On the cusp of fifty, Sylvie embodies the image of a positive, enthusiastic, and determined woman. Far from the clichés of an overly "polished" presentation, this enthusiast of nature, hiking, and creative hobbies agreed to participate in the "Be Your True Self" campaign as a "small challenge," strongly asserting her desire to have "her place"—no more, no less than anyone else.
Motherhood and Life Lessons: Daring to Say No!
When questioned about the impact of motherhood, Sylvie immediately speaks of "more indulgence" towards her body, easily accepting the changes that are "part of the journey." Looking back, she shares a crucial lesson she wishes she had known earlier: the right to say no.
"I could have avoided it," she confides about the numerous hospital visits that encroached upon her first days with her baby, during which she initially wanted to "please everyone." This realisation helped her to "grow," allowing her to now assert her boundaries.
In terms of self-confidence, maturity and life experiences have played a major role. Her message to her younger self is clear: "You have to be bold. Above all, don't put up barriers." An injunction to try, even if it means failing, but to banish regret.
A commitment to her child's freedom
The notion of freedom takes a particularly poignant turn when Sylvie discusses her child's identity affirmation—a son who chose to identify as such after sixteen years of living as a girl.
Far from seeking to "draw a line under" the past, her son has never denied his early years, but his body and mind were no longer "on the same wavelength."
While she rejects the term "bereavement" out of respect for parents who have truly lost a child, Sylvie acknowledges the difficulty of abandoning the use of a name borne for sixteen years, an adjustment made with "great kindness" from her child.
Beyond the difficulty, it is her child's transformation that comforts her.
"You would have to be a bit foolish to think it was better before,"
Because her son is now "more comfortable." Her only regret is that her son did not have to "walk this path," to not have to go through all these challenges.
A mother's unconditional love in the face of adversity
When supporting her son, Sylvie dismisses the idea of "courage," considering that there is "no other option" than to be a pillar. "I won't leave him to manage all this alone," she insists, aware of the tragedies experienced by isolated transgender children.
She acknowledges that this journey has strengthened their bond and given her son the "certainty that he will not be alone." Despite legitimate parental fears regarding potential hostility from the outside world, Sylvie and her husband focus on the success of having a "very united" family.
Her message to young mothers who build their expectations around what their child "should be" is a call to the essential: "Do we love them more because they are a girl or do we love them more because they are a boy? I'm not convinced." The child is what matters, regardless of their gender.
Today, Sylvie sends a message of hope to her ten-year-younger self, encouraging her to "trust herself" and to remember that the "end result" matters more than the "winding road."
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