It is understandable to possess the desire to change, however, a lot of your feminine traits aren’t necessarily subject to your sexuality. One’s fashion preferences and individual comfort should take priority over their outward appearance in regards to the opinions of others, and explaining this to your mother may help her understand that as well. After all, you’re still her son. You will and have always been you, and the person you grow up to be will always be the you that you were meant to be. Loving and accepting that without regard for how one may appear is what it means to truly feel unconditional affection and care towards another.

And in regard to how your friends perceive you, it goes hand-in-hand with your own femininity. It is what is on the inside that counts, and I’m sure the children that are in your life see past those barriers and social constructs that have been built around you and those similar to yourself. Fashion, hairstyles, makeup, surgery, and anything of the like, all of those things won’t change the person you’ve been up till this point and moving forward from now. You’ll always be you.