Congratulations. First off, relax; the fact that you’re the kind of parent your son felt comfortable coming out to means that you’re already doing it right. The worst thing you can do right now is panic and try to change everything about how you parent; your kid is clearly grateful to have the parent they have.

Next up, don’t push. This is their journey, you’re just a passenger. Be there for them, listen, ask questions, but let them go at their own pace.

And in that same vein, as a supportive parent, understand that sometimes they won’t want you to be supportive. Your instinct is going to be too fight like hell for your son, and you have to understand that there are going to be times when they just want to keep their head down and not make waves. It might feel satisfying to demand to speak to the manager just because the cashier misgendered your son, but if it’s not what they want then you’re just doing it for your own gratification. Be absolutely clear with him that you will fight like hell for him, any time he asks you to… But be ready to stand down when he tells you to stand down.

Finally, understand that everyone’s gender journey is different. Don’t let your son feel pressured into being certain things just because they’re “manly” or whatever. If he wants to be the kind of guy who wears dresses and paints his nails, then that’s the kind of guy he is, and if he wants to be the kind of guy who drives a truck, slams whisky and hunts bears in the woods, then that’s the kind of guy he is. There’s no right way to perform gender, and being trans isn’t about how you perform gender. It’s just something you know inside. Again, you’re just a passenger here. Let him decide where he’s going, and then do whatever you can to help him get there.

But most of all, just keep being you. You’re already off to a great start. More than anything right now, your son probably just wants his life to stay recognizable and normal. So do some normal things with him. He’ll talk about the big stuff when he’s ready.