicalities of family life disrupted, the emotional weight carried by all involved, and the small, profound moments of hope that sustain people. It’s a resource for anyone connected to a child’s health challenge, whether you're a family member seeking solidarity, a friend looking to understand, or simply someone interested in the intersection of medicine and humanity. Each episode aims to validate the listener's own feelings, whether they are in the midst of a crisis or reflecting on one, by presenting these authentic narratives without sugarcoating yet always with profound compassion. Tune in to find a sense of community and a deeper appreciation for the delicate, powerful work happening within those walls.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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