Category Archives: parenting

Brave parents & the progress torch

Posted on January 10, 2014 by fearlessanalyst

I’ve just finished reading a special chapter in a special book* – and it still shimmers in my consciousness.   Chapter One – Dancing in the eye of the Storm – was written by Kathy Witterick, someone I’m proud to call … Continue reading →

Posted in gender, parenting, progress, social change | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A is for Antoinette*

Posted on October 25, 2013 by fearlessanalyst

It’s six months since my friend Antoinette died, and I think it’s probably okay to ‘tell her story’ now.  I mean it’s not likely that breaking confidentiality is relevant.  The chances of someone who knew her discovering I’ve ‘told’ are … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternatives, child abuse, compassion, mental illness, parenting, perfectionism, schizophrenia, trauma | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Avoiding vulnerability – friendship lost + found

Posted on September 16, 2013 by fearlessanalyst

There is value in being open and vulnerable*, and a price to pay for avoiding it.  When I look back, ‘avoiding’ is what I was doing when I tried to cover up my imperfections, or tried to make a good … Continue reading →

Posted in appearances, friendship, Insight, open, parenting, vulnerability | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

My “pedophile” experience

Posted on August 20, 2012 by fearlessanalyst

My ‘pedophile experience’   began with a cute little nine month old baby called David.  And it began in the park.  I was ten and living in LaSalle, Quebec. In those days most kids had the freedom to roam about the … Continue reading →

Posted in awareness, child abuse, consciousness, ignorance, Insight, modern life, parenting, pedophiles, Reflection, reflections, trauma | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“A Hard Name” – the documentary

Posted on August 8, 2012 by fearlessanalyst

The other night, for the second time in a week, I watched the TV Ontario  documentary A Hard Name.*  No doubt I’ll watch it again.  This is unusual behavior for me, but I know I’ll realize something new yet again, … Continue reading →

Posted in child abuse, consciousness, convicts, criminal, parenting, pedophile, reflections, social justice | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lost friends #1

Posted on July 25, 2012 by fearlessanalyst

There’s a ‘Pennsylvania Dutch’ saying I like: “We grow too soon old, and too late smart”.  And of course we never stop hearing “Hindsight is 20/20”.  We’re all familiar with the idea that we can’t seem to gather up any … Continue reading →

Posted in communication, fear, friendship, judgment, parenting, personal growth, psychology, reflections | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

We all have something worth sharing.

Posted on May 19, 2012 by fearlessanalyst

It’s so much easier to see flaws in others, to see how they need to change, than to see ourselves. I can spot a critical-judgmental response in a friend or relative, and have a hard time noticing it in myself. … Continue reading →

Posted in criticism, fear, judgment, parenting, personal power, public speaking, reflections, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Father soup….

Posted on May 7, 2012 by fearlessanalyst

“Darkness brings home fathers, with their real, unspeakable power.” – Margaret Atwood, Cat’s Eye. In his book The Measure of a Man, J.J. Lee refers to the idea that the more we try not to be like our father, the … Continue reading →

Posted in consciousness, experience, fear, judgment, parenting, Reflection, reflections | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fear of Judgment

Posted on April 18, 2012 by fearlessanalyst

I am about to give my last speech in Toastmasters.  Not because I don’t need more learning, but because it’s time to move on to a different approach.  Working on my fear of public speaking (the #1 fear in North … Continue reading →

Posted in parenting, public speaking, reflections | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment