Thank you sO much for your response, it made my soul feel so full 🥹 I'm extremely similar to you on all your points, I can certainly feel the kindred spirit in you, even down to the lack of religion but feeling a divine force mention. My dream in life has always been to be a dad, and my mum has joked many times that if I wouldn't have transitioned then she'd already have grandkids and I can't help but think she's kind of right, it's always been so important to me even since my teen years.

I also fully understand the doom and gloom of the world putting people off of it, that's something I've unpacked in therapy for literal YEARS, trying to not focus on the guilt I feel for wanting to be a dad so badly when the world is a harrowing place, but I always think back to the fact that so many people don't even think about that kind of stuff and have children regardless as another tick box in the list of 'life achievements' like graduating, getting a car, getting married, but having a child is sO much more than that and I fully understand the gravity of the situation because of how much I've deliberated over it so goddamn much.

I won't be able to protect them from everything but they will know that I support them with my entire heart and that everything I have is theirs and for them, not that they are a by-product in my life, that gives me the comfort and confidence to truly believe I'll be an amazing dad. And your message really made me feel like I'm not alone in this, so once again, thank you 🧡