Marlo Mack

How to Be a Girl Marlo Mack

What's it like to parent a child in transition?

Inspired by the acclaimed podcast How to Be a Girl, this is a highly personal and beautifully narrated memoir by Marlo Mack recounting the journey she's been on since her three-year-old declared he should have been born a girl. And Mack agrees to the child's request to be a girl.

But getting the world to go along is another story. Putting the listener in her shoes, Mack takes us through how she explained it to her parents, found common ground with her ex, convinced educators, and developed radar for judgy parents who just didn't understand. She builds out her network of LGBTQIA+ support for herself and M. But the biggest motivation for this mama bear is her wonderous child who sings Frozen, giggles through conversations about her favorite fairy toys, and offers us bits of wisdom and insight well beyond her years.

This is an unforgettable narrative of a remarkable child, a truly devoted parent, and what it means to practice motherhood in transition.

Note from the author: The story I am sharing is about real people - me and my daughter and those who have lived through this very interesting time with us. To preserve the privacy of my child and others, I've changed nearly all of the names, including my own and that of my child.