A father, professor and returning guest talks about 'the madness' (that's the word I was looking for!) and its seeming imperviousness even to lofty Presidential decrees
As a parent in a very similar situation I want to thank you ML for your powerful words. I don’t feel my job is finished yet either. From afar I know my son isn’t secure in the world and only has the support of others caught in the delusion. He will be 37 next week. I am gutted and worried and I miss him dearly. It is so rare to hear from parents of adults. Thank you Jenny.
It is important to understand that Trump's EO was not a response to gender criticizing from liberals and moderates. It was part of his support for the Christian Fascists. Important to see their agenda. Project 2025. We could win the war by joining the ranks of the extreme right, but we will lose the war.
Feminists don’t populate the extreme right, though it’s likely that Trump’s motivations differ from mine. You’ve reminded us that ‘trans’ doesn’t belong in the realm of right vs left but of fact vs fiction. Good vs evil works too.
Stunning interview. ML is an extremely sensitive and thoughtful man. He certainly gave his son more than enough guidance to allow for -hopefully- an eventual return to reality and ability to embrace his unique talents and point of view without turning against himself.
I found ML’s statement about how human beings differentiate ourselves by our continued desire to have things, to have more, to have what others have. This brings to mind the idea of Eckert Tolle and The Power of Now. A sloth from a thousand years ago and a sloth today - assuming humans haven’t destroyed the forests where it lives - has the same goals. Exist in nature, enjoy the air, the trees, your babies, food, nature as a whole. Humans, on the other hand, are so far removed from nature because we wanted “more.” Granted, I love technology, hot showers and tv and phones and heat I can turn on with a knob. But maybe we would have all been better off staying in nature. Or maybe it’s our lot to keep seeking “more” and some of it will be great and some of it will be horrible. Maybe it will all balance out in the end. But this thing called “trans” is definitely in the horrible pile. Some day, as ML says, we will see that. In the meantime, we parents have to try and forgive ourselves for not being able to stop our kids from embracing it.
When my son was young, I saw so much potential in his quirky intellect and thought that through the wisdom I had gained in my troubled life, he would be spared the pain I had to live through and just be his great self. Now that he’s older, I realize that I can’t spare him the hurt of being a quirky kid in a hostile world, and like me, he will likely devote a good part of his life just coming to terms with that fact. It’s hard as a parent to observe the difference between the potential and the pain of reality, and step back. This is why I appreciate ML’s introspective observations.
It took many years but my intellectual misfit of a daughter did mature out of her capture into madness. It turns out the ground we had laid for her was enough. She also found her club of madness on a college campus. I hold great disdain for institutions of higher ed. Few are not participating. I think ML's discussion of markets is key. A moral ground is no longer the basis for a business venture. Executing programs because they make money is all that is necessary. A populace thriving on click bait, likes, and followers have created a gullible public who buy into the snake oil. Corporations run the show. They essentially own the media, universities, the research, etc and people are dependent on them for their livelihood.
Such a wonderful interview. ML's discussion with the aging transexual was particularly resonant. I appreciated (and recognized) the pain I heard in ML's voice, and also continued love and pride. I am grateful to him for his story and vulnerability.
And yes - a "letting go" is necessary as our kids leave the nest.
Mine is only partially out of the nest, and I am dancing around trying to figure out how much to provide support, and when to let it go and let her learn on her own. Our attachment remains strong - though we do not discuss the chemical hormones she is on, primarily out of fear of damaging that attachment. Clearly that fear is not healthy.
Hearing these stories from other parents whose kids have been captured by this - even if they are in different places - is enormously helpful in being able to sort out my own family's situation. Thank you.
What an insightful, moving interview. It made me think about the blessing and curse of high intelligence, and how we have to trust that the very intelligent mind will eventually find its way back to truth. Thank you both.
This was an extraordinary interview on so many levels. Many, many thanks to ML for his thoughtfulness and deep insights and to you for hosting this series. When ML spoke about parenting, including his conversation with the transexual he knows, I was reminded of Donald Winnicott’s concept of the “good enough mother,” though of course it is equally applicable to what it means to be a father. Winnicott’s concept grew out of his work in WWII when, among other things, one million children were evacuated and millions were displaced from their homes. In wartime radio talks, Winnicott spoke directly to parents who were agonizing over those separations and impossible choices they had to make. Rather than telling them what to do, Winnicott trusted in their ability to provide the care the children needed to grow and become healthy and independent beings. He reassured parents that their best efforts were good enough. ML is clearly so much more than a good enough parent. I wish him and his family the very best.
I was struck by what ML said about gravity. Of course he's right. We know this intuitively. The advice from the septagenarian transexual also resonates with advice from religious traditions; that is to 'let go' of our adult children. Thank you Jenny and ML.
