Okay, as parents we WANT to be supportive of our children whatever decision they make. But sometimes, that support is hard to give unconditionally, you know… depending on the circumstances. Say, killing prostitutes and dumping them along the I-70 corridor. That might be a tough one.   

A SEX CHANGE OPERATION, though? I dunno. I suppose that could be a tough one, too. I mean, you give birth to a child and from its arrival you think of it one way. You buy pink clothes instead of blue. You shop in the Barbie/Disney Princess aisle instead of the Transformer/Star Wars aisle. When they’re older, for birthdays you give gift certificates to GLEN IVY DAY SPA instead of tickets to the MONSTER TRUCK RALLY. And then SUDDENLY one day, everything changes! You have to start thinking and doing the COMPLETE OPPOSITE!

That’s what songstress/actress CHER had to do recently when her daughter CHASTITY announced she was becoming a man.

Here’s what CHER told PEOPLE MAGAZINE about the whole business: 

“Chaz is embarking on a difficult journey, but one that I will support. I respect the courage it takes to go through this transition in the glare of public scrutiny, and although I may not understand, I will strive to be understanding … The one thing that will never change is my abiding love for my child.”

She doesn’t UNDERSTAND? Really? What doesn’t she understand? The inability to accept yourself as you are? The need to go under the knife? The desire to fundamentally and dramatically change your appearance, so that you no longer resemble the original YOU? Uh, pot. Meet kettle. Tree, meet apple. And any other annoying saying that pertains.

Come on Cher! You are the EVE of surgical alteration! All those overly plumped lips and frozen foreheads all over TV land can be traced directly back to you! The only part of you that HASN’T gone under the knife is your genitalia! Or maybe it has. I don’t know. I hear they tighten “down there” in Hollywood. And while I understand that “loose lips sink ships” that’s taking it all a little too far in my book. But I digress.

Look. I know that there’s a real difference between going under the knife to keep yourself looking younger and doing so to fundamentally change your being.  I’m sure Chaz did not make this decision in haste. She has likely struggled with this her entire life. This feeling of being in the wrong body. And as a mom, I’m glad to hear that even if Cher doesn’t “understand” Chaz’s decision, she is “understanding“.  Because it’s our job as moms to be. Right? Kudos to you Cher, for supporting your child. You’re a GOOD MOM in my book.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? WOULD YOU SUPPORT YOUR KID IN THIS INSTANCE? IN ANY INSTANCE NO MATTER WHAT? IS THERE SUCH A THING AS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE?