About epilation: you never start too early with it, especially if you have lot of colourless or blond hair on your face. Average male has 10000 pieces of hair on his face and with the speed of 50 pieces / hour and one session / week it will take 4 years to get rid of that all if done ONLY by needle.
Now with a new system my cosmetologist manages even 300 pieces of hair in an hour, that is a real breakthrough.
I started my epilation sessions in January 2003 and I still have some 6 - 10 hours left. But then it is done. But as my shrink asked: "Does it not embarrash you to have your beard removed as a legal woman?". In my case no, because my cosmetologist is an old friend of mine and I guess we stay friends for this lifetime.

Laura

Hia Laura
What system is it?
And is it likely to be found in uk yet........?
I need to find a quicker way...........
love and light
itchy tonight

I will check the type of the set on my next visit next week. It is a blend type of hair removal system, both electricity and heat, but in this they come in two clear shocks right in the beginning when the needle is set and the hair can be pulled out after 6 to 10 seconds. With the old equipment you had to keep the needle in for at least 30 seconds. But since this is still experimenting, me being the test animal, I cannot tell yet for sure if the removed hair will regrow or stay away. So far it seems that majority of the hair will also stay away. It is quite interesting to test this system with the girls...and for me the removal is cost free.
Sandra, I know many ladies who would NEED facial epilation, my boss among them .

Laura

Fairness, Mere... Nature can seem to mess up our notions sometimes. The way you have been struggling certainly makes it seem more than fair enough that you should express who you truly are. Isn't the consequences of any other solution already proven beyond doubt ?

Linda
xxx

Hi Meredith, <big hug>

For what my opinion is worth, I think you are choosing the right path, even though it will be a difficult one and one perhaps that really has no end to it since it's a journey we live rather than a journey we make that has some sort of an end to it where you can say, "Here I am at last, I've finally arrived." Like taking a train from Los Angeles to Seattle or something. There may even be, in fact there will almost certainly be, regrets and sorrows along the way, too. My personal feeling is that before you can love and be true to anyone else you have to love and be true to yourself also.

Of course, this doesn't mean you can't make sacrifices and put someone else's needs above your own but when it comes to something as fundamental to us as who we are and who we perceive ourselves to be I don't think it can be done, not on any permanent or long term basis. Sure, you can white knuckle things out, there's always the choice as to whether to act on our feelings and desires or not, but stuffing it forever isn't something I personally would want to do or even contemplate. And in all actuality, I pretty sure I couldn't do it. Once you have opened the door, I don't think you can turn around and go back in.

Like you, I used to have the feeling that if there were only some magical pill I could take to make these feelings go away, I would, but no longer. Like you if I had a choice I think I would have to say no thank you and continue being who I am taking the difficult and unhappy parts with the good. I could no more give up my feminine side willingly than I would willingly chop of my arm or lose my sight.

Meredith, dear, I wish you the very best of luck, no matter what you choose to do. Your love for your wife and your children always shines through in your posts. If you choose to try to suppress your TS feelings to make them happy, I can only say that I completely understand and if that's what you should choose I wish you and your family the very best.

If you choose to continue on the path that leads to discovering more about who Meredith really is, then I wish you the best with that, too. You know you will always have friends here on TW who care about you and who will support you no matter what.

Hugs and best wishes...Joni

HI Mere,
Just a short note..... GOOD FOR YOU!!!!
Whatevet you decide , it is your decision
and YOUR life to live. Choose wisely on how
to deal with your family (especially your daughter).

Hugz,
MIchelle Lynn

Meredith hon, hang in there. We're here for you. As for your so called "friend", I think he's probably very insecure speaking like that about people who just happen to be different. Who knows.....maybe he's TG himself and just doesn't want to face up to it. As for your family hon, I agree with what Michelle said, be careful with how you deal with them, especially your precious little daughter. I'm hoping all the best for you. Take care and keep your chin up

Hugs & kisses,

Monika

Meridith, of all the things I have ever heard you say about yourself, this is the one that makes me have the most hope that you will persevere through your struggles: " I would never want to lose Meredith." That was also my moment that I knew Wendy was here to stay....stay out, that is, because she has always been there. If they don't want you with that part then they don't want YOU....they want someone else who doesn't exist. I hope those around you can learn to understand the reality and not keep demanding the myth they have in their heads. We can't all change our lives so that they can feel more comfortable with their "reality". I cant play the part they've asked me to play all my life...not anymore.

Joni,
Don''t think I don't know what the "...train from Los Angeles to Seattle." is about. I'll get up there, I promise, lol.

Meredith-Wendy is absolutely 100% right and couldn't agree more with her.Take care,lots of love Alli,xxx

Wendy, sis, that's not what I meant at all, hon. It was a Freudian slip, that satin kind of peach colored one. I just wasn't sure if I knew how to spell Hoboken and Schenectady.

Hugs...Joni