The humanist in me gets this, totally. The debater in me, the grammar nazi in me asks, “What if one’s child had to be put away not only for the safety of others, but for one’s OWN safety?” See, this is a “what if” question ONLY because we are using the prefix UNconditional love which means “NO conditions”. What if your child were definitely and provenly capable of killing – oneself? Now, before you go crazy, remember that a grammar nazi is asking this question and remember that all important prefix “un”, my friends! Again, I DO get where you’re coming from about deeply loving and accepting your kids for who they are and granted, my example IS extreme! BUT that IS what “un” means when it comes in front of “conditional” – that’s my point, my ONLY point.

Agreed 100%. That’s true unconditional love.

Hey, even if they do, you’ll still love them. Even if you’re the one who reported them to police and they get sent to jail for what they did. Just because someone needs to be put away for everyone else’s safety doesn’t change that.

Actually, I worry about my son growing up and possibly doing something horrible all the time because, despite how well we bring up our children, they can always go down the wrong path.

Happy New Year to you as well, my friend! 🙂

KatherineINCali, I get it, totally. You can’t even imagine your son doing anything that would make you ever not love him. And thanks for your acknowledgement too. I appreciate it. Happy New Year to you and your son 🙂

Peggy,
Wonderful idea. I will do that while working on the documentary. Thank you for your story.

Only one thing I disagree with in your post: I have absolute unconditional love for my son. Period. Even if he were to grow up and do things which are disappointing, wrong, or worse.. my unconditional love for him is everlasting.

Other than that, great post.

Anyone who needs or wants the pure, unadulterated, dictionary-definition of “unconditional” love should get a dog because there is no unconditional love between humans That said, one could say there are gradients of conditions, i.e. a low bar and a high bar in exchange for loving and being loved. Scientologists, even if they are so inclined, are not permitted to have a low bar. Before one can be worthy of love cult stipulates that a very high and strict bar of thought, speech and behavior be met. Now, I’ve never observed Scientology parents actually following this but Scientology kids – whoa, did they ever insist that their parents toe the mark, from what I saw! Highly judgemental, these cult brats. Their parents “granted them a lot of beingness” and thought the world of them and made continual excuses for their Scientology kids no matter how unremarkable they were or how they fucked up in life. The Scientology parents put up with pretty much anything from their kids but it didn’t work both ways. That’s what I saw when I was in, anyway.

Oh I think that is fantastic Geoff! I bet it will help you a lot too to review what a journey you have been on. That’s a wonderful gift for your children. Best of luck!

A few years ago I found that I had some time to dig out some family history. I decided to scan everything in and put it on flash drives for family members. It was eye opening to read about where my origins are, and the different stories about generations gone by. Maybe not everyone will read it but I hope their children, grandchildren, whoever, will find it interesting.

Peggy, thanks.
Right now I’m working on a documentary of my brother and my story. Something that I will leave for my children. They know little of my history, including my almost 5 decades in the cult.
I believe that everything has a time and place. I know they will eventually see the truth.