chicagodads

Community is open.

Also simple, right? Doesn’t need clarification, does it? A community is supposed to be a safe place, with guarding rules and boundaries that keep its members from harm. One benefit of this zone of safety is that participants can feel that what they allow in the open air not only stays in the confines of the zone, but is treated with dignity - is free from the insidious harm of sarcasm, malice and gossip.

That should be how it works, and I’m sure it does some places. Actually, I’m sure it happens all the time, in bedrooms, living rooms, and pubs all over the world.

It’s just that I’m the biggest cynic when it comes to this. I’ve always held these cards close to the chest.

But I don’t want to. I want to both heal and be healed. I want our daughter to be honest and open with us. I want to be able to trust my daughter and wife fully, with no inhibitions. And that takes work, a life’s worth of work. I certainly can’t wait until she’s in middle school until I get my act together.

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