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    Raising Ryland: Our Story of Parenting a Transgender Child with No Strings Attached
    Raising Ryland: Our Story of Parenting a Transgender Child with No Strings Attached
    Raising Ryland: Our Story of Parenting a Transgender Child with No Strings Attached
    Audiobook7 hours

    Raising Ryland: Our Story of Parenting a Transgender Child with No Strings Attached

    Written by Hillary Whittington

    Narrated by Hillary Whittington

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    This powerful, moving story—which has already touched more than seven million through a viral video created by the Whittington family—is a mother’s first-hand account of her emotional choice to embrace her transgender child.

    When Hillary and Jeff Whittington posted a YouTube video chronicling their five-year-old son Ryland’s transition from girl to boy, they didn’t expect it to be greeted with such fervor. Beautiful and moving, the video documenting Hillary’s and Jeff’s love for their child instantly went viral and has been seen by more than seven million viewers since its posting in May 2014.

    Now for the first time, they tell their story in full, offering an emotional and moving account of their journey alongside their exceptional child. After they discovered their daughter Ryland was deaf at age one and needed cochlear implants, the Whittingtons spent nearly four years successfully teaching Ryland to speak. But once Ryland gained the power of speech, it was time for them to listen as Ryland insisted, “I am a boy!” And listen they did. After learning that forty-one percent of people who identify as transgender attempt to take their own lives, Hillary and her husband Jeff made it their mission to support their child—no matter what.

    From the earliest stages of deciphering Ryland through clothing choices to examining the difficult conversations that have marked every stage of Ryland’s transition, Hillary Whittington shares her experiences as a mother through it all, demonstrating both the resistance and support that their family has encountered as they try to erase the stigma surrounding the word “transgender.” In telling her family’s story, she hopes she can assist the world in accepting that even children as young as five, can have profound and impactful things to say and share. What emerges is a powerful story of unconditional love, accepting others for who they are, and doing what’s right, regardless of whether those around you understand it.    

    Editor's Note

    Touching tribute…

    The Whittingtons garnered viral fame when they posted a YouTube video of their then-five-year-old daughter as she transitioned from her assigned gender to the gender she knew she was: a boy. This touching tribute written by Ryland’s mother Hillary explores the emotional journey of parenting a transgendered child with sensitivity and grace.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateFeb 23, 2016
    ISBN9780062454867
    Author

    Hillary Whittington

    Mother of two Hillary Whittington has advocated for her children for years, serving as a classroom volunteer and public speaker. Through Raising Ryland, Hillary hopes to bring hope, strength, and humor to her experiences as the parent of a transgender child. In sharing her story, she encourages readers to have the courage to make the world a better place for all of us.

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    Reviews for Raising Ryland

    4.5/5

    25 ratings3 reviews

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    • 2/5
      The writing was stellar. Clear, great command of the English language. well organized. The love these parents have for their child is obvious. That's where I stop with the 'good'. I am sure this not politically correct, but the whole thing, the entire idea that their 5 year old needed to be transformed because she thought she wanted to be a boy? That's just plain insanity. At 5 years-old my son just realized that his "wee -wee" wasn't ever going to fall off and make him a girl. He just realized that mommies are girls. Maybe things will go okay for this child. But take a look at the research. It doesn't not bode well for her or any other people who do this.
      I have a niece who is 22 and has begun this transformation as well. She's 22, an adult and I still love her dearly, but she grown!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Thank you for being so brave and sharing your story so that other families in this situation may gain strength and know there is a way forward .
    • 5/5
      A beautiful story of the Whittington’s dedication to Ryland. Hillary Whittington speaks candidly about tribulations and the learning curve that came with raising a trans child, but the strength and love of this family is what comes through more than anything. While the story would be wonderful to read, hearing Hillary tell the story with her own voice adds more power, and often heartache, to this beautiful ode to acceptance and tolerance.