Every Trans Child Deserves a Mother Like This

Appearing on Tuesday's Today show, author and activist Jodie Patterson offered a master class in how to parent a trans child.

Patterson is a Brooklyn mom and the author of The Bold World: A Memoir of Family and Transformation. The book chronicles her journey raising a trans son, an issue Patterson spoke passionately about on Today. Among the points of discussion were whether Patterson erred by allowing her son to self-identify as male while only a toddler.

"(Initially) I insisted that Penelope be a smart, happy girl and Penelope rejected that, refused that, cried," Patterson said. "Every night we had temper tantrums; nail biting until they were bloody. The attempt to make Penelope see himself as a girl failed miserably. He was a sad and dark child."

Patterson learned to "course correct" and accept her child, who is now happy and healthy. Watch Patterson's interview below.