Great interview. I think I spoke to the same older man as am trying to let go and hope that my son comes back someday soon and not to harmed
As a parent in a very similar situation I want to thank you ML for your powerful words. I don’t feel my job is finished yet either. From afar I know my son isn’t secure in the world and only has the support of others caught in the delusion. He will be 37 next week. I am gutted and worried and I miss him dearly. It is so rare to hear from parents of adults. Thank you Jenny.
It is important to understand that Trump's EO was not a response to gender criticizing from liberals and moderates. It was part of his support for the Christian Fascists. Important to see their agenda. Project 2025. We could win the war by joining the ranks of the extreme right, but we will lose the war.
I meant to say "win the battle, but lose the war". The war being the liberation of women around the world, freeing us from poverty and male violence.
Feminists don’t populate the extreme right, though it’s likely that Trump’s motivations differ from mine. You’ve reminded us that ‘trans’ doesn’t belong in the realm of right vs left but of fact vs fiction. Good vs evil works too.
Stunning interview. ML is an extremely sensitive and thoughtful man. He certainly gave his son more than enough guidance to allow for -hopefully- an eventual return to reality and ability to embrace his unique talents and point of view without turning against himself.
I found ML’s statement about how human beings differentiate ourselves by our continued desire to have things, to have more, to have what others have. This brings to mind the idea of Eckert Tolle and The Power of Now. A sloth from a thousand years ago and a sloth today - assuming humans haven’t destroyed the forests where it lives - has the same goals. Exist in nature, enjoy the air, the trees, your babies, food, nature as a whole. Humans, on the other hand, are so far removed from nature because we wanted “more.” Granted, I love technology, hot showers and tv and phones and heat I can turn on with a knob. But maybe we would have all been better off staying in nature. Or maybe it’s our lot to keep seeking “more” and some of it will be great and some of it will be horrible. Maybe it will all balance out in the end. But this thing called “trans” is definitely in the horrible pile. Some day, as ML says, we will see that. In the meantime, we parents have to try and forgive ourselves for not being able to stop our kids from embracing it.
When my son was young, I saw so much potential in his quirky intellect and thought that through the wisdom I had gained in my troubled life, he would be spared the pain I had to live through and just be his great self. Now that he’s older, I realize that I can’t spare him the hurt of being a quirky kid in a hostile world, and like me, he will likely devote a good part of his life just coming to terms with that fact. It’s hard as a parent to observe the difference between the potential and the pain of reality, and step back. This is why I appreciate ML’s introspective observations.
It took many years but my intellectual misfit of a daughter did mature out of her capture into madness. It turns out the ground we had laid for her was enough. She also found her club of madness on a college campus. I hold great disdain for institutions of higher ed. Few are not participating. I think ML's discussion of markets is key. A moral ground is no longer the basis for a business venture. Executing programs because they make money is all that is necessary. A populace thriving on click bait, likes, and followers have created a gullible public who buy into the snake oil. Corporations run the show. They essentially own the media, universities, the research, etc and people are dependent on them for their livelihood.
Such a wonderful interview. ML's discussion with the aging transexual was particularly resonant. I appreciated (and recognized) the pain I heard in ML's voice, and also continued love and pride. I am grateful to him for his story and vulnerability.
And yes - a "letting go" is necessary as our kids leave the nest.
Mine is only partially out of the nest, and I am dancing around trying to figure out how much to provide support, and when to let it go and let her learn on her own. Our attachment remains strong - though we do not discuss the chemical hormones she is on, primarily out of fear of damaging that attachment. Clearly that fear is not healthy.
Hearing these stories from other parents whose kids have been captured by this - even if they are in different places - is enormously helpful in being able to sort out my own family's situation. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your comment. 🙏
What an insightful, moving interview. It made me think about the blessing and curse of high intelligence, and how we have to trust that the very intelligent mind will eventually find its way back to truth. Thank you both.
This was an extraordinary interview on so many levels. Many, many thanks to ML for his thoughtfulness and deep insights and to you for hosting this series. When ML spoke about parenting, including his conversation with the transexual he knows, I was reminded of Donald Winnicott’s concept of the “good enough mother,” though of course it is equally applicable to what it means to be a father. Winnicott’s concept grew out of his work in WWII when, among other things, one million children were evacuated and millions were displaced from their homes. In wartime radio talks, Winnicott spoke directly to parents who were agonizing over those separations and impossible choices they had to make. Rather than telling them what to do, Winnicott trusted in their ability to provide the care the children needed to grow and become healthy and independent beings. He reassured parents that their best efforts were good enough. ML is clearly so much more than a good enough parent. I wish him and his family the very best.
I love that comment. Thank you, Susan!
I was struck by what ML said about gravity. Of course he's right. We know this intuitively. The advice from the septagenarian transexual also resonates with advice from religious traditions; that is to 'let go' of our adult children. Thank you Jenny and ML.
Thanks very much, Elisabeth.