Confessions of a Liberal Puritan

It feels like we've come to terms with one another and accepted that there are things about each other that we can't or don't understand.

That's a lot harder to do than it sounds. I know my family is proud of me for what I am, but I think they also expect me to be someone who reflects their values and to do the things they see as priorities. In some cases I do, but that part of my life (like my job) seems forced and artificial to me. I also sometimes feel left out because I can't fully enter their world. I've come to terms with it, knowing we still love each other, but it's something I dread happening between me and my daughters.

But there are lots of people in the world who can enter into your interests, and the internet makes it even easier to encounter them. We can't expect any one or two people to define our existence, even if they are our nearest and dearest.

And you do have that strength inside you, or you wouldn't have come as far as you have. Identifying the issues may not be half the battle, but it's the most important part.