Last summer my mom passed away. She was sick with cancer for a long time, so in theory, I had plenty of time to prepare for her passing. And yet, I will tell you now, there is no way you can ever prepare for the loss of a parent. While I grieve, I have learned that the stages of grief don’t always apply to every instance of grief or loss, and I will explain why.

It’s important to understand that someone’s gender identity and sexual identity are two different concepts. Gender identity is the personal sense of one’s own gender, while sexual identity is a person’s conception of their sexuality and who they are attracted to. You may feel uncomfortable about the way your loved one is choosing to express their gender, or maybe you don’t understand it. You may worry about the struggles they will face or worry about them being bullied or harassed by others. Here’s some tips on how you can support your loved one.

Empathy is a critical part in what makes us human: the ability to understand things from another person’s point of view helps us to better understand each other. It’s vital in creating safe spaces for our friends and loved ones to feel understood, making it an essential part of mental health care.