Thanks, Brandy, for your kind comments! It sounds like you are doing precisely what you need to do to protect yourself ... as is my son. And of course you may well be right about your father--childhood trauma is far more common than we like to think. If I were just beginning my academic career, one of the topics I would be interested in exploring is resilience ... why some children go through horrific experiences and are scarred for life, while their siblings--raised in nearly identical situations--emerge well-adjusted and emotionally healthy. Lots of questions--not many answers. Thanks again and best regards!