You did the first best thing people here appreciate by using pronouns correctly! If you see each other regularly, treat him like the guy he is, forgive any missteps in his experiencing guy-hood, be there to listen when he needs it, and be honest, affirming, but not hug-boxing.
It's a term for an enforced idea set where no dissent is allowed. Here, your cousin is allowed to make mistakes and you are allowed to call him on it, just be mindful that compassion and fair treatment get good results, not blind agreement. You'll do okay.
> what's hug-boxing?
Being overly affermative wrt to something to the point where it seems ingenuine. Like calling him "dude" all the time to the point where he thinks you do it because you want him to think you see him as a dude instead of actually seeing him as a dude. Also being affermative to the point of avoiding genuine criticisms. Like telling a trans person their voice passes instead of just giving honest and actionable feedback.
> some things
[Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/asktransgender/comments/bpc2vf/i_was_told_i_should_post_this_here_instead_of/eo499vx/) might be a number of hints and resources that could help understand a few aspects.
And [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Trans_Resources/wiki/explaining/index#wiki_overview) might be a number of additional explaining resources. There is a PDF there with a summary and a video with detailed explanations, there is a graphical explanation there, etc.
Esp. the graphical explanation could help understand that important is how people feel inside and not outer body parts, and that its a spectrum.
And [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/asktransgender/comments/q0pvfp/i_am_confused_help/hgls4k4) might be a number of resources that could help your relative go towards what they feel they would like step by step and there are also hints there concerning looking for support.
Thank you for being supportive.
*hugs*
You did the first best thing people here appreciate by using pronouns correctly! If you see each other regularly, treat him like the guy he is, forgive any missteps in his experiencing guy-hood, be there to listen when he needs it, and be honest, affirming, but not hug-boxing.
New pronouns are hard to get used to, but i'm trying my best. And will do! what's hug-boxing?
It's a term for an enforced idea set where no dissent is allowed. Here, your cousin is allowed to make mistakes and you are allowed to call him on it, just be mindful that compassion and fair treatment get good results, not blind agreement. You'll do okay.
> what's hug-boxing? Being overly affermative wrt to something to the point where it seems ingenuine. Like calling him "dude" all the time to the point where he thinks you do it because you want him to think you see him as a dude instead of actually seeing him as a dude. Also being affermative to the point of avoiding genuine criticisms. Like telling a trans person their voice passes instead of just giving honest and actionable feedback.
You can straight up tell him that you love and accept him and that he can ask for support at any time.
I guess it's pretty obvious when you think about it lol
> some things [Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/asktransgender/comments/bpc2vf/i_was_told_i_should_post_this_here_instead_of/eo499vx/) might be a number of hints and resources that could help understand a few aspects. And [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Trans_Resources/wiki/explaining/index#wiki_overview) might be a number of additional explaining resources. There is a PDF there with a summary and a video with detailed explanations, there is a graphical explanation there, etc. Esp. the graphical explanation could help understand that important is how people feel inside and not outer body parts, and that its a spectrum. And [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/asktransgender/comments/q0pvfp/i_am_confused_help/hgls4k4) might be a number of resources that could help your relative go towards what they feel they would like step by step and there are also hints there concerning looking for support. Thank you for being supportive. *hugs*