Moving the discussion here, because I don’t want to clog up @alex_uk’s log with my childhood problems (haha!).
Yes, absolutely.
The issue I have with the way things went is this: The feelings I felt were real, and I didn’t know what to do about them. I knew enough about “right” and “wrong” to understand boundaries and whatnot, and I figured out all the rest of it eventually, but that process probably would’ve been a lot easier, a lot faster, a lot more successful, and a lot less guilt-ridden IF I had been able to talk with him about it.
And THAT is what I want to be different for my son.
He will absolutely respect his mother, and his sister, and all women, really, but I believe there is a way for him to feel the feelings, understand them, and, most importantly, own them.
I may be a fool, but I think I can teach him that.
Either way, I know this for sure: I can only attempt teach him if we can have a conversation about it.
And then another.
And another.
And…
