Avoiding Awkwardness, please help!!!?

Question

ok so my female cousin has some kind of hormonal imbalance (or so they tell us) and she is growing facial hair and has a really deep voice. She has decided to have a s*x change, but that isn't until January next year. Until then we have to call her Larry (she chose the name)

I'm going to see her/him in about 2weeks and I reckon that its going to be weird. I mean, how am I gunna be able to look at me 18yr old female cousin and call her Larry???

I know your all going to say "act like nothings different" or "treat her the same" yer I know all that, but it's easier said than done.

Answer 1

Wow thats odd..o.o

Okay..ha um well you could just imagine her as a guy.

Or avoid her as much as possible.

I would say the things you said but I huess it doesnt help.

Answer 2

Larry is an incredibly brave person and has made the determination that you all will be more supportive than not, and has made the decision to face the discomfort rather than walk away from the family.

Larry needs all of the support s/he can get from everyone and is going to need even more as time goes on.

People do not go through these catastrophic, tumultuous life changes for kicks, you know. Larry has undoubtedly spent a lifetime struggling with this matter.

I am most certainly NOT going to advise you to act as though nothing's different, or to treat Larry the same as always. Things ARE different, and Larry is and will be different. The question is, can YOU find it in your heart to move ahead in this change in relationship?  

Have you thought of opening up and speaking candidly about the subject with Larry? It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just, "How are things going with your procedure? Are you okay?"

People have probably been walking on eggshells pretending nothing is going on, until Larry is ready to scream from the need to talk to someone about all of the feelings and changes and, yes, the excitement of finally becoming the person Larry was meant to be.

Yes, it will be uncomfortable. Yes, this is a unique situation. It is your chance to stand out as a person of goodness and generosity, and give your cousin desperately needed moral support. Or not.

Answer 3

lol that is a little strange... honestly, you gotta let her know that you  guys are family and you love her the same, but its gunna be hard for you to adjust to the change, so apologize in advance for any awkwardness that will happen in the future.. it just takes getting used to