I've been reminding my mother on every opportunity to use my preferred name, and I have also been neglecting to do my laundry. Today instead of shouting my given name to get my attention, she shouted "WILLIAM! COME DO YOUR LAUNDRY NOW OR I'LL THROW THAT STUPID LAPTOP OF YOURS IN THE GARBAGE!" Never before have I been so thrilled by threats of destruction of my personal property.
...Any progress is good progress, I guess. I hope it sticks.
It didn't stick (see "Things That Annoy You" for just how 'unstuck' it is), but thanks for the encouragement. It makes sense, though, that a meltdown comes right after a breakthrough: she's forced to admit to herself that I really
am William, but the cognitive dissonance caused by that realization makes her rethink the "vagina = girl, penis = boy" assumption she's held her whole life. Rather than act like an adult about it, she's being a fundamentalist baby with a persecution complex.