Even though I’m in the camp of letting your kids roam around on their own, I can’t help but think about the parents whose children were abducted or abused or showed up in some creeper’s child porn collection…and I would bet they beat themselves up a million times a day for not doing more to protect their child.

And yes, easy for me to say all of this as a childless person. But if I did have kids, I know I’d be telling them to go out and play and don’t come home til suppertime!

But seriously, that is horrific what you went through, at least you can truly say it made you a stronger person. I hope this post reaches a child going through the same things that you did and helps them to realize that it will be fine eventually.

Thanks for sharing.

You’re an inspiration and a heroic example to all the victims
of school bullying in our “enlightened” era. Some things never
change and dysfunctional peer groups always spawn their
share of predators.

A half century later, I remember my school years all too well –
the name-calling, the punches, and other assorted nastiness.
For quite a long time afterward, I carried the rage and bitterness
within me, but somehow I managed to build a life for myself, complete
with loving family, and I finally did find healing.

For us, the victims, there is hope, always hope. For the perpetrators,
unless they repent and atone, there is none.

And yeah: you are in most of my very favorite school memories, too. You and Jen CRACKED my SHIT up. I remember getting off the bus at the Bloomington Radisson and just about dying of laughter when you started a fake protest march, chanting, “We’re here! We’re queer! Get used to it!” Would love to see you again soon!