When dad became Kristine

Over a year ago, Caroline Holmerud Nyborg (23) learned that her father Terje wanted to be called Kristine. The revelation came as they returned from a summer party. Six months later, Kristine Nyborg (48) embarked on the journey of undergoing a gender transition, openly sharing her new identity with those around her. Caroline reflects, "I have known it for a while. Kristine's sense of being different dates back to her childhood, where even before starting school, she would exchange clothes with her childhood friend. Describing her struggle, Kristine reveals, "For many, it was a shock when I came out. I used to dress up in the clothes of the children's mother when I was home alone. In the evenings, I took the car and drove to desolate places where no one knew me. It has been exhausting." This internal conflict periodically led to depression, a struggle noticed by her daughter. Caroline reflects, When I look back, it is understandable why dad has been so back and forth with her emotions. I am very relieved that dad has come out. We have never talked so much about feelings together as we do now. Caroline emphasizes the importance of accepting varied reactions from those around. "You can be like me and take it with an open mind, or you can feel like you are losing a close person. The most important thing is to acknowledge your feelings and talk about them. What you feel is not wrong. The person changing gender must also be open to others' feelings," says Caroline. To the 23-year-old, Kristine remains the same father she grew up with. "It's just the appearance that has changed. She has also gained more interests, but that's just a bonus," adds Caroline, smiling at her father. Upon realizing her father's decision to transition, Caroline sought similar stories online but found few about the experiences of those around transgender individuals. Sharing their story on social media garnered various reactions, with Caroline noting, "Most comments are negative. We choose to focus on the positive." Kristine concurs, stating she has reached a point where she no longer cares about others' opinions, describing it as a liberating feeling.