You thought introducing your bi-racial transgender friend to your 100 yr old Grandmother was awkward…well, get ready to embrace the new addition to your family…The Scarlet F.

How do you introduce your wayward sibling/child/spouse when they return from their sabbatical?

When asked about their profession how do you respond?

When a new acquaintance Googles your last name and the first thing that pops up is an article on your tainted relation how do you handle the awkwardness?

In our Google-verse The Scarlet F effects the entire family, not just the one permanently labeled.

How one handles this new addition to the team is of paramount importance for all parties to proceed forward.

If you try to hide it, the tension will fester.  Embrace it and you will begin to normalize.

That is not to say it won’t be embarrassing, stressful and hurtful and that you won’t have feelings of anger and betrayal.  But, if you don’t discuss this openly then no one can move forward.

The important thing is to remain a team.  For better or worse you are connected, forever, so working together is far stronger than dealing with this alone.  Not just for you, but for your Scarlet friend/family member.  They need to know that the bond is strong in order for them to move forward and feel that they have a support system.

Once you broach the topic in an open manner people will then go through one or more stages of shock, revulsion and inquisitiveness but eventually realize that you, Family of F, are not to be blamed for your wayward relation and that you are your own person and should be heralded for being a supportive family member in a time of great need.

Yes, this is hard.  To forgive is divine.  No one is asking you to forget but to open your heart and show compassion and it will be returned many times over.

Family, forever.