Mother of eight-year-old transgender girl reveals how she hid the knives and scissors because she feared her child would cut off his penis before he began living as a female

• Debi Jackson, 41, of Kansas, says her son Avery revealed to her at age four that he was a girl
• He was deeply unhappy as a boy and she worried he would harm himself
• She took him to a doctor who diagnosed him with gender dysphoria, and let him begin dressing as a girl
• Avery is now being raised as a girl, and Debi says her child is finally happy

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 10:22 EST, 23 November 2015 | Updated: 10:24 EST, 23 November 2015

The mother of a transgender eight-year-old has revealed how she hid all of the scissors and knives in the house because she was so scared her daughter would attempt to cut off her penis.

Avery Jackson's mom Debi, now 41, hid them after her then-four-year-old confessed to her: 'You realize I'm a girl, right?'

Kansas resident Avery, then living as a male, started to tell her how he was desperately unhappy with his male genitalia and heartbreakingly asked what would happen if he jumped out a moving vehicle.

Long journey: Debi Jackson, 41, of Kansas, says her son Avery announced at age four that he was a girl. Until then, she had no idea that he was transgender 

All smiles: Today, at age eight, Avery lives happily as a girl. But when she was younger and being and being raised as a boy, she was miserable with her male genitalia

Beauty moment: Avery dresses as a girl and enjoys playing with make-up and accessories. However, as a toddler, Debi says her son was a 'typical boy' and loved playing with trucks and superheroes 

Mrs Jackson, who was so panicked she hid the blades, allowed Avery to live as a female.

She wore girls' clothes to school for the first time when she was four – nearly five.

'I wondered if I was doing the right thing,' her mother Debi, said. 'But [living as a boy] Avery was miserable and I was worried things would get worse so my husband Tom and I bought more girly clothes for Avery.

'She was delighted.'

Mrs Jackson said there was no indication Avery was born into the wrong body when she arrived in June 2007.

Early life: Avery played with trucks with his older brother Anson, and his parents did not suspect he was anything other than a boy 

Sad: Avery began asking for girls clothing at age three, and eventually started asking his mom questions about death, alarming her and her husband

Identity: Avery told his mom he didn't want to have a penis and she was worried he would try to remove it himself, so she hid all sharp objects in the house

'Avery was a typical boy,' she recalled. 'He loved Thomas the Tank Engine and playing superheroes with his brother Anson.'

She said the changes emerged when Avery – who was born Avery, it is a boys and a girls' name – was three.

'Out shopping Avery pointed to a pink princess dress and asked if he could have it,' she recalled 'I was surprised but because kids like dressing up I got him it.'

Soon Avery wanted to wear the dress everyday. Mrs Jackson, a stay-at-home mother, continued: 'I was worried he would get teased if he wore it outside.

'But when I explained this, the look on his face was heartbreaking.

Early life: Until age three, Avery's parents had no idea he was transgender

Obstacles: Avery's parents eventually took him to a doctor, who diagnosed him with gender dysphoria 

Siblings: Debi says Avery's transition was difficult for her older brother Anson to understand, but eventually, he came to terms with it and they are very close

'Then, over the next few months, he started asking for other girls' clothes like pink light-up shoes and glittery jeans which we eventually bought.

'He refused to have his hair cut too.

'I had never heard of people being transsexual and thought maybe he was just gay.'

Mrs Jackson said she was 'stunned' when Avery announced he was female.

'I didn't know what to think,' she admitted. 'He began to say he was unhappy with his body. He became very unhappy and started asking questions about death like, 'What would happen if I jumped out a moving car? Would it kill me?'

Favorite color: Avery loves wearing pink clothes and refuses to have her hair cut

Fishing trip: Since her parents began raising her as a girl, Avery has never been happier 

'He told me he wanted to get rid of his male parts because there were 'in the way' and I was scared he might harm himself, so I hid the scissors and knives.'

Mrs Jackson discussed the issue with her doctor husband, now 40, and they took Avery to see a physician.

There, the youngster was referred to a therapist and was diagnosed with gender dysphoria, which means he would be likely to grow up transgender.

The family received counselling and began to refer to Avery as a girl.

'It was a relief when it was confirmed,' Mrs Jackson said. 'Avery knew she was a girl so we didn't have to explain it to her.

'Once we got our heads around it too, we cold start to think about the future.

Tight knit: Anson and Avery get along very well, even though her transition was at first confusing to him 

Pink hair, don't care: Avery enjoys dying her hair different colors and playing with beauty products 

Purple moment: Her parents have fully embraced her as a girl, although Debi says she and her husband lost many friends due to Avery's transition 

'I was terrified Avery would be bullied and she was still too young to understand how hard it would be to transition.

'When we went to the shops and Avery was wearing a glittery headband, strangers would laugh.

'But Avery was much happier.'

In February 2012, Avery went to school for the first time – in girls' clothes.

'She wore a pink top and shoes,' her mom smiled. 'I told the teachers how unhappy she was when she wore boys' clothes and they were really understanding.

'But, sadly, the children began to bully Avery so we decided to have her home-schooled.

'She was happy she could be herself, but we lost friends and family as a result of Avery's transition.'

Hard times: Debi let Avery dress as a girl to school, and teachers were very accepting. However, she began getting bullied, so they decided to home school her 

Family life: The Jacksons are grateful that Avery no longer wants to harm herself because she is finally living as her true self 

Future: Debi says that when Avery reaches puberty, she will begin taking hormone blockers to stop her voice from breaking and facial hair from developing

Now Avery has been living as a girl for four years and is happier than ever.

Her mother continued: 'When she hits puberty she'll take hormone blockers to stop her voice from breaking and facial hair from developing.

'It sounds extreme but it's the only option.

'At the moment Avery is happy, but if she wants surgery it's something we'll consider in the future.

'Since Avery's transition, we only ever refer to Avery as a girl and 'she'.

'It would be wrong for anyone to do otherwise.'

Mrs Jackson said it had been 'hard adjusting'. 'I thought I had two sons but now I've got a daughter instead,' she said.

Pink lady: Avery loves wearing jewelry and feminine clothing, and the family now refers to her as 'she' 

Looking forward: Debi says she has told Avery that when she gets older and starts dating, she will need to explain that she is transgender 

'Anson, now nine, took a while to get used to get used to Avery's transition because he thought she might not want to play with him at first.

'But now he has accepted it and they get along very well.

'It's just a shame some of our friends could not accept the transition.'

Mrs Jackson said she was worried about what would happen when her daughter started dating. 'We've discussed it with her,' she said. 'When she does meet someone, Avery knows she needs to explain she's transgender.

'But she's so strong I know that she'll deal with whatever is thrown at her.'  

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