I struggle greatly with the topic of the transgender swimmer Lia Thomas

First, I want to be respectful and humble in what I’m about to discuss.

I struggle with this topic greatly.

Wait… let me be frank: before virtue signaling just now and writing about being respectful and humble, I was tempted to title and start this note in a very different tone. I was going to use the word absurd or some variation of it.

But there is a great mental exercise that I often use when I’m about to judge people or controversial issues. It always helps to take a step back and restrain from bold and brisk opinions.

I think of my kids. I have four!

I thought of them just now.

What if I found out that one of them struggled with their gender identity and the corresponding transformation was on the horizon?

Incidentally, my kids are competitive athletes. One for example is a running fanatic, hopeful to run for college in a couple of years. And my young daughter is a tennis player.

So what if the experience of understanding transgender people — their lives, their hearts and minds, their dreams and struggles, smiles and sorrows — happened right in my family?

Well, clearly I’d want my kids to be always happy, to live a life where they are respected and have fair opportunities to pursue their dreams and work hard towards their goals.