…that I know my own name and that my documentation is valid. I can't believe I didn't do it sooner, though. So many years of using a name that I hated and feeling uncomfortable every time someone referenced it!

So once that was sorted out, I moved on to having to notify all of the places which use my old name, and as part of that I decided to change my title too since it felt like a good opportunity. Some places are more reasonable than others, so I feel quite tired at having to firmly persuade companies…

But my family has been remarkably accepting of it. They're all trying extra hard to use my new name and correcting one another. My brother even knew about the concept of deadnames! Mother-in-law was appalled but she's a sweetie and will adapt (she doesn't go by her birth name anyway, so...)

Agreed! Super cute... though I bet the inhabitant is rather warm :)